The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-27
ATTEMPT TO DRIVE
out THE SALOONS
Chicago Prohibitionists Pro-
pose to Make It an Issue
At April Election.
READY FOR THE COMBAT
No.LicENsE LEAGUE CALCULATES
A PETITION TO HAVE THE
QUESTION PLACED ON THE MU-
NICIPAI BALLOT.

Chicago, ILL.,, Dec. 26.-"wets" and
"drys" are preparing. to fight it out
at the polls next April over the ques-
ton of whether the saloons shall be
banished from Chicago.
Petitions to have the proposition
submitted to the voters at the al
dermanic elections are being circulat-
ed under the direction of the No-Li-
cense League, an organization which
sprang into existence year ago dur
ing the Sunday closing agitation.
About $4,000 signatures of legal vot-
ers are required, the local option law
providing that the petitions shall con-
tain at least one-fourth as many names
as there were votes cast in the last
election, and from the success met
by the FIRST canvasers who went in
quest of autographs the "drys" ex-
pect to have their task finished before
tho end of January. The last day for
filing the petition with the election
board is February %, or sixty days
before the election. April 6.
Both Sides Ready for Fray.
For months past the "drys" have
been organizing for the fray, while
the "wets" have been quite as dill
gent. This time the anti-saloon forces
declare their intention of profiting by
the experience of the big political par
ties and of shaping their organization
on the lines followed by the Republi-
n{v-oI
committees. Chicago is to be organ
ICED by precincts. the smallest politi-
cal subdivision being taken as the
basis for houses to house canvasses
and personal appeals to the voters.
The next step higher in the plan of
organization is the ward club, to be
composed of the precinct officers. and
still higher there is to be controlling
committee to consist of two or three
delegates from each ward club and
to have control of the campaign.
Within the next week or two the
circulators of the petitions expect that
a general banding together will be
brought about between all the leagues
and societies in the city having kim
dred aims with the no-licence men.
The Chicago Law and Order League
is taking active part in the work of
getting the petitions signed. 1t is
closely affiliated with, the No-License
League, and in fact is considered the
parent of the later.
''Wets'' Well Organized.
The Prohibitions party, Of course, is
in the movement. So is the Anti-Sa-
loon League. They have been ham,
mering away since the agitation year
ago, when the "wets" tried to get
upon the little ballot the question
whether Sunday closing should be OBJ
served in Chicago The issue did not
come to a vote last spring, but
throughout the year both sides have
understood that an effort would be
made to get the no-license question
ON the little ballots next spring. Hence
both camps have been industriously
getting ready for the fracas for over
year. so that the struggle when it
does come will be one of the most
tremendous that ever enlivened day
at the Chicago polls.
The issue will be concise and clear
cut. the form which the question will
take being stated in the petition which
reads:
ITO the Election Commissioners of
the City of Chicago:-The undersign-
ed, residents and legal voters of the
City Of Chicago. respectfully petition
that you cause to be submitted, in the
manner provided by law, to the voters
thereof at the next election the propo-
sition:
Snail this city become anti-saloon
territory"
For some time it was debated as to
whether the judicial election in June
would not afford a better opportunity
for a vote on the saloon question than
the aldermanic elections. This ques-
ton was settled only a week or two
ago In favor of the April polls, for
the reason that the vote at that time
win be larger than in the June cleo
tions. and because the leaders of the
movement were against dragging a
fight over the saloon into judiciary
election which Is held in June