The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-09-28
WHISKEY IN CHICAGO
CAMPAIGN IS TO
OPEN FRIDAY.
THE ANTI SALOON FIGHT
A Desperate Six Months Struggle to
Follow-Liquor Interests Have Per-
feet Working Organizations in Many
Counties of the State

The Times-Democrat Chicago special
says Chicago is at the edge of vicious
and straightaway fight upon the fiat
proposition: Shall this city of Chicago
become anti-saloon territory"
Enemies of the demon rum, begin a
six months campaign next Friday, Oc-
tober 1. The election is Tuesday, April
s. The issue is plain and untrammeled.
The liquor interests are declared to be
ready for the onslaught. If the anti
saloon forces make a winning fight, such
a result means that the 1000 saloons in
the city Of Chicago under the Illinois
local option law, enacted in 1907, must
go out of business for eighteen months
at the very least.
John H. Hill, chairman of the Chi
cago No License Committee of One
Hundred, dropped the bomb today
which precipitates what is most likely
to become the most stupendous contest
ever known in the United States or
anywhere else between the friends and
the foes of the open saloon.
To the great surprise of representa-
tives of the liquor interests, to the poll
ticians and to Chicago in general, Mr.
Hill announced that all preparations are
made for initiating the Chicago anti
saloon campaign next Friday. He said
that the necessary petitions will be
placed in the hands of hundreds of
trusted lieutenants of the No License
Committee. upon that date. The anti
saloon forces have until the first week
in February to secure the sixty-odd
thousand names which are necessary to
secure the automatic submission of the
question by the Board of Election Com
nissioners at the April. election.
There is not the slightest doubt in
the world concerning the ability TO get
the necessary number of signatures,
said Mr.. Hill In 1908 we needed
$4,000 names to get the proposition on
the ballot. We secured 10000 in three
weeks. We need 10000 now and have
four months to do the work. Can any
one doubt the result.
It is the tentative plan of the man
ayers Of the anti-saloon campaign to
open the campaign with monster mass
| meeting to be followed Immediately by
meetings in each section of the city.
# the petition is properly secured, the
real fight will open up. Gypsy Smith,
who is about to start an evangelical
campaign on the South Side at the Sew
enth Regiment Armory, is counted upon
for big results there.
Billy Sunday is scheduled to explode
the fireworks on the West Side, and
DR.. R. A. Torrey may lead the speaking
campaign on the North Side.
The arrangements for this part Of the
campaign against the saloons, however
is to be deferred until the petition;
have been signed up sufficiently and any
legal difficulties, which may be inter.
p0SeQ, are SfllOOIHeQ out
Then, according to Mr.. Hill-and il
is not doubted in the slightest by the
leaders of organizations which stane
openly for the saloon-the most tremen
dous and notable campaign in Chicago''
history will be actively initiated.
| The practical politicians can hgur'
| nothing but trouble ahead for them il
Chicago, with a wet and dry show
down for Chicago on tap. That tn
mayoralty campaign of 1871 and tn
State campaign with the governorshil
in 1oI2 would become hopelessly an
inextricably enmeshed in the anti-saloo
scrap, is almost foregone conclusion
Down State all arrangements are be
ing made for a knife e-to-throat struggl
between the opposing forces in practi
cally every city and village to be set
tied in April next year.
The liquor interests have perfet
, working organizations in each count
in the State where there are saloon
enough to make possible an organizs
ton. The vets will fight desperately t
regain many of the bailiwicks whic
were swept up by the 1908 skirmish, tt
first under the local option law. II
drys hope to hold what they have ar
to pick lip some more for their strin
=
: AMnr1IEp TEST WEI