The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-03-11
VETS AND DRYS
IN HOT FIGHT
MOST SPECTACULAR CAMPAIGN
IN STATE BEING WAGED IN
CLARK COUNTY
is a. CRUCIAL TEST

| " DfyS are SUCCESSFUL lney VIII
Next Tackle Youngstown and Day.
ton-Largesg City in the State to
Vote on Local Option.
| Springfield. O., March with the
date for the Rose county local option
set for March 29, there is every indi-
cation that the campaign in Clark
county will be the most spectacular
that has yet been waged in Ohio.
| Springfield is not only the largest city
in the state to vote in local option
election, but is also, except two or
| three Massachusetts cities, the larg-
est in the United States.
No other county in the state is hold
ing an election at this time; and the
full strength of the Anti-Saloon
| league and of the liquor organization
will be thrown into the county for
the short time that will elapse before
the election. With the fixing of the
date by Judge A. H. Kunkle, Webster
P. Huntington, former newspaper man
of Columbus arrived in the city and
will have active charge of the pub
licity end of the campaign for the
'wets," and will be assisted by Capt.
c. A. Reynolds, former newspaper
man also, and recently from the Phil
ippines, where he was for two or
three years governor of a province,
following military service in the ISL
ands.
For the "drys" George w. Crabbe
of Dayton has been the directing
force, though his work has been sub
sidiary to the local committee. It's
active work is being looked after by
Frank M. Knapp, until two months
ago chairman of the Republican cen
tral committee, with Fred 8. Wallace,
a local newspaper man, in charge Of
the publicity end Of the campaign
Former State Senator Oran F. Hypes,
who gained a reputation as legislative
champion of Anti-Saloon league meas
ures, is high in the councils of the
"drys."
The campaign in Springfield will be
different from that in any other coun-
ty in which elections have been held, |
in that the 'wets" propose to conduct
a speaking campaign and to fight in
the open to a greater extent than has
obtained in any other county. AL
ready there has been a sharp encoun-
ter for the use of the city hall, the
principal place for meetings. Imme-
diately after the filing of the petitions
the "drys" secured the hall for nearly
every available date. The "wets"
protested, and there was a vigorous
argument before the board of public
service, which has the letting of the
hall, 1t was settled by Chairman
Knapp, for the "drys," proposing a
each side should
have an equal chance at the hall, and
the time will be equally divided. The
vets" have also secured the Fair
banks theatre for every Sunday even
ing until the election. The theatre
has been used and secured for the re-
of the time for afternoon
meetings on Sunday These meet
ngs have so far been the most inter
esting feature of the campaign, for
every Sunday the theatre, which seats
100 persons, has been packed with
men and several hundred have been
turned away each day
The "wets" contend that this is a
most opportune place in which to
make an open fight. There is a large
German element in the city and it is
stated that they will appeal to them
through speakers along the line of
personal liberty. There has been a
personal liberty league organized for
4 year and it is said to have a large
The large colored vote in this city
S source of much speculation. The
statement is made that rs per cent
If the colored voters have signed pc
-itions and the "drys" claim that
hey will vote "dry" to that extent at
east. The claim is made In face of
he fact that in most cities, notably
n Xenla, the colored vote has been
largely wet"
AT the present time, unprejudiced
sentiment seems to be that the "drys"
nave the best of the situation. This
showing made by the 'drys" in secur-
ng signatures to their petitions. They
were in circulation for ten days and
~ per cent of the vote of 1908 was
This is 78 per cent of the
vote OF 1906, which was taken as a
basis in every other county which has
voted so far. The "wets" contend
that this will not operate against
hem and affirm that the petitions
were signed in large numbers by
wet voters, who are anxious TO have
the question settled. The "drys"
ieny this assertion and say that com
few "wets" signed.
So far as the state is concerned
both sides are waiting for the result
IN Clark county. It is a crucial test.
It Is understood that II successful I'm
Clark county the "drys" win move on
TO Youngstown as the next battle