The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-22
Decided Air of Uncertainty as
To the Outcome of a lo-
cal Option Fight in Indian
apoIis.
FIGHT TO COMMENCE
WITHIN SIXTY DAYS
E. S. Shumaker, State Super
intendert of Anti-saIoon
League, Confident That the
Drys Will Win Victory.
Special Corresponden Mt.

SpSS'os SOSsSopOUoSu.
Indianapolis, Ind, March 22-Now
that the Anti-Saloon league has decid-
ed to bring about a county local OPP
ton election in Marion county, people
are wondering how it is all coming out.
And there is a very decided air of I'M
certainty as to the result of such an
election in this county, for the people
of Indianapolis have for years been de-
feated by the brewers in almost every
thing from politics down-or up, as you
please, and the brewery yoke has be-
come so unbearable that there is no
question but that there are thousands
of men in this city who are of liberal
mind. but who will. just the same. vote
the city dry in order to break the back
of the brewery interest.
Fight Starts Soon.
E. S. Shumaker, state superintend-
ent Of the Anti-Saloon league, says it
will be about sixty days before the
fight will be commenced in earnest in
Marion county, but he adds that the
fight is sure to come. because the peo-
pie are asking for it.
OF course, there is a large foreign
population in Indianapolis and there
are 1000 colored voters in this city al
so, and it is recognized that these two
elements are to be factors in the local
option fight. The liberals are count
ing on the foreigners and the negroes
to prevent the city from going dry, but
Shumaker says that there Is large
element among the foreigners, espec-
tally among the better class of Ger
mans. that is ready for a dry city. IL it
is necessary in order to do away with
the low dives that are supported by the
breweries. They say that II the brew
cries had not helped to establish and
maintain these low. disreputable places
and had confined their business to the
better class of saloons. there would not
have been any trouble, but they have
not done this.
shumakers Reasons.
One of the principal reasons why it
is claimed Marion county should be
dry, according to Shumaker, is the fact
that the county is now surrounded by
dry counties. This is true on all sides.
Every county touching Marion county
has been voted dry. This, it is point
ed out, makes Indianapolis the drink
ot< toe nd
suits in bringing into Indianapolis ev-
cry day a lot of people who must have
their drinks.
1t is said that this draws a very un-
desirable class of people to this city
and that it is the cause of the unusu-
ally large docket in the police court
these days.
Shumaker says that there are fifty
four dry counties in the state out Of
the total Of ninety-two. Twenty-three
other counties have either set the dates
for election or are getting ready to do
SO. This number does not include
Allen county, in which the Anti-Saloon
league is still undecided as to whether
to call an election there or not.
TWO Hunoreo O0omeo.
It is shown that 497 saloons have
been put out Of business by the county
option law, and the Anti-Saloon league
figures that the elections to be held
this week throughout the state will
clean out fully 900 more.
One of the strongest arguments that
is being used against calling an cleo
ton in Marion county. is that il the
county should vote dry it would be
necessary to increase the tax levy
about 20 per cent in order to make up
for the revenue that will be lost BY
reason of closing the saloons There
are something more than 100 saloons
in this county, and the county gets
about 100000 a year and the city
nearly $4,000 a year from the Il
censes. If the county goes dry this
amount will have to be made up rom
s.