Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-02

Birmingham, Ala, Dec. ALL in
dications point to a majority of be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 in Alabama
against the prohibition constitutional
amendment yesterday. Chairman j.
Lee Long, who has been, in charge OF
the fight against the amendment,
claims that the majority against the
amendment will be fully 10000.
The early returns indicated land
slide against the amendment and sue
ceeding bulletins fully bore out the
early Indications
Jefferson county, in which is Bir-
mingham, the largest city in the state,
in spite of the fact that the fight has
been concentrated here, gave major
| ity of over 1000 against the amend
ment. Mobile, Montgomery and Gull
man counties show the largest major
| ity on the victorious side, and it ap-
pears the amendment has carried in
but three counties, Talladega, Macon
and Sumter, with Lee in doubt
Today's election cannot be regarded
as a straight anti-prohibition victory
because of the personal politics that
has been injected into the issue. It's
association with the administration OF
Governor B. B. Conner and his report
ed ability to name successor to the
governorship in Judge S. d. Weakley,
author of the prohibition bills, have
figured prominently in the result.
Amendment Loses Everywhere.
| A significant feature Of the result
is the fact that sentiment against the
/ amendment was so widespread Rural
precincts. small towns and cities alike,
for the most part returned substantial
majorities on the winning side.
There has never been seen here any
thing like the good feeling shown in
Birmingham last night over the re-
suit Thousands of people from Jeffer-
son and adjoining counties were here
to see the returns flashed and the
down town streets were one billow OF
enthusiasm.
A fact of special interest in the
election was that it was the first time
in the history of the state that an ex-
preston of the whole electorate had
been secured on prohibition question.
. The statewide prohibition bill was
. passed by legislature which had
: been elected on a local option plat
form, and while several counties had
declared for prohibition under the
; local option act, the voters Of the en-
tire state had never before been called
upon to pass on the question direct.
In Birmingham the election was the
most exciting ever witnessed. Hun
dreds of people were crowded around
each polling place, women and chill
dren We're singing and brass bands
; stationed by the anti-amendment
forces were playing patriotic airs.
Many Fights Recorded.
Each polling place was enlivened by
it's quota of fist fights, there being sc
| many that it was impossible to keel
; track of them. Feeling was so hlgf
that a few words were sufficient tc
bring on blow. Practically ever!
r other voter was challenged and re
+ ouired to make affidavit that he was
s qualified elector
AS an instance of the deep feeling
! displayed prominent minister wen
! to the polls and young woman at
tempted to pin white ribbon upoI
him. The minister declined, telling
: her that he considered it improper TO
i young women to speak to men on thu
. streets whom they did not know. Thu
. woman began crying and the ministe
apologized for hurting her feelings, bu
I said he considered the polling place
;, very improper places for the youn'
= women to be.
The affair was taken up all over tn
= city and partisans commended or &c
. nounced the conduct of the minlste
u u according as their sentiments.
Oscar Hall, tax commissioner Q
!. Baldwin county, appointed by Cover
: y nor Conner, fell dead at his home i
= Bay Minette a few minutes after vol
- ing for the amendment. Physician
y said death was due to heart failure II
9 duced by excitement.
IS