The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-30
500 SALOONS WILL
CLOSE TONIGHT At
MIDNIGHT
Local Option Law Is Effective in
10 Counties Al Result of Recent
Election-This Will Make 80
DRY" Counties in State.
Ten Breweries Will Also Close Their
Doors and Go Out Of
Business.

The saloonists In 10 counties In
Michigan are preparing today TO close
their places In compliance with the
verdict of the voters OF those sections.
At midnight tonight $50 saloons and
10 breweries will suspend business.
The Prohibitionists who waged the
fight for local option with unerring
consistency say this Is victory for
those who stand for progress. The
saloonists say the closing OF their
places Is q blow at personal liberty.
After tonight local option will be In
force In 80 Michigan counties.
The 10 counties that voted this
spring to abolish the saloons tonight
follow: Altoona, Allegan. Benzie,
Branch, Clare. Calhoun, Charlevoix.
Emmett, Eaton. Genesee. Hillsdale, Liv-
ingston, Ionia, Isabella. Jackson, Kali
kaska. Newaygo, Sanilac. Tuscola.
These counties were already dry
before the election on April 6: Barry,
Clinton, Gratiot. Midland, Missaukee,
Oakland, Oceana. Osceola, st. Joseph.
Van Buren, and Wexford.
In the sections which will be dry"
after tonight celebrations are being
held today--the Prohibitionists are OBJ
serving the victory In an appropriate
manner, while those who are accus-
toned TO a daily nip" are buying q
large amount of the wet goods to
supply their needs. The latter arc
already feeling quenching thirst.
They are looking into the future ana
wondering II the saloons will return
or IL the Prohibitionists will rule.
There will be a generous distribu-
ton OF the wet" goods In the different
towns. The local optionists. encour-
aged by the battle they have waged
and won, will not object to hot time
In the old town." while the liquor deal
ers, generally having accepted their
defeat philosophiC lly. and looking TO
the future to wage the fight again.
will join In the merrymaking. There
viii be rivers of "suds" and those who
believe II beneficial to take bath in
alcohol will have the opportunity be-
foro the gong rings for the closing OF
the thirst parlors."
A survey OF the battlefield on which
the. "drys" won In the recent election
shows that people are divided In opin-
ion as they are on all great questions.
Certain saloonists say they will re-
main In their territory and build up
their forces TO charge against the en-
emy In the next election. while 9th
ers say they will quit the wet goods"
business.
In Detroit Geo. W. Morrow, superin-
tendent of the Michigan Anti-Saloon
league, declares the fight will be re-
newed in every county in the southern
peninsula, except the eight counties
that failed in their votes this year.
The upper peninsula will also be the
scene OF hostilities, he says. and the
counties of Dickinson, Chippewa, Luce.
Schoolcraft. Mackinaw and Marquette
viii enter the fray.
Similar activity Is shown by the sa-
loon interests. They, too. are strength
ening their forces to attack the strong
holds OF the Prohibitionists and TO
hold the territory they already con-
troll They say the present conditions
through which the Prohibitionists
we're enabled to close hundreds OF sa-
looms will not endure.
The passing OF the saloons and brew.
cries in the various counties means
complete Encouragement or business
conditions. Thousands Of persons who
have been employed by liquor houses
are looking to. or have entered, other
fields Of endeavor.