Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-05
VOTING IS LIGHT;
RESULT PUZZLES
Unfavorable Weather Condition
Taken as Helpful to
the Wet Side.
is AN OMNIBUS SILENCE
average Voter Slow to Express Him
self on Prohibition Question
Argus to Receive Returns.

Election prophets admit they are
stumped as they never have been before
In a local campaign. There is an omi-
nous silence, the result of reluctance
by the average voter to put himself
on record verbally, as he did willingly
two years ago, on the prohibition ques-
ton, and therefore there may be some
surprises when the ballots are counted
at the close of the polling places this
afternoon.
The total vote will fall considerably
short Of expectations, owing to the
unfavorable weather conditions. 1t is
believed that the vets will be the
gamers. The vote of the morning was
light in all sections Of the city. Both
the vets and drys had their workers
at the polls. The Local Option league
has a standing reward for the detec-
ton of Illegal voting. Members
Of the Local Option league claim
to have discovered Irregularities in the
central wards, and they are attempt
ing to confirm these through chal-
lenges at the polls.
Then And Now.
Two years ago, when the prohibition
issue was first put to the voters OF this
city for settlement, there was a posi-
tive alignment The liquor interests
and the element that took the position
that the saloon could be regulated,
and that the city was not yet prepared
to terminate the existence OF an instt-
tuition that had been a factor in the
business community since the incor-
poration OF the municipality. stood to-
gether, and it was not difficult to esti-
mate the outcome on election day.
There were voluntary promises on the
part of the liquor interests Of improve
ment and regulation after the election.
1t is not necessary to discuss here how
far those promises have been kept.
Now the question that has been
troubling the liquor interests is as to
where their tolerent friends of two
years ago stand today. They are free
to confess that hundreds of them have
failed to answer and how they feel now
will not be known until after the count
of the vote this afternoon.
Want Reduced Majority.
There are hundreds of men of liberal
views in the city who would vote with
the prohibitionists today if they were
confident that their ballot would re-
duce the majority in favor Of the con-
tinuance of the saloon to such a mar
row margin that no doubt would be
left in the mind of the liquor element
that it's loose and defiant conduct of
the saloon business was resented by
the people generally of the city. These
cfil1 oil RI he
that regulation is at least worthy of a
trial, and their fear that their votes
might swing the pendulum on the 9TH
er side of the line is prompting many
not to take any chances.
However, if the manifest quiet Of the
average voter means anything, it indi-
Gates his impatience with the local sa-
loon interests. He is disposed to give
the saloon, accepting it as a part of
the business of the city, another chance
to regain favor with the public.
If the majority against prohibition
is materially reduced in Rock Island
from what it was two years ago, it
ought to be viewed by the liquor inter
ests as the handwriting on the wall.
The weather conditions are favora-
o-O " INC al pi OlAAbieAOdi0I0' ILLS AOI
in the light of a joke, but because of
the organization which will get the
vote out regardless of ordinary obsta-
cles. The local option people claim
that while their work is being done
quietly it will count.
The polls opened at this morning
and closed at this afternoon Re
turns will be received at The Argus
office, as is its custom, and all desiring
information bearing on the election