The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-08-09
INTEREST IS AWAKENING
4 Hot Time Ahead for the PrOhis and
the Antis In the Next Two
and q Half Months

st. Augustine, Fla. August g.
Florida is already on the verge Of a
campaign that is simply going to lay
the late senatorial contest in the
shade. Politics in Florida always
comes back-if 1t ever gets away AT
This moment. just when the dove OF
peace was huttering over the heads OF
the also-rans and the did-runs and
cooling little occasionally. there's
sure enough trouble brewing. Forces
are lining up for a great battle over
the state wide prohibition election in
November. and already there are de-
termined mutterings afar over the
horizon. but perfectly distinct, for the
gubernatorial scrap two years hence
In November the people OF Florida
will vote upon three constitutional
amendments. From present indica-
tions all are apt to carry. The first Is
the amendment to the local option
plank Of the constitution. making
Florida a prohibition state from Key
West to the Perdido. The second en-
powers the Legislature to create new
judicial circuits In the state The third
establishes a criminal court Of record
in Escambia county. The latter is of a
local nature, but 1t Is necessary to
amend the constitution to enable the
court to be established. The second
one is quite Important. as many OF
the circuit courts of the state are now
deluged with accumulating business
The circuits were established many
years ago. when the population of the
state was probably not more than one
third what 1t is now.
Thus far the work of organization is
moving rapidly. Pleasant 4. Holt OF
Jacksonville is in charge Of the cam
paign for the local optionists. Mr..
Holt Is Of the shrewdest politi-
clans in the state and thoroughly un-
derstands campaigning In Florida On
the other side c. L. Collins is supern-
tendent Of the Anti Saloon League
work and what he has accomplish ed
during the last two years indicates
that he is not lacking in the necessary
political acumen.
In Tampa Senator Don c. McMullen
who fathered the resolution submitting
the prohibition amendment to the vote
OF the people, Is in charge Of the
amendment forces. Against him is
Frank c. BOwyer. a prominent citizen.
The other counties are being organized
rapidly and by the middle Of October
or perhaps by the first of that month
lHt Stdte VIII De cHbTO1lpu IN a pat
tie royal Many of the newspapers
are holding off in the fight. but sew
eral. especially among the weeklies
are already Saying things" about
each other.
The plan that the Anti-Saloon
League has mapped out is for the
state to be covered by few speakers
at the present time and then in Octo-
wit
half a hundred Of the most eloquent
temperance speakers in the country in
the field. In this manner the dry
forces hope to stir up the full dry
vote In the country counties for 1t is
believed that the amendment will car
ry easily If every dry man in the state
viii take sufficient interest in the mat
ter to go to the polls and cast his
vote.
\ unique but very effective campaign
feature Is young mems quartette
from the student body OF q university
in the state. The quartette goes from
place to place and sings and renders
an excellent musical programme. while
each of the four students speaks brief
ly but effectively upon a particular
phase Of the temperance question.
Their speeches go between the songs
and this makes feature that Is at
tracing great crowds wherever they
go. Public mass meetings are being
held by the local dry forces in many
cities and towns either every week or
tevery month. Interest is fast being
aroused. The campaign will be skill
| fully managed from both sides. The
voters will decide it all in November
The campaign will bring some sur
prises. Some of those who fought the
amendment on the floor OF the Legis-
lature last summer the hardest will
not lift finger to prevent its adop-
| tion at the polls Some OF the others
will oppose ii. And altogether the
lineup will be changed in some sec
}tions-Savannah Morning News