The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-07-19
WARM TIMES OUT IN TEXAS
CAMPAIGN FOR STATE WIDE
PROHIBITION is BITTER.
Dramatic Scene in Gov. CoIquitt's
Office When Petition Signed by
900 Women Was Presented.


900 Women Was Presented.
HOUSTON, Texas. -.-July 22nd the
people of Texas will vote on the ques-
ton of state wide prohibition. For
three months the state has been torn
by the campaign, which is growing
more bitter as the date of election
approaches. Both the prohibitionists
and the ants are claiming the cleo
ton by big majorities, >the ants adj
vancing figures based on state wide
canvass on which they claim victory
by 10000.
The bitterness of the campaign has
injected personalities, and the battles
of the democratic primary and cleo
ton last year are being lived over
again in this campaign. In THAT
election the present governor, o. b.
Colquitt, known as the wet candi-
date, was elected by heavy MAORI
ty over two prohibitionists. How
ever, at the same time a heavy vote
faVoring the submission of the liquor
question was polled. This paradox
ical situation has made impossible
the forecast as to the tide of senti-
ment, the only solution probably be-
ing in the fact that although Col
quit was the majority choice for
governor the people of Texas wish
the liquor question settled this year
but how?
Naturally Governor Colquitt is a
pronounced adherent of the cause of
the ants, for his views were made
clear in his campaign But not
outstanding this recently he was pc
| titioned by 900 women of Austin not
to speak at an anti-prohibition meet
| ing to be held the following night,
at which he was scheduled to be the
principal speaker.
When Petition Was Presented.
The petition was submitted shortly
after six o'clock one evening, Just as
the governor was preparing to close
his office. One of the fair petitioners
appeared as spokeswoman, who pre-
sented the paper ''in the name of the
mothers and sisters of Travis coun-
ty." The governor respectfully read
the petition through, then dug down
in bottom drawer of his desk and
produced a copy Of "a Speech by
! General Sam Houston, "The Wash
ington of Texas" made in 1885 to
delegation of ministers who asked
him to support a prohibition law.
| General Houston refused, putting
himself on record as unalterably op-
posed to state wide prohibition.
After quoting from this speech
! Governor Colquitt declared he saw
no reason why through the medium
OF churches his right of free speech
should be curbed. He had his views
on the prohibition question are we'll
known. 81 stand for local option, 3"
declared the governor, but should
prohibition be carried l will do all in
my power to enforce the law
throughout the state"
One of the fair petitioners UNDER
took to convince the governor of the
error of his ways, declaring her be-
lief that 'the governors Office should
not be used to further the cause of
private interests" The governor re-
NAMED firm, however, and annuonc-
ed he would speak as scheduled
After moment of silence one of
the women knelt a few feet from
the governors chair and prayed, the
governor bowling his head reverently.
Her supplications besought divine
forgiveness for the states executive's
| acts, and asked that he might see
the error of his ways With this
climax the delegation departed.