Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-09-28
LOCAL OPTION Fight.
DfyS TO Force Submission in II Co.'S
Vets In Seventeen.
PETITIONS NOW BEING POSTED
Grand Traverse, Wexford and Other Wet Co.'S
To Be Battle Grounds.

AT conference of the field forces
of the Michigan Anti-Saloon league
at Detroit last week action was taken
which will bring about a local op-
ton fight next spring in % counties
of the state on lines quite different
from those formerly followed, the
new mode of attack being based on
the "joker" amendment secured by
the league in the Martz-Holliday bill.
Under this new method of cam
paigning., as outlined by State Anti
Saloon League Superintendent Geo.
w. Morrow, the temperance forces
intend to enter many cities and towns
in wet counties this spring and force
the fight for prohibition common
councilmen. In many of the counties
the question will be submitted to the
people for a vote.
OF the % counties II are wet and
the drys are circulating petitions for
submission or re-submission of the
question of saloons or no saloons.
The remaining, II are dry and the
vets are organizing them for the
campaign to throw them back into
the wet column.
In all the counties the boards of
supervisors will meet October 0 and
the petitions for submission of the
local option question, signed by one
third of the voters, must be in by
that date to be acted upon.
This gives the workers about one
month to obtain the number of sig-
natures required by law to the petit
tions and with the return Of the "wet"
and dry leaders from their vaca-
tions the agitation of the voters in
those counties which are eligible 10
vote has begun.
The Anti-Saloon league this year
will confne most OF its efforts to an
nexing to dry territory the north
western corner of the state, which
has only one dry county, Benzie, in
block of seven. Leelanau, Grand
Traverse, Wexford, Manistee, Mason
and Lake will be the principal bettle
ground Of the dry forces Berrien
county will be brought into the fight
if the vets decide to force submission
OF the question in the two counties
adjoining, Van Buren and Cass.
The vets will force submission of
the question in large part of the
lower peninsula territory now dry,
the heaviest fighting to be in ten
counties, Lapeer, St Joseph, Ingham,
Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Otsego Ara
nae, Shiawassee, Oscoda and Missau-
kee All these counties either have
petitioned the supervisors for sub
mission of the question or are circu-
lating petitions. In Lapeer county
the required number Of electors have
already affixed their signatures, and
in Ingham county enough signers
have been obtained, anc. before the
canvass is stopped there the vets
claim there will be fully so per cent
Of the voters names on the petitions.
"We are giving much effort this
year to obtaining the fullest extent
possible of the privileges afforded
under the Martz-Holiday law passed
by the legislature last winter, which
gives village, township and city
councils the right to reject any or all
saloon bonds. A big part of our
campaign will be to secure the cleo
ton of men on these boards who in
their own jurisdiction will reject
liquor bonds entirely and thus keep
out the saloons. If we can gain this
it will be big step in our fight.
"Do not misunderstood me as
meaning that the league will support
the smaller unit local option move
ment. We will fight that bill if it is
brought up in the legislature again,
as we did last winter, but we will
take advantage of all the privileges
afforded under the Martz BILL