Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-13

cities, towns ana Plantations reported ana
all but 1876 verified by clerks returns a ma
jority against repeal of 49, votes is shown,
PORTLAND, Me. Sept. i2-Returns from
$40 OF the 521 cities, towns and plantations
OF the state. Of which $50 are furnished
by town clerks, on the repeal Of consttu-
tional prohibition. had been received to-
night and gave the following vote
For repeal, so,27S; against REPEAL, eO4S7
Majority against repeal. I5s
PORTLAND. Ne. Sept 12.--Little change
in the apparent result was shown today
by a revision of the returns of the vote
cast at yesterdays special election on tho
question Of taking prohibition out of the
state constitution. Early today four
teen town had not been heard from and
without these towns the vote stood:
For repeal, sO.72l; against repeal, 5s.sSs.
This gave a majority of 76S for the repeal
Of the prohibitory amendment to the state
constitution.
Former Mayor Adam P. Leighton of
Portland. president of the No License
league announced this morning that steps
would be taken for a recount Of the vote
unless the official returns should materially
increase the majority for the repeal Of the
ceived this morning from fifty-six towns.
One hundred and twenty thousand voters
cast ballots on the liquor question.
As had been predicted. the cities we're
the chief strongholds Of the repeal faction
Much Interest Aroused.
Although the vote did not equal that
of a year ago. when the democrats swept
the state, which for years had been
republican stronghold, the election was an
Interesting contest. There was not homo
in any part Of the state which was not
flooded with literature by both sides, while
the voters were waited on by personal
workers and harangued at public gather
ings to cast their ballots for or against
repeal The result was that hundreds OF
voters who had pot visited the polls for
years were recorded today.
Little excitement marked the voting
Although the polls in some OF the cities
were crowded during much of the time. it
was an orderly crowd and gave the Off
cisls little or no trouble.
History of Movement.
| Since 1857 Maine has had a statute pro-
| hibiting the sale of intoxicants and since
| 1854 prohibition ha5 been a part of the con-
stitution. In 1884 the question of placing
! prohibition in the constitution was put be-
! fore the people and prohibition won by a
majority of 45,sss. carrying every county
in the state. Following this the attacks
Of the anu-prohibitionists ceased for a
time, only to be renewed in later years.
The democratic party last year made the
question of resubmission of the constitu-
tional amendment to the people plank
Of its platform. The democrats swept the
state in the election and the legislature,
aided by some republicans, voted to put the
question before the people.
Statewide Primary Wins.
Next In interest to the prohibition ques-
ton was that Of the adoption or rejection
of state wide primary act. Returns thus
| far received indicate its adoption by a good
margin. The official vote from seventy
cities and towns at hand this morning show
23,7SO favorable and 6,362 opposing votes a
majority in favor of 174ls.
| Oh. the question of making Augusta for
ever the seat of government the upstate
voters very generally voted in favor oi
Cumberland county. but York county and
other counties nearer Portland were strong
on the other side and the defeat of tbs
proposition was early indicated