Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10
HOT FIGHT IN MAINE
Vets and Drys in Contest
Over Prohibition Issue.
FORMER PREDICT VICTORY
Claim State by Majority Ranging
From 5000 to 10000.
OPPONENTS ARE CONSERVATIVE
President of the w. C. T. U. Ex-
presses Belief That People Will
Uphold Temperance.
Special Dispatch To The Star.

Special Dispatch To The Star
| PORTLAND. Me. September 9.-On the
| eve of Names great wet and dry
| fight the vets are claiming victory
| Monday by a margin of from 5000 to
10000 votes, while the "drys.' say they
| will carry the state by very small
| ma jority, or that the result will be close
| consensus of the most conservative
| unbiased opinion seems to be tonight that
I he constitutional prohibitory amendment
| will be annulled by small majority. 1t
| is true that the leaders for the retention
| of the amendment feel bit shaky and
the leaders of the repeal forces are al
most jubilant in their predictions of vic
| tory. Both sides conceded the cities of
| Maine to the wet side The country towns,
holding the balance, of power are in the
| doubtful column.
| The battle will be fought, however. up
| to the time that the last voter deposits
his ballot Monday evening. The ''drys'
will do most of the spectacular fighting.
as they have all through the campaign.
and their orators will speak from public
squares, automobiles and in halls, even
church bells will ring all day and the
| leaders For God and Home" as their
motto reads, will combine with clcrgymen
in conducting prayer meetings.
Depend on Literature.
| The vets may do come missionary
work at the polls. but there will be TO
speeches The Maine Non Partisan Self
Government League with headquarters
| in this city. which has been the fore
| front of the forces who believe in the
repeal of the constitutions prohibitory
| amendment. has conducted campaign
l of Itarat3lrp and thew practically nm
ished their work tonight.
| Frederick G. Fassett, secretary of
this organization. said tonight:
| Il believe that the ~rohibitory
amendment will. be annulled h. a sub
stantial majority. The men who have
| been out at work amor the voters
estimate the ma jOritv at from lo.Ooo to
/ 20 900 and ! personally believe that
i these estimates are reasonable | be
lieye this from what / know of the
canvasses that have been made In dlf-
| ferent sections OF the state and from
other Information which we have re-
lceived."
The Other View.
| Mrs. L. NJ. N. Stevens national presi-
dent of the w. G. T. L., who has been
the leader in the fight for prohibition.
said today:
Il expect now, as l have from the
first. that we shall win a victory for
| constitutional prohibition in Maine. /
don't see how 1t can be otherwise with
all the forces that are on our side L
need not say what these forces are, TOR
| IT is well known who have stood on the
| side of prohibition in Maine. don't be-
lieye that the business men Will vote TO
inaugurate a system IN Maine that VIII
bring the saloon in competition with their
business life, and don believe that the
| taxpayers generally will adopt a plan
that will raise their taxes and endanser
| their families.
There are prohibition meetings being
| held all over the state tonight, but the
big guns are pouring their shot into Fort.
land, with the hope only, however. OF
/ reducing vote which even the, most
| ardent .'drys'' supporter does not deny
will sweep six Of the nine wards OF the
| city with its total vote of 11.O0O. big
item IN Il Maine election At one rally
/ here tonight former Gov. J. +. Hanly of
! Indiana was the speaker and at the other
oliver w Stewart of Chicago.
Parade of "Young Campaigners."
! The picturesque campaign which the
prohibitionists have conducted with their
automobile parties and parades of Young
Campaigners" the school children, will
| come to q climax Sunday, when thou
sands of children belonging to this or
paniZation all over the state Will turn out
| in procession, bearing appropriately In
scribed banners. Mrs. Stevens and Rep
resentative Hobson will speak at local
| theater in the evening, and In order that
| there be no detraction from this meeting
the Federation of Churches has decreed