The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-11
PROHIBITION MAY
Be DOWNED IN
MAINE TODAY
Special Election in Progress In
Pine Tree State
BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY
Indications Point to Doubt in Both
Camps and Probability Of a
Close Election

The campaigners for and against
constitutional prohibition in Maine
spent a busy Sunday. Last night both
sides claimed victory in todays cleo
ton. The no-license adherents were
particularly active in the cities Sun
day school children parading the
streets carrying banners inscribed
with Vote no, Vote for us" and sim
liar phrases. More than 10000 chill
dren were in line. In many of the
churches of the state prayers were
made for retention of the prohibitory
amendments. The vote will be taken
today.
The supporters Of the constitutional
amendment continued their meetings
up TO the very eve Of the election. In
Portland, Congressman Richmond
Pearson Hobson OF Alabama addressed
two meetings and scores of automo-
biles toured towns and villages carry
ing speakers who made short address
es at convenient gathering places. The
meetings in the cities yesterday were
the largest of the kind that have ever
been made. Today there will be
even greater demonstrations. Those
who seek to have the prohibitory
clause removed from the constitution
OF the state were none the less active
but their work was done more quietly.
They held no meetings, but sent wor-
kers out among the crowds for per
sonal talks with the voters. During
the past few weeks they have sent
tons of literature into every part OF
the state. The personal workers will
continue their efforts until the polls
are closed tonight.
George w. Norton, secretary of the
lno-license movement, estimates that
the returns will show a mo" plurality
OF at least $4,000, while others OF his
workers are placing the figures any.
where from 10000 to 10000. On the
other hand, the managers of the cam
paign for repeal are claiming major.
| ity of from 5000 to 10000. Whatever
the result may be indications are for
one Of the biggest votes in the his
tory of the state At the last state
election, which the democrats won
more than 10000 voters cast their
ballot and with fair weather indicated
for today that number is expected to
be exceeded.
The question on which the citizens
will vote today is: Shall the consti'
tuition be amended so as TO abrogate
and annul the 26th amendment adopt
ed on the Sth of September, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four, relating 10
the manufacture and sale Of intoxica.
ting liquors?" Should the vote on
that question be yes" liquor could
not be sold in the state legally until
the legislature had repealed the pres
ent statutory prohibition law and en-
acted some kind of license law.
A proclamation of a campaign to be
started at once to place prohibition
in the organic law OF all nations and
to place prohibition in the constitu-
ton of the United States within a de
cade was read last night at the JEFF
ferson theatre in Portland by Mrs.
Lillian NJ. N. Stevens, national presi'
dent of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union. Ii was announced
that a copy of the proclamation has
been cabled to the international con-
gress against alcoholism which opens
at The Hague today. The proclama'
ton says in part.
I'm the name of the worlds and ma
tional Woman's Christian Temperance
Union We hereby make this proclam'
alton for a great crusade to carry
the vital truth to the people them
selves in all lands, and through them
to place prohibition in the organic law
of all nations. To America
we hereby proclaim amid the
smoke of the second great battle OF
Maine that within a decade
prohibition shall be placed in the
constitution OF the United States and
to this end we call to active cooper
alton all temperance, prohibition, re
liglous and philanthropic bodies; all
patriotic, fraternal, civic associations,
and all Americans who love their coun
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