The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-02
Defeat of Temperance Force
in Valley City Impetus to
Great Movement.
ELECTION IS LOST
THROUGH NEGRO VOTE
Majority is 1o2, More Than
This Number of Negroes
Voting Wet. Quiet
at the Polls
aY srAEF CORRESPONDENT.


STAL NToN, VA. Aug. I've have
met the enemy and we are theirs, Ia
the way the dry folks of Staunton reply
TO queries as to the result of yester-
days local option election. The vets
carried the city by the decisive ma
jority of l02, reversing the dry ma
iority of 20 Of two years ago The
wet carried the first ward by 81 and
the second ward by II. The total vote
cast was i,454, an increase OF $50 over
two years ago.
1t transpired that the vets had been
planning for the fight for year and
when by close personal canvass and
by alliance with the Republican Lead
ers they felt sure of their ground they
sprung the petition for the election.
Not only did they have the local situa
ton well in hand but they had located
every man. who had left town. but
who had not formally changed his
doinIcile. These men. when IN SYM
pathy with the vets, We're brought
back to stanton and were a strong
factor in to-day's contest
Negro Vote Decides.
Statistics showing the negro vote
are not at hand at this hour but it ID
unofflcially stated that this vote reach-s
ed approximately us of which 125. or
more than the wet majority, we're
polled for the wet ticket. These fig
dFsS mean that Ltlb IOloTGQ NbLS tthA
dictated the policy of the City OF
Stanton. and created an irrigating
station from which the surrounding
country may receive the fiery fluid.
The negroes were nowlingly enthu-
sfastic over the result seeming unable
to control themselves while wet Lead
ers were all but Rugged by enthusiasts
tic followers.
fifth Election.
THO to-day tbe fffh
held under the local option law, and
the fourth won by the vets. The first
vote was taken In April. 1887. when
the vets won by IS votes. Four years
iater they won again by majority OF
81. This result stood for rs years and
another count in July 1907 resulted in
n majority of "a for vets. Two years
ago, the drys came In power with q
ma tority of 20. in n total vote of 1904.
The election was devoid of unpleas-
ant incident. the nearest approach to
anything OF that character being DUR
ing the rush hours of the morning.
when it seemed 1t would be impossible
for the entire vote to be polled.
Dlatory Tactics Unnecessary.
The vets adopted policy Of having
men who had already voted take
places in line. surrendering such places
to men for whom they would send.
This favorite election day performs
ance. however. was soon found to be
unnecessary. both sides. 1t transpir-
ing. having ample time to poll all their
votes.
The drys increased their vote Of two
years $50 by about thirty. the wet In
crease being about $50. While bft-
terly disappointed over the result, the
dry people see in the situation but
an added argument for State-wfdS
prohibition, and there is no doubt that
victory of saloons in stanton to-day
WIFI have a. far-reach ching effect upon
/ temperance activity throughout the
State.
Overcome for the moment, the drys
of Stanton have a magnificent vote
to point to, and VIII now, beyond
doubt, throw their strong influence
and great energy to the Statewide
movement.