The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-17
CHARGE AGAINST OFFICIAL
Nameless Judge of Election Ac-
cused by Prohibitionists With
1ntimidating Young Voters.
Where to Vote
Swansboro-Ncw Bank Building.
Onk GrOve--NInury street md Re.
tersburg Turnpike.
StrOud's Store-Ncu Road.
Polls open Mt 5;03 A. NJ.
Close Mt 1870 T.. NJ.

Voters OF Manchester Maglsterial
District. Chesterfield County, will go,
to the polls to-day and decide the fate
of the three saloons now operating In
the village of Swansboro. For six
weeks the local option contest has been
waged aggressively by the prohibition
lists. and with extreme quietness on
the part Of the liquor advocates
While both sides naturally claim that
victory will come to them. it is gen
orally conceded that the result will ia
close. Until the past few days the
drys' apparently would have a clean
sweep, but several strong charges put
out by them. especially claim that
voters were bciEg inundated by an
election official. changed the tide to
certain extent, and the vets" are
asserting that they will win with twcn-
ty votes, or more to spare.
Drys Hold First Meeting.
Inc first public meeting of the saloon
forces was held last night in Milby's
Hall, at the head OF Hull Street. Near
~ 200 persons We're present and heard
n cool and logical discussion OF the
question which will be decided to-day
The first speaker was Maurice A
Powers. OF Richmond, who spoke on
the folly of abolishing three saloons
With liCcnScu paTS OF the city OF
Richmond would stand wide open with
In a stones throw OF the village centre
He was followed by Augustine Royall
OF Forest Hill, who made dispas-
sionatc appeal to the voters of the
district.
While this meeting was In progress
the prohibitionists had gathered at the
corner, where a stump speaker and
cartoonist hello forth. y crowd of
nearly hundred. chiefly women and
children, listened to him. The audience
was augmented toward the last by
those who attended the wet" con-
ference. The entire crowd was orderly
to the extreme, there being little or
no applause.
Men Will Vote. Not Boys.
Only one interruption was made
while the speaker had the stand. 1t
came In answer to query of his:
How Will you boys vote tomorrow"
WET, wet wet" came the quick re-
Spouse from all sides
Il was talking to the boys. not the
men," shouted the speaker.
I'VE men Will vote tomorrow, not
the boys" was the reply.
The fight on the saloons is being
lead by the Manchester District Tenn
perance League, OF which Rev. Charles
Tinsley Thrift pastor of West End
Methodist Church. is the secretary and
leader. The league circulated petitions
than one-fourth OF the voters OF the
district. asking Judge Robert q.
Southall to order the election. 1t has
held numerous rallies in the district.
and has circulated several strong pam
phlcts
Saloons Cause Equnlity.
In the first pamphlet. it was claimed
that social equality was fostered by
whites and negroes patronizing the
three Swansooro saloons, in which 1t
was asserted that the races mingled
freely nj the bars. In another appeal
yesterday 1t was further charged that
local nuisance was maintained by
low -grade" saloons. where white men
and negroes drink together and where
whites and negroes. both men and wo-
men. loaf around the doors.
While names are mentioned
claim was made yesterday that voters
were being intimidatcd. Young men,
1t Is claimed, were advised not to
qualify, but to leave it alone. ms they
could not vote now and might get in
to serious trouble and never be allowed
to vote. 1t is further claimed that n
"wets" election Judge has advised
young men In this manner. Despite
this irregularity, no attempt has been
made to have this official disqualified.
Polls Open at Sunrise.
Three polling places will be opened
az sum ise thiS ii'oi iiiiS' anu VIII cioSc
at shutdown. They are located in
Swansboro. Oak Grove and Stroud's
store. This latter place is three miles
from Swansboro, end is always slow In
reporting.N Sunset to-day will be Mt
1929 z. NJ. and several hours will
elapse before The final result Is known.
All saloons in the district closed
last night at sunset in conformity
with the Byrd election law, and will
remain closed until tomorrow morn
ing. There are probably 500 qualified
voters in the district. about two-thirds
OF whom are expected to vote. Less
than 900 voted in the congressional
election last year