The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-25
ASKS FOR
COURT PROBE
CONTINUED from Page ~

CONTINUED from Page ~
gelist. the Rev. l. e. Honeywell, re-
ceived a free will offering amounting
to about $4,000. Shortly after the
close OF the evangelistfc meetings
petition calling for an option election
was circulated and the required num-
Der of signatures secured. Then the
citizens committee of one hundred
raised several thousand dollars to
finance the dry campaign and the cost
to the city for holding the election
will be approximately $500.
Change Only 2s5 Votes.
The net result of these preparations
and expenditures was the reduction
Of the wet majority Of five years ago
a total of $50, or the changing of only
265 votes.
An analysis of the results of yester-
days election shows the vets carried
twenty-five of the thirty precincts. In
1909 they carried twenty-six of the
thirty precincts. Yesterday the vets
carried six of the eight wards, losing
the Sixth and Seventh Five years
ago they carried all eight of the
wards.
A prediction claim of the drys was
that the precincts west of the river
would be carried by majority large
enough to offset the anticipated wet
majority in the First ward. However,
the drys carried the two West Rich
mond wards by the scant margin of
six votes and lost three of the five
precincts. The two West Richmond
precincts captured by the drys, the
Thirty-first and Thirty-second. are
known as the "Earlham precincts.
These were only carried by 81 ma
jority.
Silent Vote Effective.
AS was predicted in The Palladium
last Saturday, the big silent vote
did the work at yesterdays election.
Three-fourths of this vote went to the
vets. Enlisted in this big army of
voters were men who steadfastly re-
fused to discuss the issues of the
campaign for business and family rea-
sons.
They voted wet because they were
satisfied with business conditions I'M
der wet regime, and had no desire to
experiment with uncertain business
results under a dry regime; because
they believed it to be saner and safer
to regulate the liquor traffic through
the licensed saloons; because they
feared the elimination Of the saloons
would result in increased tax rates.
The vote cast yesterday, close to
1000, su!,stantiated the prediction that
it would be the largest ever polled in
this city. but at that it was much
larger than had been anticipated. By
. o'clock in the afternoon the ballots
east were in excess of the 5,911 votes
polled at the municipal election. last
fall. and it continued to register regu-
10 >DlI = oso
in the evening. A large number of
voters did not work yesterday.
Trouble in Twenty-fifth.
The polling of this record breaking
vote was featured only by the numer
Gus challenges and considerable dis
order at the Twenty-fifth precinct poll
ing place. The precinct is located in
the north half of the fifth ward, in
the heart of the foreign residential
district.
There are also a large number of
colored voters living in this precinct.
That polling place was the center of
interest all day, and there We're from
two to five hundred persons surround
ing the polls all day.
In the forenoon three arrests We're
made, riot narrowly averted, and
there was verbal clash between At
tOrney Henry L. Johnson and the Rev.
W. O. Stovall. which aroused intense
excitement. Late i'll the afternoon
fourth arrest was made, an Italian
charged with attempting to vote IL
legally.
Keller to Probe.
Charges of illegal voting have been
reported to Prosecutor Keller by both
factions. and he announced today that
he would at once call the grand jury
and a make a thorough investigation
Of these charges.
Unofficial returns from yesterdays
election show the vets made gains
over the 1909 results in only one
ward, the Third. which the drys eX-
pected to carry by a small majority
A comparison of the results of the
two option elections in the wards car
ried By the vets yesterday follows:
First ward, Gil majority, 1909; $50
in 1914.
Second ward. $50 majority, 1909;
210 in 1914
Third ward, 179 majority, 1909; 265
in 1914.
Fourth ward. 39s majority in 1909.
39l in 1914.
Fifth ward, Ill majority in 1909:
81 in 1914.
Eighth ward, 1879 majority in 1909;
20 in 1914
A comparison of the results of the
two elections in the Sixth and Sew
enth wards follows:
Sixth ward. - wet majority. 1909:
III dry ma Ority, 1914
Seventh ward, Il wet majority,
1909: sc dry majority, 1914.
Feeling Intense.
There probably has never been an
election here in which such great in
terest was evidenced. For two weeks
prior to the election the question vas
the one absorbing topic for discus
sion in public places: it resulted in
numerous family feuds. and in many
homes its discussion was strictly ia
booed; lifelong friends became
estranged in many instances: columns
upon columns Of newspaper space
were devoted TO the arguments of
both factions; countless prayer meet
ings were held; business was inter
fered with and for three weeks the
drys held public meetings at the tab
ernac1e almost every night.
Early Tuesday evening crowds be-