Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-09-23
WAIT Fun. lie VERDICT
King Street in Front of the Gazeti"
4 Office Densely Packed Last
Night.

The announcement that the election
returns would be received at the
Gazette office last night caused many
people, male and female, to gather
on King street, between Fairfax and
Royal. Sidewalks on both sides of the
thoroughfare in front of the office
were soon packed with humanity,
and as the crowd increased in dimen-
sions they gradually filled the road
way. Electric trains, with their gongs
sounding and automobiles croaklng
necessarily threaded their way at a
slow gait through the dense throng.
Notwithstanding so many persons
herded at this section the best of feel
ling prevailed. Squads OF policemen
were in the neighborhood ready to
stop any disorderly procedures, but
their services were not needed. The
crowd seemed to be about equally
divided. When the man behind the
megaphone announced a wet victory
there was much applause, but when
the figures indicating prohibition VIC
tories were uttered there was equal
ly as great manifestations of salts
faction.
The tremendous victory for the
vets in Alexandria had been antlcl-
pated. The judges had comparative
lily little to do, and the results Of the
election in the city was soon known.
The returns from the principal
Virginia cities were most eagerly
anticipated. At first the figures cast
temporary gloom over the friends
of prohibition, but this scattered
when the announcement was made
that Richmond had gone dry, but by
a smaller majority than had been
expected. Norfolk, too had failed to
meet the expectations Of the vets,
and when it was seen that Lynch
burg and Roanoke were in the dry
column the expressions of glae on
the part of the prohibitionists were
great.
Intelligence from county after
county was given out, in which it was
shown that the drys were several
thousand in the lead. As the hour
grew later the fact that Virginia had
gone dry by an overwhelming majo-
rity was apparent, and the crowd be-
gan to melt away.
While the greatest earnestness was
manifested during the day, the con-
test was conducted in a quiet man.
nar. There were practically no dis
orders, and but few animated dis
putcs were noticeable.
There were neither women nor
children around the polling places,
There was prayer and song SER
vices from until 9 o'clock in the
at Trinity Methodist Epis-
copal Church under the auspices OF
the w. c.. T. y. Bells in the Baptist
Church tower were tolled each hour
while the polls were open calling up
on all Christians TO pray for the sue
cess of the Statewide prohibition
cause. Both sides started in early in
the day to get out big vote, and
and other vehicles were
kept busy until shutdown conveying
voters to and from the polls.
The anti-prohibitionists won by
more than three to one the vets pol
ling 1,121 votes and the drys 35S.
The vote by wards in the city fol-
lows: First ward for prohibition los,
against 235; Second for prohibition
90. against 279; Third for prohibition
Sc against 256; Fourth, for prohibi-
ton 81. against 351.
The results in the city had never
been in doubt, and is practically
what had been anticipated by both
sides. Alexandria county. however,
which had been claimed by both
sides went to the drys by a majority
of 165. The total vote for prohibi-
ton in the county was 426 and for
local option 261. The vote by magis-
terial districts in Alexandria county
follows: Jefferson for prohibition GO
against 70; Arlington, for prohibition
259, against 100; Washington, for
prohibition 106, against 50.