The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-10-14

The local option fight Is over for
the present and the vets came out
victorious by u vote OF 2lO to 23I. a
majority of six.
The election while being hotly con
tested from both side, was the hest
handled affair ever pulled Off in Tu
cumcari. All day both sides worked
hard but no harsh words were spoken
and no trouble reported. This was n
pleasant surprise To every citizen and
the leaders Of both sides should be
commended on the stands they took to
have Il fair and square election.
Attorney Harry II. McElroy, the
leader for the drys was highly com.
mended by both sides. He made a
hard fight and accomplished more than
any other man in Tucumcari could
have done under the circumstances.
He handled the subject without gloves
and always fought in the open. He
carried the fight TO the vets and up TO
II week ago had them on the run. when
the vets got busy and began their
fight and won it only by small mar
gin.
On the other hand the saloon men
handled most of the fight for the vets
and with the assistance of IA few bust
ness men publicly and others who were
in favor of statewide prohibition but
not in favor of local option, they put
up IA creditable fight and were gentle
men in every respect.
Most of the saloon men will well
come the undoubted enforcement of
new and old ordinances which the
present council have in mind and in
tend to enforce to the letter. The
proposition of doing away with the
cafes in connection with the saloon is
to be taken zap and properly handled
by separating these places so that "a
boy will not be allowed to have any
excuse whatever for entering the sa-
loon. A strict closing and opening
law is promised and must he secured
to please many of the citizens favor
ing the licensed saloon. No dives or
joints will be allowed to handle booze
on Sunday or will not be tolerated at
all. This election has demonstrated
the fact that the people of Tucumcari
fHuNi Dt GlNtIl OlllCtIN Wtb VIII uD
their duty and must be allowed to do
their duty without being hampered by
the higher power. II the ordinances
now on the book are enforced and the
new laws promised are put into oper-
alton and enforced Tucumcari will
be an ideal town.
There was some talk OF contest but
only for few minutes when it was
quickly decided by those who were at
the head of the dry campaign, when
they determined the election honestly
won by the vets and politely took off
their hats to the winners. Friendly
hand-shakes were witnessed and moth
ing will come up to hamper the up
ward climb of Tucumcari from busi-
ness standpoint.
To show how the saloon men feel
toward Mr.. McElroy il might be stated
that they recognize him as the hard
est and cleanest scrapper they ever
went up against and should he ever
come out for any office some of them
say he will receive their support for
the gentlemanly fight he put up for
his chosen side.
In conversation with Mr., McElroy
this morning we were told that he had
been asked To make the race for sew
eral Offices, among them district judge
and mayor, hut he refused to consid'
or either and will continue To live IN
and work for Tucumcari and State OF
New Mexico, continuing his law prac
tice which is ever growing and much
more profitable than office holding. liz
is building "a new law office and owns
nice home in the south part of towr
and is wholly satisfied without hold
ing office. lie will no doubt take az
active part in the statewide move
ment to vote New Mexico dry.
The saloon men are of class muci
different from those who run saloons
in the east and are respectable mel