The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-10-13
ESCAMBIA COUNTY IS
WET BY BIG MAJORITY
All But One City and Many
of the Country Precincts
Against Prohibition.
LARGE MAJORITY
CAUSED SURPRISE
With Six Country Precincts
to be Reported Vets
Have Majority of $50.

With six country precincts vet to
be reported the returns up to mid
night last night showed that the pro-
hfbitions were defeated by majority
of $50 votes in the special election
yesterday. The precincts to be heard
from cannot change the result, but
very probably win leave the majority
above 900. The result occasioned no
surprise, excepting the size of the
majority. It was practically fore
gone conclusion that the proposition
would be defeated, bat it was not
anticipated that the majority would
be of such proportions.
With the exception of No. 81 each
of the city precincts voted wet, while
many of the country precincts which
heretofore had been in the dry column
went to the vets by small majorities.
The result was a wet vote of 1 .934
against a dry vote Of gy4.
The election passed off quietly.
There were no disorderly scenes dur
ing the day. Voters went to and from
the polling places and there was much
activity among the workers of the
prohibitionists and ants, but the day
passed off pleasantly.
The short ballot enabled the clerks
and inspectors to finish their work
early after the polls closed, with the
result that by $50 the result was
known. Crowds gathered at The Jour
nal Office and other points in the city
where the returns were posted, while
/, The Journal telephones were kept
ringing throughout the night, evidenc-
ing the interest the people nantes
ted in the election.
PARADE IS FORMED.
Shortly after o'clock a parade
was formed and headed by a brass
band paraded Palafox street, first
going to the San Carlos hotel, where
President Hervey, who had directed
the anti-prohibitionists campaign ap-
peared and made a short address. He
said in part:
mo one could feel more grateful
over the results of the election TODAY
than |, and want you all to know
that my appreciation is not lacking.
am not surprised that in your great
| joy you desire to celebrate this vic
tory, but I want you to bear in mind
that one of the great principles which
we set forth in our campaign was tenn
perance, and that hope tonight nc
one will commit any excuses but that
in the enjoyment of your victory you
will be temperate"
PROHIBITIONIST STATEMENT
Mr.. Holsberry, for the Escambia
County Prohibition league, last night
: phoned the following as a statement
: from that organization:
''The officers of, the Prohibition
league when interviewed said thai
there was several things which con
: tributed to the defeat in the election
S of yesterday, among which was Thu
Davis law, which many voters though
should be given a trial, but while it i
good, SO far as it goes, and will n,
doubt curtail the amount of drinking
t yet experience will show, as it hal
: shown in many other places, that tn,
s saloon is something that cannot b.
IregulaUed, ana must therefore, o
: necessity, be eradicated.
f'The financial condition of the cit,
was used to brighten the voters int
! thinking that taxes would be increase,
. and business would be injured an
many persons thrown out of employ
: ment. Many of the voters were de
! ceived by this argument who wouI
have voted against the saloon unde
ordinary conditions.
9 "a question is never settled unit
it is settled right and with the rapi
= progress with which prohibition
a spreading over the south and owe
3 the entire United States it is only
u question Of very few years unit