The Alaska daily empire., 1915-05-05
INTEREST GROWS IN e WET 9 OR
 ..DRY,' ELECTION

interest IS btoWiA8 m tlt wet or "dry" election that has been called for May 2lth
 Juneau lawyers and others who are familiar with election laws. and the liquor license statute are being besieg. ed for information on various points. The question most frequently asked is the effect on the final result of the case where men or women may be un- able to get Co the polls to vote on elec- tion day and who may not have an opportunity after that time 10 express an opinion.
 For instance, the question was ask. ed several times yesterday as to what would be the status of a man leaving Juneau between now and the election. it is said that several residents who favor the issuance of licenses are go- ing away South to visit the San Fran. cisco fair and others are going out into the hills to do assessment work or on prospecting trips.
 Write Letters Or Sign Petitions
 Lawyers have suggested that those who are interested in preventing the saloons from going out of business should have these people write letters to the court giving their consent to che issuance Of licenses. and have their signatures properly attested to in such way that the court will know that the letters are not fraudulent.
 It has also been suggested that peti- tions could be signed by those who favor the wet side of the contest. Court wiii Not Take Snap Judgment
 lt is conceded by the businessmen of Juneau that the court win not take snap iudgment' iu the license Ques- tion. and that he will be fair. and that his record as a judge warrants this conclusion It is also thoroughly understood that the minority will not prevail if the majority will assert it's elf either at the polls or through oth- or available means. The election sim ply gives those who so desire an op. portuuity 60 express their preference in secret Judge Robert w Jennings gave this opportunity to the people because hundreds. in writing and in person. have appealed to him Go order Q secret election. It hes been repre-. sented by petitions. letters and by com mittees and individuals that the old way Of securing the consent of the people Is unfair because many peo- pie would not give expression Co their real convictions because of business or other reasons.
 Court Could Not Jrovide Ordinary
 Election
 One of the leading lawyers in Ju- neau. speaking yesterday about the order os Judge Jennings in calling an election on the proposition of issuing licenses to sell liquor, deplored the misrepresentations that are likely to fool many of the people as to the is sue. "The Court. he said. could not have called an election and provided that a majority of the'votes cast would control unless the majority was also a clear majority of all the white, male and female citizens Of the age of 21 years and over who live within two miles oc the places where liquor was to be sold. because the law says that the consent of such majority is necessary.
 This lawyer who win vote wet. he says. says further that if it is true that several hundred people have rel Quested the court to provide a method whereby those who so desire can .eN- press their support or opposition to the issuances of licenses secretly. the court was. in fairness. bound Co give consideration to the request
 ".t is not fair" he continued "to assume that the court will deprive the saloon men of single right that they have under the law He has not done SO yet. and no informed man be- leves that he will do SO.
 There is no doubt but that if ma iority of the people who are entitled to express their preferences on the license question exercise that right by voting or in any other manner hQuor licenses will be issued in Juneau, and in every other Southeastern Alaskan town where there Is such majority