The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-11-15

coIumbus.-Based upon official re-
turns from IT counties reported to the
secretary Of state, eight county cleo
tions board official returns and three
complete, but unofficial, county re-
turns, the tally on the prohibition is
sue was:
For prohibition 522y y226
Against prohibition .......... .524yo42
Majority against ........... 1916
Columbus.-Settlemen toward
final victory for the liberal element in
Ohio followed the official announce
ment from Cleveland that a gain Of
819 votes had been made by the anti
prohibitionists. This gave the oppo-
sition an apparent majority Of 1915
and ended the exasperating uncertain
ty that had continued since the close
of the polls on election day.
When 1t is remembered that about
1,05O,000 votes were cast upon this is.
sue and that the margin of success is
a minute decimal fraction of one per
lay will, or should be comprehended.
There is, quite humanity, rejoicing in
the ranks of the Liberals, whose poor
showing was a distinct shock to their
organization leaders.
PolIed Enormous Vote.
Analysis, however, shows that they
polled relatively an enormous vote.
Where they came near to calamity
was in failing to discover the deep
undercurrent that brought out almost
as heavy a vote on the prohibition
side.
The rallying of these great mum.
bers to the dry column was just as as
tonishing to the prohibition leaders
as to their adversaries.
The full vote, however, effectually
demolishes the favorite dry claim that
such a result would produce a prohibit
ton majority of $4,000.
This applies with equal force to sim
ilar assertions on the part of the JOY
full but still badly scared Liberals.
While not conceding defeat the drys
are pointing with profound satisfaction
to the reduction of the wet majority OF
1915 of more than $1,000 to the van
ishing point.
The prohibition leaders practically
have given up hope of victory save
by court contest. Every set of figures
collected seemed to show a defeat for
DrohjhitioD Tho yoor0iDu oro Of yorxy
ing size, running from 1000 to 1000,
but on the proposition of defeat they
are agreed.
Now that it seems to be actually
settled that prohibition has lost, the
actual official count is waited merely
to give the state the actual figures and
to disclose whether or not the prohi-
bition leaders will institute contest
proceedings. The suggestion that the
thunder may have been largely in the
index is one of the remarks most fire.
Quently heard in connection with the
threat. This is the more notable since
it was early declared sure there would
be contest and more recently the
matter has been left open to doubt.
That amounts to full assurances.
Again to Campaign.
Announcement that Ohio dry work
ers will make a three-fold fight, not
only for dry state. but also dry ma
tion, was made by James A. White,
state superintendent of the Ohio Anti
Saloon League, in his first public
speech since the election. In a few
days, he said, plans for the next cam
paign will be outlined.
I'VE are going right back on the
firing line" he said, land stay there
until the thing is finished. We take
our broken sword of the last campaign
and go back to the fight. Had Ohio
had an honest count, the state would
now be in the dry column"
Plans for the coming campaign, Mr..
White said, include: Prosecution to
the limit of the law persons guilty OF
fraud in the last eleCtion-in this con-
nection, it was pointed out that all
mistakes in counting ballots had been
made in wet counties, Hamilton, Guy
ahoga and Lucas-resubmission of the
same amendment apparently defeated
so that it will become effect
i've February /, 1919, the same hour
as if victory had been achieved this
year and the securing of state legis-
lature which will ratify the prohibi-
ton amendment to the Federal Con-
which the speaker maintain
ed was sure to be passed at the next
session of Congress.