Denver labor bulletin., 1918-04-27
RETURNING TO DENVER

after an absence of three weeks on
the Atlantic seaboard makes ones de-
clare with renewed emphasis that at
| is a privilege to live in Colorado"
1t was in many respects a most Won
derful journey, covering over 5000
miles, with two weeks of intensive
\ campaigning. in New York state, max
ing two to five speeches a day-in
theaters, public halls, school houses,
churches, workshops and from an auto
on the crowded streets. Making
dry" speeches from a labor stand
point in a ''wet" country, might be
considered a hazardous undertaking,
yet the o. P. was treated with the
most distinguished courtesy and atten-
tion everywhere. In fact, we never
associated with more hospitable and
receptive class of people than those
upstate New Workers.
:. :. ::
NO-LICENSE ELECTIONS WERE
held in thirty-nine cities. Twenty
voted to abolish the saloon and nine
teen to retain the booze emporiums-
at least temporarily, for even in New
York the 'wets" admit that national
prohibition is sure to come within
three or four years. In fact, approval
of the national amendment lost out in
the New York legislature by only one
vote. Changing of a single senator
would have given approval to national
prohibition. We made speeches in
five cities and four of them voted dry
an 80 per cent batting average. In
all about 1000 saloons were put out
of business thru the special no-license
election and will close their doors Oc-
tober /. Syracuse retained its 316
saloons because the vets controlled
both the Republican and Democratic
machines of that city, and the brew
cries of Rochester and Buffalo poured
thousands of dollars into the "wet"
campaign fund. However, out of
$1,000 votes registered, the "wets"
held the city by less than 10000 ma
jority. Immediately movement was
inaugurated to continue the dry"
campaign organization, tho under the
New York local option law another
election cannot be held for three years
or in 1921.
IN ALL THE WET" CITIES EX-
cept Syracuse and Schnectady the
margin was very close, while in most
of the "dry" victories the majorities
ran high. AS this was the first time
New York cities have ever had an
opportunity to vote for or against |
saloons, the dry" victory in twenty
cities was really a remarkable |
achievement, commented upon editor
tally by all the big dailies of New
York City. The twenty cities which |
voted dry were Auburn, Batavia,
Binghamton, Canandaigua, Corning,
Cortland, Elmira, Fulton, Gloversville,
Cornell, Ithaca, jamestown, Johns |
town, Middletown, Norwich, Oneonta, |
Oneida, P}attsburg, Salamanca and
Watertown. Nineteen which voted to
license the sale of liquor were Amster- !!
dam, Beacon, Glens Falls, Kingston,
burgh, Little Falls, Lockport, Og-
densburg, Olean, Oswego, Port Jer-
Wis, Rome, Syracuse, Schnectady,
North Tonowanda, Geneva and Tona-
wanda.
AT CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
we took a little vacation, visiting New
York City and Washington, where one
seems to be just a few miles behind
the actual fighting front, so intense
is the war spirit and evidences of
Americas part in the great world
conflict In New York City the third
Liberty loan campaign was at its
zenith, and war talk was to be heard
on every hand. Up and down Broad
way, Fifth avenue and the cross
streets, Liberty loan booths and
speaking platforms met the eye and
caught the ear. In theaters between
acts and in hotel lobbies war talks
were being made morning, noon and
night. Great electric signs appealing
to Liberty bond buyers take the place
of business advertising, and the num-
Der of huge service flags emphasize
the big part New Workers are taking
in the war, measuring up to the great |
ness of the city. In New York and
Washington officers and privates in
uniform fill the streets, theaters and
hotel lobbies. Many French, English
and Italian uniforms are seen. Most |
of these, as well as American soldiers
and sailors, are men on furlough, en-
joying few days respite from prac-
crossed the ocean to get relief from
the din of battle. In the lobby of the
Manhattan hotel, where was stopping
for two nights, a young naval Off
Ger mountede table and in his appeal
for Liberty bond subscriptions told of
the scenes he had witnessed "over
there" having made three visits to
the fighting front.
ONE OF THE SIGHTS OF NEW
York is to see the great crowds at
Broadway and Forty-second street |
near midnight when thirty-five first
class theaters in that vicinity con-
clude their shows. 1t looks like all |
the people in New York attend the
theaters and everybody appears to
have plenty of money. Some one told
me the amount of money. paid in war
tax by theater-goers in New York
each night, but it was so amazingly
hupe that 7 have forpotten the figures