Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-17
INTEREST HERE
AT HIGH PITCH
| ON DRY BATTLE
Ok Island People Aroused to Ex-
element on Yesterdays Vote
i'm East Moline.
ARD MAY BE ASKED To ACT
quest for Licenses for Liquor
Traffic in South Moline EX-
pected to be Made.

Rock Islands interest in yester-
rs local option election in East
EHne developed TO q high pitch
t night.
while people in general were not
Ibused to the fevered excitement
i they were in the vote here two
3eks ago, there was a good deal
/ concern manifested on all sides
+ hing the evening. There was A
4 ge crowd in front Of The Argus
ce. where bulletins were posted
rapidly as Information poured
TO The Argus headquarters in
st Moline, being relayed TO the
Ice here over the telephone.
ere was q steady succession Of
ephone inquiries TO the local Of
as we'll
Never was there an election in
81 Moline which created the in
est in this city such as that Of
terday. The reason is obvious.
til Rock Island going dry May !,
battle on the last stamping
bunds OF the legalized liquor traf-
! in Rock Island county was be-
waged.
TO many the battle meant almost
much as the election here two
eks ago. for had East Moline
ed to remain in the wet column,
place reasonably close by would
Re been afforded to obtain the
ars and liquors. voted 10 be elm
ted in this city on May l.
others living in this city had an
crest in the outcome from the
7bncial standpoint. Those who
i planned to remove their
I cks OF liquor to East Moline
er May /. 10 conduct wholesale
! lses there and sell to persons
Hiding in this city, shipping the
goods in.
when the final bulletin came IN
bwing East Moline had switched
h the dry column, the word "Sa-
Ena" flashed through the minds
many Of the oilers who cannot
along very we'll without the
Z and who usually move out
en- the liquor traffic does.
But the news soon spread that
IFanna voted dry, and so they
Ind that there are only Two re-
.rses- 81 miles east Of
e on the Rock Island lines, or
|bria, about one hundred miles
Etheast OF here.
The situation is rather a COM
one. That part Of South Mo-
L township not included in the
Is of East Moline is still wet ter
Dry. Two years ago South Mo
L township voted wet. This year,
|EeYer, the drys decided TO carry
/ issue only before the voters Of
city. Thus. the city Of East
|line is made dry while the great
part Of the township, being out
l. Of the city limits, is wet.
Effect Not known.
What effect this is going TO have
|bn the liquor traffic in the coun-
/ has not as yet been pointed out
officials. States Attorney Thomp-
i has. said that, in order TO oper-
/ ip the township, persons desir-
/ permits will have TO secure
N from the board of supervisors.
L board meets in special session
April %, and If there is any dis
ition on the part Of persons
#nciaIly interested IN the liquor
INC 10 open establishments n
18th Moline township. il is very
ely that they viii petition the
lrd for this privilege.
he viewpoint Of the board Of
bervisors on the liquor issue has
been canyassed- Il will be prac
#ally an entirely new body that
&ets next Tuesday. What the at
1Ide OF the board members is
*5n the matter Of licensing the
Ior traffic can only be learned
bn a test vote, which will result
enever a petition is presented to
board
There is little question but that
board viii refuse TO permit the
lining Of the retail liquor traffic
the township. according to a
tement made by one OF the mem
Is Of the body today II any per-
are granted, il was stated,
y Will only be for the establish
bit Of wholesale warehouses,
20 where liquor may be shipped
private homes in the cities in
county, and the supervisor said
s doubtful If even this privilege
uld be granted. Again, it was
led that TO open a wholesale IL
pr house, 10 establish the ware
bse where liquor may be stored,