The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-30
STATE DRYS TO
CENTER BATTLE
IN TOWN POLLS
York Is Leading Fight for
Boards Opposed to
Liquor Sale.
BY JAMES DOSS
Times stan Writer

Indiana drys, under guidance Of
the Indiana Anti-Saloon League,
are laying plans for a concerted
drive in the Nov. town elections TO
elect town board members pledged
to oppose the sale Of hard liquor.
L. E. York, league superintendent,
said today that citizens committees
in every county. working under di-
rectlon Of the County Citizens As
ISOLATION, would direct the cam
paign to keep dry the small commu-
mites which have failed to exercise
local option and to seek repeal in
communities where liquor ordinances
have been passed.
The new Indiana liquor law pro-
vides that town boards and city
councils in towns and cities of I'M
der 5000 population must adopt or
dinances before liquor can be sold
by the drink Unless the ordi-
nance is adopted, such communi-
ties remain dry.
399 Towns Already Dry
Thus far 399 towns and cities have
remained dry and only 65 towns and
cities have availed themselves of
the option privilege In such cases
the ordinance must remain in
force for two years and so days, so
the drys' r%oeal efforts must wait
until that time has elapsed even if
they are successful in electing town
boards where a majority of the
trustees are pledged to their cause.
The drys' repeal cause must be
confined to AZ of these IS because
only that number of the local OPP
ton communities are towns. The
cities among the IS will not hold
elections.
They have a large field. however,
among the many dry towns Thich
have stood firm thus far, but in
which there is reported much senti-
ment for the passage of liquor Or
dinances.
Center Fire on Saloon
The town elections can not, of
course, be taken too seriously as a
barometer of the liquor laws popu-
larity because they can represent
only the rural viewpoint and do
not take into consideration the
sentiment in the big industrial
centerS.
Mr.. York strikes the keynote of
the campaign when he charges that
the saloon has returned, unchanged |
except for name, in spite of the
state administrations promise Of
local option.
He points out that the town
boards which have passed liquor
ordinances we're not elected on
wet and dry issue and therefore,
their actions are not representative
of rural sentiment
Claims Promise FlOuted
The drys we're promised local
option" he asserts, but we have
nothing resembling it. 1t goes
without saying that the state adj
ministration has made a botch of
the liquor law. Why, many people
come to us for protection in cities
where their neighorhoods are the
target of roistenng and noise"
The Anti-Saloon leader said the
drys also are pointing to the next
election to the General Assembly
and will seek to elect Senators and
D1v1rocar,Fnffrroc rO1oCcoI tn n local
option law based on the county and
township unit.
In the town elections, it appeared
today that many communities might
let the elections go by default. Re
quests for information as to wheth-
er a town is forced to hold election
have been answered in the af1rma
: tive by w. w. Spencer of the State
Election Board.
If the town violates the law and
fails to hold an election. the same
boards will serve for four years
more.
Elections in This County
To Marion County goes the dis
tinction of having the smallest OF
the 432 towns in which elections
are scheduled. 1t is Shooters Hill.
This tiny community is in the
Fourth Precinct of Washington
Township and according to the last
census. numbers II souls. 1t is stu
ated chiefly from the 1000 block of
w. Amidst to Northwestern-av.
Shooters Hill is being pushed for
the midget championship. however,
by Dunes Acres. in Porter County,
with a population of u
Marion County towns besides
Shooters Hill scheduled for elections
include Beech Grove, CaStleton,
Clermont, Crows Nest, HighwoodS,
Lynhurst. Ravenswood, Rocky Rip
pie, Speedway. Spring Hills, War
rem Park. Williams Greek, Woodruff
Place and woodstock.