Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 110, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1917 — ONLY ONE WET SPOT IS LEFT [ARTICLE]

ONLY ONE WET SPOT IS LEFT

Wheatfield Township Votes Dry At Option Election Heid Tuesday— Women Decide Issue. Wheatfield Review. 'Hie local option election held here Tuesday, May 29th, to decide whether the sale of intoxicating liquors should be prohibited m Wheatfield township was the most interesting election held in thus part of the state and probably the first and only one of its kind ever held in the state from the fact that the women voted in Wheatfield township the first time in any precinct in the state. The governor had only issued his declaration that the acts of 1917 were in force on the morning of this election and immediately upon the receipt of a telegram at 9 a. m. from Governor Goodrich did the act giving women the right of suffrage .become effective. All the women in the township became active and spread the news to each other and hastened to the ’xjlte to cast their first vote in the state, and after the canvass of the votes was made it was recorded that 203 men had voted, 86 voting “Yes” and 115 voting “No.” Two mutilated ballots cast by the men. 126 women had voted, 103 voting “yes’ ’and 22 voting “No.” One mutilated ballot by the women, leaving a majority of 52 dry votes. The township has one saloon, the license expiring June 4th. The women of the township feel highly elated over the fact that they cast the first vote by women in the state. The local option election held two years ago 4n Wheatfield township gave a wet majority of 47 and several wet votes mutilated. The election was very orderly in every respect.