Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1917 — WHEATFIELD WOMEN VOTE AGAINST SALOONS [ARTICLE]

WHEATFIELD WOMEN VOTE AGAINST SALOONS

Had No Right, However, to Cast Their Ballots and Wets Win By Majority of 29. NEW LAWS IN EFFECT. (Special to Republican.) Indianapolis, May 31.—Proclamation issued this morning, May 31st.—J. P. Goodrich, Governor. There was premature rejoicing among the drys of Wheatfield Tuesday night, when it was announced the votes of women had ousted the Anderson saloon there. A petition for a local option election had been circulated and acted on favorably by the county commissioners. It was supposed the act giving women the right to vote would be in effect at that time, and as day after day passed wthout the new laws going into effect the temperance forces became very anxious. The morning of the election arrived with no news of the governor having issued -his- proclamation declaring the laws in force (being received. The polls opened at the usual hour but the women were not permitted to vote. Monday night a telegram was sent to Governor Goodrich stating the circumstances and asking if the law giving women the right to vote was in effect. About 9 o’clock the day of the election a telegram was received from Indianapolis signed “Goodrich,” stating that “the laws are now in effect.” Thereupon the election .board held that the women had a right to vote and at 9 o’clock they began casting their votes in separate ballot boxes from the men. If their votes had been legal the election would have resulted in a victory for the temperance forces, the township voting dry by a majority of 52. The vote follows: - Dry Wet Men .G *..., 86 115 Women . 22

On the face of the figures the dry a won by a majority of fifty-two, but with their votes thrown out as invalid, the wets won by twenty-nine. What complications may follow the balloting is not known, but it is promised the women’s votes will be thrown out. Wheatfield has one saloon, whose license expires June 4. There is only on other saloon in Jasper counts, which is in DeMotte. It was supposed by evervone that the election was legtal until the arrival of the Indianapolis News Wednesday evening, which stated that the laws were not yet in effect. Mr. Anderson, who operates the saloon at Wheatfield, was in town today and after his arrival here he had his first intimation that the laws had not gone into effect. The election .board filed their certificate with the county auditor Wednesday showing that the election had been carried by the dry element. Mr. Anderson charges a pilot on the part of some of his enemies and thinks that the telegram isgned “Goodrich” was sent from Indianapolis by some one other than the governor on the morning of the election in accordance with-a prearranged plan, and promises to make it interesting for the guilty parties If his surmises are correct. Allowing the women to vote is bound to result in complications. Anderson has filed an application for a renewal of his saloon license, which will come before the county commissioners at their session next week. If they go by the returns of the election board, showing that the township has voted dry, and refuse a renewal of his license he will have to appeal to tike circuit court, and as the court does not meet until September he will be forced to close his doors until that time. Should the court hold the election illegal he would be entitled to a renewal of his license, or if the court should hold the (license legal as far as the men’s votes are concerned he would still be entitled to a license, but who would reimburse him for the time he was forced to close his doors. It is probable, however, when the commissioners learn the facts in the case that they will grant him a license.

What 'the Governor Said.

Indianapolis, May 30.—‘When news was received at the governor’s office today that the votes of the women had carried a Local option election at Wheatfield, yesterday, to the dry co'umn, it was announced that the .gov ernor some time ago sent a letter to H. E. Remley, of Wheatfield, in which he answered questions in regard to the right of women to vote at the election. . v u * t v The governor, saying he had taken up the question with the attorneygeneral, told Remley that it was his belief women would be entitled to vote in local option elections, under the woman suffrage law, .but that whether they would (be entitled to vote at a local option election May 29, would depend on whether the governor’s proclamation, putting bhe laws of the 1917 assembly J" J} 11 prodamation has not .meen issued. The woman suffrage laiw did not contain an emergency clause and will not go into effect uMSI the laiw® are promulgated, probably Thursday.

GOVERNOR GOODRICH Z DENIES SENDING TELEGRAM

Says Laws Are Not Yet In Effect, LAs Receipts Are Not All In. In a long distance talk over the phone with Governor Goodrich today,

he stated that the new laws are not yet in effect, as receipts of the acts from all the county clerks of the state have not yet been received. He further stated that when he issued his proclamation putting the laws in effect that the proclamation would be published in all the papers. Asked if he sent the telegram to Wheatfield saying that the laws were now in effect and that the women had a right to vote, he stated emphatically that no sudh a telegram had been sent by him dr by anyone connected with his office. From this it appears that some one sent the lake telegram with the governor’s name or that no telegram at all was received at Wheatfield.