Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1909 — OPTION PETITION SIGNED BY 1411 [ARTICLE]

OPTION PETITION SIGNED BY 1411

Voters of Jasper County, and filed Saturday Evening. SATURDAY, MAY 1, ASKED FOR • For Holding the Election, Bnt At The Hour of Going to Press No Action Had Been Taken By the County Commissioners, Who Were Walting For the Council to Make An Appropriation. The petition for a local option election in Jasper county was filed Saturday evening with 1411 names, about 700 more than the required number. . Of course not all of those who signed the petition are likely to vote dry. In fact there are a number of names of voters thereon who will vote the opposite way, and not all those who will vote dry signed the petition. So the number of names to the Instrument has little significance. At the hour of going to press no action had been taken by the commissioners on the petition, as the county council would not be able to meet until after 11 a. m., on account of waiting for the train frqjp the north to bring the northend members. The council must make an appropriation to pay the expense cf the election before It ils ordered.

The petitioners were to ask that the election be held on Saturday, May 1, and it is likely that date will be decided upon, although it is discretionary with the commissioners, sojt’is held within 30 days of the filing. Whether the wets, who at present are unorganized, will put up much of a fight in opposition is yet to develope. If the election had been called immediately after the state election there are hundreds of people who believe this county ants several of the neighboring counties would have voted “wet,” so incensed were many voters against the Anti-Saloon League for its disreputable methods in the campaign, but much of this bitter feeling has now died out and it is generally believed the county will go dry by from 400 to 600, depending on the size of the vote cast.