Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1909 — Local Option Wins. [ARTICLE]

Local Option Wins.

The four counties in which local option elections were held Tuesday i voted dry, putting fifty-eight saloons \ out of business. Tne counties and j their dry majorities are as follows; Hamilton ----- 2,3961 Decatur ------ 1,708 Tipton 1.581 Putnam ------- 1,564 Carrol county is also anxious to hav a local option election and 2,363 persons have signed a petition for it, which has been filed with the county ! auditor to be presented to the board | of county commissioners at their regular meeting next week. The sentiment against the Baloon grows stronger each year because the benefit to the community of being free from the saloon evil is manifest. The saloons have raised one try after another against temperance legislation; but each objection has refuted in its turn. Rensselaer is one of the many fortunate towns to enjoy the benefits of a dry town. There is more order in ; the town than there ever was when j saloons were here. The town is j more' prosperous. The young people are better off than they possibly could be if thrown in contact with tV,e usual tough saloon element. Whe e the merchants formerly lost much In bad accounts, they now have good paying customers who buy more than they did wtoen the saloons were here because they spend tbelr mofcey for their families’ needs instead of for drink. Incidentally, there aie mo.e huppy families too. Business men have found that the ony businesses injured by local option are the saloons and the gambling joints often connected with' them.