CHAPTER XVIII.
HOW CHICAGO BREWERS HAVE
TRIED TO PREVENT A "DRY"
VOTE
In Chicago, heretofore considered by the brewers one of their greatest strongholds, in order to enable the people to vote whether the city shall remain "wet" or become "dry," the law requires the filing of a petition with a certain number of signatures, but the brewers opposed even the right of the people to vote upon this important question and in glaring advertisements boldly advised them to withhold their signatures.
Attempts were also made to intimidate the circulators of the petitions by threatening them with prosecution for perjury unless they personally knew that all the signers were registered voters.
In spite of these methods, 148,802 signatures were obtained, 42,302 more than the 106,500 names required under the law.
Attempts made by politicians to defer the election for a year on the plea of "economy" were also unsuccessful. In many quarters same was branded as another ruse on the part of the brewers to prevent a "dry" vote.
"The beer traffic does not recognize the sanctity of the home"
CHAPTER XIX.
BREWERS FEAR
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Women know that the abolition of the beer traffic will prevent their children from becoming drunkards and criminals.
Women know that the abolition of the beer traffic means a full pay envelope on Saturday--a happier home--and more food and clothes for them and their children.
Women know that in the states where the beer traffic has been ousted, wage earners who formerly spent the greater part of their earnings in saloons have, since the advent of the "dry" wave, invested their savings in a house and lot, and in a few years were able to pay off the entire indebtedness--and now are masters of their own home.