The following election account first appeared in the Lanark Gazette for 17 April 1901.
As notedin this article, in 1901 the majority of Carroll County townships voted in their
municipal electionsfor “license” candidates rather then the “anti license” or pro temperance.
Anti License people were typically temperance advocates who desired to prohibit the sale
of all alcoholic beverages with a given township or state. The County and Illinois temperance
movements were supported by various church and civic groups such as the Women’s Christian
Temperance Union. The WCTU and others, believed that the unrestricted sales of alcohol were
ruining society and civic life. Those who made up the license party normally were from Carroll
County’s business community with strong support from Carroll County’s large German and Irish
communities. In the United States, Prohibitionwas fianlly accomplished by means of the
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (ratified January 16, 1919) and the
Volstead Act (passed October 28, 1919). Prohibition began on January 16, 1920, when the
Eighteenth Amendment went into effect.
During the late 19th and early 20th century, Carroll County, voted overwhelmingly Republican
in the national election . In the US 1900 election, between William Mckinley ( R) and William
Jennings Bryan, McKinley was victorious with 7, 228,864 to Bryan’s 6, 370,932. Carroll County
clearly reflected this trend with McKinley getting 3,401 votes to Bryan’s 1, 255. Some towns
like Mt. Carroll were solidlyrepublican with 554 for Mckinley and 140 for Bryan while others
like Shannon were more evenly divided with 162 for Mckinley and 132 for Bryan.. Bryan
won in only one township in Carroll County and that was Lima where Bryan received
44 votes to McKinley’s 40.
The License vs. Anti License issue fought mostlly at a local issue as both of the major
parties typically chose to avoid directly taking a position that would alienate large
numbers of voters., hence Carroll County cities tended to vote license one year
and anti license the next
A LANDSLIDE
THE LICENSE PARTY ELECTED EVERY CANDIDATE ON THEIR TICKET
Yesterday’s (Lanark) city election was a hot one. The License people routed their opponents,
horse, foot and dragoons. While it was generally conceded that they would win out, it was
not believed they would gobble everything in sight, but they did, and seem to glory
in the fact.
The following is the results by wards:
Wards …………..1st 2nd 3rd Total
For Mayor
Edwin C. Franck 58 88 70 215
Millard S. Weary 52 54 59 165
--- ---- --- ----
Franck’s majority 6 34 11 51
City Clerk
John S. Stuart 63 76 66 205
Erastus S. Leland 44 65 53 162
Stuart majority 19 11 13 42
City Attorney
Edward C. Dick 64 84 68 216
Seth C. Wiley 41 57 51 149
Dick’s majority 23 27 17 67
City Treasurer
Harry W. Miller 51 83 64 198
Benjamin F. Sheller 53 54 54 164
Miller’s majority 26 17 34
Police Magistrate
Levi T. Bray 59 87 70 216
Alderman – First Ward
J.W. Clay Glotfelty 64
Jonathan Miller 43
Glotfelty majority 21
Proposition to issue bonds
Yes 41
No 13
Alderman –Second Ward
John T. Jacobs 87
Marshall S. Nelson 51
Jacobs majority 36
Proposition to issue bonds
Yes 65
No 19
Alderman –Third Ward
George W. Tallman 67
David Wolf 51
Tallman’s majority 16
Proposition to issue bonds
Yes 31
No 15
At Shannon Twp the entire Republican ticket
was selected as follows:
G.W. Whitmore Mayor
A.H. Prutzman Alderman
Jeff Barnes Alderman
Joseph Cheesman Alderman
C.M. Good Clerk
Abe Diehl Police Magistrate
Chadwick Twp
C M, Kingery President 105
George Groom President 45
J, P. Hanaford Alderman 64
James Taylor Alderman 100
John Spinks Alderman 67
H.L. Spealman Alderman 80
Fred Garwick Alderman 52
J.H. Green Alderman 25
H.B. Senneff Alderman 87
John Tripp Alderman 43
F.M. Shultz , Clerk 75
A.A. Brand Clerk 69
A. Stover Treasurer 101
For License 92
Against License 37
For Electric Lights 97
Against Electric Lights 30
Milledgeville Twp
Milledgeville went license yesterday
by thirteen votes, the first time in thirty years.
Following is the village ticket elected.
Arthur Deets President
Newton Miller Alderman
W. B. Holly Alderman
Fred Mueller Alderman
Herman Eni Clerk
F.R. Sunderlin Magistrate
Elections in other towns
Polo Anti License
Oregon Anti License
Mt. Morris Anti License
Leaf River Anti License
Byron License
Forreston Anti License
Warren Anti License
Lena Anti License
