Newport Would Vote Itself Wet or Dry

Wet or Dry Town Will Be the Issue. Election Day Is September 7th.

The committee which has been engaged in securing signatures to a petition asking for the calling of a local option election has been successful in its work, and has secured the signatures of 80 of the qualified electors of the city, a safe margin over the 30 per cent required by law.

At a meeting of the local option club held at the Baptist church Tuesday evening it was decided to file the petition with the town clerk, which was done Wednesday morning. Thus it is assured that the citizens of the town will be called upon to choose between a "dry" and a "wet" town. The election will be held on Sept. 7.

The filing of the petition with the town clerk makes it incumbent on that official to call an election, to be held within sixty days of the date of the filing. The town council will go ahead and make arrangements the same as for a special municipal election and the town will foot the bills.

The local option workers are thoroughly organized, while the "wet" forces have as yet no working organization. That there will be a close contest, with the result in doubt, is the general opinion. A great deal depends on the prospects for the adoption of a similar procedure in Bonner county, as many will refuse to vote the Washington town dry if Bonner county will permit saloons just across the border.