Stevens County Votes the Saloons Dry — Then Newport's Saloon Men Go to Court

The 30 saloons in Stevens County, outside the incorporated towns, were put out of business at the special election held Tuesday. But little interest seemed to be taken in the election and the weather was very unfavorable for getting out the vote. County Auditor Jesseph reports that at 4 p.m. today 40 out of 66 precincts have made reports to his office. On those reported the drys have a majority to exceed 500, and it is likely that the precincts not yet heard from may add at least 200 to the majority. It is estimated that about 2,000 votes were cast.

Locally the election attracted but little attention. Of a total of 50 votes registered in Newport precinct but 23 were cast, of which 18 were dry and 5 wet. It had generally been conceded that the ranchers would vote against the saloons if given an opportunity, and the vote in the purely rural precincts bears witness to the truth of the prediction. Johnston precinct cast 15 dry votes and but one wet. The vote in other precincts on the east side was as follows: Diamond Lake, 24 dry, 17 wet; Usk, 28 dry, 8 wet; McLaughlin (Cusick), 34 dry, 23 wet; Dalkena, 20 dry, 5 wet; Ione, 14 dry, 27 wet.

Ione is the only precinct on the east side, thus far reported, which has gone wet. There is a movement on foot to incorporate the town so as to take it out of the county unit, but the local option people state that the town will have no opportunity of voting again until the general election of 1910, even if it does incorporate.

In the case of the saloon men of Newport against the town contesting the validity of the local option election held September 7th, attorneys for the plaintiff filed an amended petition today. There being no court in session today, the matter will be heard next Monday.