This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 21 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Pittsburgh Dispatch
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Jun 19, 1889
Page
2
The county nears twenty five thousand voters as Prohibition managers remain buoyant to the end. A. H. Leslie, secretary of the Constitutional Amendment Management, leads bold forecasts amid a close contest. Dispatches include interviews from victors and vanquished reflecting mixed public mood.
Early vote returns from Pittsburg and Allegheny show about a 20 000 majority against prohibition. Precinct totals are listed and the lamp words follow, giving a clear overall showing with only about six precincts still reporting.
At anti amendment headquarters in Pittsburgh the crowd celebrated returns by telephone and messenger. Chairman Duff and officials tracked Beaver’s vote gains, predicting a county lead of about 30,000 against the amendment as results flowed from 74 districts and Philadelphia reports boosted confidence.
The scene closes with supporters celebrating a sweeping victory as Mr Wertheimer and O Leary exchange remarks. A leader asserts a margin of about 100000, claiming the result surpassed expectations while cheers rise from the waiting crowd below the barrier.
A Smithfield Street M E Church all day service led by W C T U officers urged women to influence votes for temperance. Speakers recounted polling place incidents, a voter swore by a mother’s kneeling prayers, and multiple precincts reported strong turnout for the prohibition amendment.
In a fiercely fought East End election day, over a hundred W O T U women canvassed and fanned for Prohibition while anti campaigners watched polling sites. Churches rang bells, and water shortages prompted jokes of drilling a well in the street as posters with Lincoln quotes were printed to counter the pro Lincoln message.
A scrambled field report describes activity near Wilson block and W C U headquarters around five o clock. The text mentions a woman on a sidewalk and delayed returns from certain precincts within half an hour, but details are unclear.
Chairman Weeks and allies tracked early 1900s prohibition vote in Allegheny County. Telegraph and telephone lines buzzed as figures from Scottdale to Philadelphia rolled in. Despite optimism, the amendment lost with Weeks admitting a tougher fight ahead and a six year rematch.
Crowds gathered on Fifth Avenue watching city ward results for the amendment as Antis and Pros cheered and shouted through the night. The Dispatch office drew the crowd with its reputation for early, reliable news as returns came in alternating for and against the amendment.
A mill town mood fills Fifth Avenue and Wood Street as crowds of workers lawyers and professionals gather outside The Dispatch and Harris Theater to watch ward and county returns. Bulletins labeled Wets and Five Hundred Fifty Beer Tickets spark lively cheers and debates amid a theater district buzz.
Allegheny elections saw heavy turnout with Prohibitionists winning in Second ward but losing elsewhere. In Dutchtown’s Seventh ward Third district 155 votes opposed amendment to none for, and Ninth district 8 for 310 against. crowds paraded with brass bands as Prohibitionist tactics failed.
The article notes widespread voter ignorance about the suffrage amendment with many voting without knowing its provisions. Tickets favoring the amendment were scarce, while some precincts had none and in Fifth ward voters were urged to vote against it amid Prohibitionist accusations.
Union officials in Hamilton and Lemmon report the American Flint Glass Workers voted against the amendment. Estimates show 80 to 90 percent aligned with the anti side among 1,800 to 2,000 members in Allegheny county and about 6,000 in Pennsylvania. The vote reflects members’ interests over temperance labels.
Voters saw few placards at polling places with anti and pro amendment messages. The blue ink poster "Vote Against Prohibition" quoted Lincoln and Adams arguing liberty and safety of the republic. Other signs urged workers to oppose the amendment and keep money from saloon owners, while Prohibitionist banners were scarce.
Voters in McKeesport reject a constitutional temperance amendment with a city wide turnout of 2,201. Whisky supporters win by 245, with ward splits showing 161 in First, 147 in Third, and 63 in Second. Temperance activists cite strong campaign and ministerial efforts despite defeat.
Ed Murphy, a temperance advocate, blamed city voting power and money for defeating a proposed amendment. He said large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburg swayed results through machine politics and big spending, while suburbs leaned pro amendment. Murphy predicted about 60 000 vote margin against the amendment in the state based on Allegheny County.
C L Magee, SATS, criticized the prohibition movement as ill advised and said the issue began wrong in the 1830 convention. He asserted reform was unlikely in Pennsylvania, faulted the launch, and argued local option over statewide prohibition, focusing on Allegheny county figures.
William J. Brennen expresses joy over the state turning wet and credits liquor policy as a matter of organization and work. He argues liquor should be treated as any commodity to curb abuse and notes hope for suffrage reform. Continued on Sixth Page.
The article notes recent arrivals of Knabe Fischer Estey pianos at 91 and 93 Fifth Ave Pittsburgh. It highlights natural wood cases in varied shades from white ash to ebony, plain finish, rich appearance, and enchanting tone, with moderate prices and convenient payments.
Excursions via the Pennsylvania Lines offered on June 20 and 21 with return until June 27. Tickets available at Union Station or 110 Fifth Ave. Also advertisements for vast sales of goods including bicycles, hammocks, fabrics, cigars, and coats. Multiple businesses promote low prices and removal sales at various Pittsburgh addresses.
The notice touts discounts on high quality textiles including 10 inch block plaids, 40 inch striped side-border suitings, 40 inch English stripe suiting, and jacquard plaids. It lists cambric table items, new lawns, nainsook, satin stripes, masalia, tuckings, and fancy coverings for yokes with large price reductions on light colors and over draperies.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.