The Township Election - Momence Township is Dry; Ganeer Goes
April 10, 1908
After the hardest campaign in the history of the town in which 562 votes were cast, Momence went dry by a majority of 38 votes. Nearly 400 votes were cast in Ganeer, and that township went wet by 55 votes.
For several weeks both sides have to keep up a warm contest, almost every night there was a speaking or a meeting of some kind. Some of the best orators in the country have been here and the question was thoroughly discussed. Just before the battle of the ballots, a parade of school children was given. About 200 of the little folks were in line, carrying banners, singing songs, and giving their battle cry, such as “The Saloons Must Go.” They were led by the ladies of the different churches.
All day long, the voters came in and the ballots silently dropped into the boxes, told the story. In the afternoon it began to rain, and the anti-local option forces took this as a good sign, but the men stood out in the rain to the finish. Every nook and corner was searched for voters. There were many witty sentences coined, but no blows were struck.
As a result of the election, all the saloons in Momence Township must close. It is said they will move over to Ganeer Township as fast as buildings can be secured. However, the city will vote on option April 21st and it is believed the whole city will go dry. Ganeer has boasted for years that she has no saloons and now it's up to the people to decide. If the city votes wet the question will likely be submitted at the next general election in Ganeer.
1908 was a particularly interesting time in the Temperance Movement for Momence. The photo above was taken at a time when Momence Township was “dry” and prohibited the sale of liquor. Adjacent Ganeer Township was “wet” and therefore allowed saloons.
This meant that simply crossing Dixie Highway in downtown Momence (which divided Momence and Ganeer Townships) would allow you to buy a drink. Additional snippets from 1908 news articles are below and a wonderful booklet with pictures, illustrations and many stories can be accessed by clicking on the button below.