The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-22
Liquor Dealers Association.

We publish below the resolutions of the
Liquor Dealers Association, held at Des
Moines, for public information. We believe
in free discussion of all subjects affecting the
welfare of the public and the rights and in
terests Of any considerable portion of our fel
low citizens. But we are sorry to see that
the Liquor Dealers Association has precluded
all discussion of the measures of their move
ments, and have laid down the law for all
parties. They have set their interests above
party or country, and pledged themselves to
act politically not with a view to the public
welfare, to the safety, the honor, or the hap
piness Of the country and the maintenance of
our free institutions, but irrespective of all
these things, to support for office, not for the
Legislature only. which alone has anything to
do with the matter, but for all Offices, only
such men as will pledge themselves to seek
members of the Liquor Dealers Association,
in the prosecution of their traffic.
OF course, there are men enough iu the
country who are ready to sell their principles,
their influence and their services to any as
sociation in the market with respectable bid
therefor, and hence, we presume that the
Liquor Dealers are wise in their generation in
making an open and public bid for the servi
ees of candidates for office.
There are doubtless many persons in all
parties in favor of License Law, but most
persons would regard it as degrading insult
to charge that they held that question as supe-
rior to all Others and were ready to sacrifice
principle and party upon the altar, at which
the members of the Liquor Dealers Associa-
ton pour out their libations.
We the delegates Of the several Liquor Dealers
Associations of the State of Iowa. in convention
assembled at Des Moines, on the 10th day of Au-
gust, 1895, 10 assert;
|. That we deem the liquor trade legitimate
business representing in the State Of Iowa capi-
tai Of ut least two millions of dollsrs--that the
same is recognized and taxed by the laws of Con-
gress and is. therefore, entitled to protection
der the laws of the State of Iowa.
q That the prohibitory liquor law on the stat
ute book of State is an act of usurpation, and
an infringement on the rights and liberties of the
people, inconsistent with the spirit, of the Consti
tuition of the United States, and opposed to the
best interests of the inhabitants of the State,
j.
Juty Of cur legislators to strike said Law from the
Statute hook-but that heretofore our Just de-
manis for repeal of said law have been frustra-
ted by designing politicians Of all parties. There
fore
Resoired, That at the coming election will
support no candidate for office, State or county,
who do not pledge themselves in writing in favor
of the repeal of the said prohibitory liquor law.
and the enactment of ludicious license law in its
stcad-but that we will do our utmost to defeat
all n lidates opposed to said measures, regard
less of all party issues.
A.esolrsd, That soolnniittce Of three DE appoint
sa 10 interrogate the several candidates for State
Offices, now nominated, or hereafter to be put in
nomination for the ensuing election. us to their
views ON the above measures--and further the
several liquor deae associations shall perform tho
same duty ia their respective counties in regard
TO candidates for county officers and legislative
Representatives and senators-and that said
committees publish the results of such interroga-
tion in the newspapers friendly to our
Resoired, That we solicit the cooperation OF
all citizens Of Iowa, in favor of the above
measure.
Pe.oired, That 10000 copies of the foregoing
,esdutlonsbe published in circular form and that
The Secretary Distribute them over the entire
State.
There are many subjects involved in the ap.
preaching election that We and others hold OF
far more vital importance, to the welfare OF
the country, than that involved in the Liquor
Dealers programme, and we shall vote for
candidates of anti-Copperhead prochvities,
irrespective of that programme, because we
so believe.