St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-23
PROHIBITION IN IOWA.
The New Law Openly Set at Defiance
in MANY Towns.
Especial Correspondence of the Globe

in Many Towns.
Especial Correspondence Of the Globe.
DAVENPORT, Ia, July 21.-The question
now of most interest in Iowa is, can prohi-
bition be enforced? Opinions on the subject
vary in accordance with localities and the
citizens of Davenport hold different view
from those of Des Moines. In the first place
there is a popular misconception of the law.
For many years there has been in Iowa law
forbidding the sale of all alcoholic liquor as
beverage except beer and wine made from
grapes grown in the state. This law Judge
Hayes of the Second district, once declared
unconstitutional because by discriminating
in favor of Iowa wine it trenched on the
rights of the federal congress, which alone
has the power 'sto regulate commerce be-
tween states.' The case was, however,
never carried to the supreme court, and the
law was practically imperative in the Second
district. Anyhow the decision has almost
been forgotten.
Then came the prohibitory amendment to
the constitution, which was carried by popu
lar vote three years ago, and which the SUI
preme court soon after declared unconstitu-
tionally adopted. After this defeat the pro-
hibitory wing Of the Republican party, taking
advantage of their majority in the party eau
cuses took up the old prohibitory law, which
had never been repealed, and changed il so
that it would apply to intoxicating liquors of
all descriptions. This was done by simply
striking out the Irvine and beer clause" and
the omission of that clause is the only differ
ence between the law that went into effect
July last and the one which has been sup
posed to be in force in that state for years.
The -prohibitionlsts claim that mas
much as the old law was never enforced ex-
cept by fits and starts, this one will not be
either. The advocates Of prohibition, who
think man can be railroaded into heaven
astride Of legislative enactment, claim that
the presence Of the sIwine and beer clause''
in the old law was a loophole through which
it was very easy to smuggle whisky, and that
the present enactment can be made opera
tive because it covers everything. They
also point to the extreme penalties attached
to a violation Of the new law, and their
opponents apply to this by asserting that it
has been the history of all criminal procedure
that the more severe the penalties attached to
penal statute the more difficult OF enforce
ment that statute becomes. At this point
the argument closes, although the prohibit
ZIONIST generally throws in some side remark
about seeing whether the law wont be of any
account, and his adversary closes with the
assertion that che will be id if be paws
any attention to the old law anyhow"
Despite all this, however, the attempts to
parts Of the state are being watched with
great interest. So far they have been sue
cessful only in localities where the old law
was an entity. In Des Moines some prose-
cutions have been begun, but have not adj
vanced far enough to prove anything, and as
the enforcement of the old law was always
sporadic in that burg, the chances are that
the present one will have like history
In Oskaloosa and towns OF its size and
habits the saloons are nominally closed but
liquor can be bought if anything like an
earnest search Is made for it. Mar
shalltown, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs and
Muscatine keep their saloons open as ever,
but have taken down their signs, and the
thirsty Customer must ask for "cold tea''
or some such temperance drink. Cold tea
comes in kegs, and is manufactured at the
breweries whore beer was made short time
ago, and looks, smells and tastes like beer
Those who pretend to know, however, say
that 1t is not
In Davenport, Dubuque and Burlington
the law is openly set at defiance. The sa-
looms are wide open and the bottles set on
the side boards in sight of all corners, and if
customer wants whisky he calls for whisky
in as loud voice as ever. This may posi-
bly, be changed if few prosecutions are be-
gun, but the temper of the people living in
the river counties and towns is so intolerant
of any attempt to enforce the law that is ex-
tremely doubtful whether the most Jealous
prohibitionist will dare turn informer
In the meantime the passage of the new
law has had the effect of driving all of the
Germans into the Democratic party, and as
their vote is large one in the state it will
put down Blaine's majority badly in Iowa
this fall. The more enthusiastic Democrats
are claiming the state for Cleveland, but this
claim is probably superinduced moresby en-
thusiasm than reason. There can be no
doubt, however, that Baine's majority will
be very narrow, and there is more than
possibility Of his losing the state altogether.
II tho Democrats and the Greenbackers make
a fusion the Republicans will certainly lose
the state, and the fusion will probably be
made if the Democrats of the Mohaska county
district will consent to nominate Gen.
Weaver for congress