The Press., 1885-09-17
Letter from Iowa.

| The battle is on in this state, and will be until after the November election. The two great parties in the state have met in convention, and have expressed their opin- ions and made their nominations. The democrats held the first convention and had the first ticket in the field. They ex- pressed themselves clearly on the temper ance question, which is the most important in the present canvass. They are opposed to the present prohibitory law, and have said SO. Their talk all along has been high license, say from $500 to $1 ,OOO, but in the convention they came out for i- G nse law of but $25O.
 They declare prohibition to be 8 failure, and that the present law is an enemy to temperance. Neither of these declarations are supported by argument.
 The republicans have never made ''the support of prohibition test of party feal- ty,' but have upheld .'the right and duty of the state to regulate the traffic in liquor bysuch methods as will suppress the most of itsevils." At the same time it pledged itself to enact g law which the people de- manded by bipartisan vote, and did enact it. Now they say: 'sWe declare that it may have time to demonstrate it's efficiency or inefficiency, before it is re- pealed to give way to some other honest and earnest method of finding the true and successful method of dealing with the li- lquor traffic."
 Thus the two great parties stand in re- lation to the present state liquor law-one for and one against it.
 It has been known all along that the democrats would oppose it; but it was not known how the republicans would deliver themselves in relation to it. Some, and I think not few, believed the party would quietly ignore the matter, or, at most, would say nothing positively in relation thereto !; but it spoke out, and with no un- certain sound. It has certainly strength ened itself with the very best class of our people. The great bulk of the temper ance workers are quite well satisfied, and will do good work in the canvass for the success of the ticket.
 "A few there are who find fault because more radical position was not taken, and these have called for 8 convention to meet now in few days. These are political prohibitionists who are inclined to de- nounce as anti-prohibition all those who are unwilling to follow them in their meth ods. They are always in favor of third party; not because they have any faith it
 
 ties, but because it can be used as an in- strrment to punish those who will not sub- init to their dictation. The spirit of pun- ishing is so intense with them they will gratify it at the expense of the cause they contend for so zealously. They profess the most radical temperance views, but do not justify it by their works.
 | Is prohibition failure with us? This question will not be answered by men from different sections of the state alike, as it is not by opposing politicians. 'Prohi- bition is called @ failure in this county. For some tune after the law took effect, a year ago last July, the saloons were closed, and to all outward appearances the law was observed; but as questions arose for the courts to decide upon in the enforce ment of the law in different parts of the state, the mind of the public was confused, and it became uncertain how far one could go under the enactment in the suppression of the evil traffic. In this condition of doubt there was disposition shown to ignore the law altogether, and men were said to be engaged in the business, but very quietly. se Il Perhaps at no time has it been impossi- ble to get drinks if anybody wanted them. There arc many ways to evade such law. A new class of drinks came in vogue. and old drinks were sold under new names
 but every drink was indifferently called temperance. I don't know why unless they were to be used temperately. , Liquors were freighted or expressed iu
 here along with groceries. Open box oi groceries and there might be found in the 7 center of it bottle or a jug with the simor } pure article ready for the lips of tho
 thirsty. Of course it is most difficult t<
 deal with such evasions of the law. Whil. . you know men drink, and are sure in you mind where the drinks were procured, yo, cannot do anything with the courts. Be fore the courts you must present evidence :, and the great difficulty lies here: Yo, . can't get evidence that will stay by vol long enough for you to present it before justice. Men will not testify who. hay evidence, or will not witness to the truth
 As it is in this county so it is in othe !, parts of the state. Here there has been n ;. attempt to enforce the law but we be
 lieve the moral effect of the law has bee s good. If liquor has been sold and dran it has been under pressure which tn e law has imposed.
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