Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-10

"oy VlolatlOnS OF prOnlOltOfy law, until
many candid readers really come to the
conclusion that. after all, there is no bet
ter way than to hold on to some form of
license.
Now, there is nothing like having reli-
able testimony, and for this reason we
give our readers IN extract from !. Ainne-
sofa paper, containing the opinion of Dis
trict and Superior Court judges with ref
erence to the working of the Iowa probib-
itory law. We ask you, kind reader. to
study these opinions. They are from men
on the ground, of judicial minds, and
know whereof they affirm. They can be
trusted. So please, after reading, cut
them out, place them in your note book,
and the first man who begins to talk to
You about the failure OF prohibition in
Iowa, just give HIM dose from the
judges.
Gov. Larrabee sent out inquiries to the
District and Superior Court Judges OF
Iowa, asking their opinion Us to the effect
of the prohibitory law in their respective
its amendment or repeal The following
are their replies:
Second District-Judge Traverse: 1t
is the most Christianizing and civilizing
event that has happened within the age.
Judge Stuart: Iwould not advise the re-
peal Of the prohibitory liquor law.
Third District-Judge Harvey: 1 am
not aware that there is saloon in the
district. 1t has reduced crime at least
one-half, and the criminal expenses IN
like ratio. would not, and do not. favor
the repeal of the law. Judge Henry: 1
doubt the expediency of oh snging it.
Fourth District-Judge Lewis: I think
the prohibitory law is all right and should
no 1o1 no low &c
forced as any other, and has decreased
criminal expenses OF least thirds
Judge Ladd makes few more stringent
suggestions and says: These are ali the
suggestions I would offer in the matter of
the change of the liquor laws. Judge
Wakefield was opposed to the law and its
enactment, but says: We have passed
through the heat of the battle. and the
power of the traffic seems to be broken
and enforcement possible and practical.
Fifth District-Judee Henderson: If
judges, courts, sberiffs, and other peace
officers, as we'll as citizens, do their duty,
the present law. Judge Ayres: I have
no doubt that the prohibitory law has re-
duced criminal offenses and the expenses
of the courts in this district very largely,
and l certainly would not advise q repeal
| of it; but I would advise modification or
change in the pharmacy law. Judge Will
kinson: The prohibitory law in this dis
trict is we'll enforced. While there are
clandestine. sales Of liquor, know of nc
saloon in the district. have no doub
but that crime and criminal expenses have
been lessened.
Sixth District-Judge Lewis: would
tory law, as believe it will end the saloon
and promote the temperance sentiment
and sobriety, and in every way better
state of things in society. Judge Ryan:
am free to say that in my limited ex-
perience on the bench, and twenty years
at the bar, would not advise its repeal
Judge Johnson: There can be no doubt
that the effect of the prohibitory law has
been to reduce very materially crime and
criminal expenses in this district would
not advise it's repeal.
Ninth District-Judge Kavaraugh: 1t
has decreased crime over fifty per cent,
and added largely to individual happiness.
Judge Conrad: My observation is that it
trict, and very much lessened the costs of
maintaining the courts. Judge Given:
would certainly not advise its repeal, and
do not know of any law that would be
| willing to see placed in its stead.
| Eleventh District Judge Weaver:
have been on the bench now year, and
have held twelve terms of court in eight
different counties. During that time
have been called upon to preside in but
two State cases where the charge was
above the grade Of misdemeanor, and have
had occasion to pronounce but one sentence
of Imprisonment in the penitentiary.
The criminal expenses in nearly every
county are being reduced to a very low
sum-
Twelfth District-Judge Cleland: The
action of the law has been beneficial, and
tended to lessen the criminal business and
expenses.
Thirteenth District Judge Granger:
The effort at closing the saloons in these
counties commenced in the spring, and has
been successful. I have no hesitancy in
saying that the closing of the front door
of the saloon, whereby it is destroyed as
a place of social resort, has cancelled
nine-tenths of the drunkenness. o-day
there is but one criminal case pending in
three counties, and that is an old case
growing out of whisky sales. Our grand
Juries have comparatively nothing to do.
So far as know, there is but one man in
Jail, and he for violating an injunction in
a liquor case. Our criminal expenses
since the closing of the saloons have been
comparatively nominal.
Fourteenth District-Judge Thomas: I
am satisfied it is reducing crime, and, as a
consequence, criminal expenses. Judge
Carr: The present prohibitory law is, in
my judgment. success. We have no
open saloons.
Fifteenth district-Judge Deemer: In
many of the counties the jail is getting to
be almost an unnecessary building, and in
the last three counties have visited there
was not an occupant. Judge Carson:
When in the Senate favored local option,
but am now satisfied that the statute
should stand. My belief is that the effect
has been favorable in the reduction of
criminal offenses, especially those growing
out of brawls and quarreling. Judge Loot
borrow: The criminal record is much re-
duced. Judge Thornell: should regard
its repeal as calamity, and have no sug-
gestions to offer in its stead.
Sixteenth district-Judge Macumber
1believe it is goodlaw, and tends might
ily to uphold moral ideas. am opposed
to any looking back.
Judge Wilson, of the Superior Court:
I was not in favor of the law, thinking
that the public sentiment was not strong
enough to make it q success, and that