The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-01-17
PROHIBITION IN IOWA.
A Success or Failure, Which?

MR.. EDlTOR:-lne success Or failure
Of prohibition has been the subject Of
much discussion, and during the late
political cheated term it's status in
Iowa received here rather more atten-
ton than many other localities. The
assertion was repeatedly made that in
Iowa it had proved failure. Let US
see whether the facts will warrant the
assertion. From documents received
direct from the executive department. of
Iowa by a gentlemen residing in Keno
sha County, the writer CLEANS the fol
lowing:
In January, 1886, the Hon. William
Larrabee, the presents Governor Of
Iowa, IN lis inaugural address, refer
ring to the liquor business, makes these
remarks: '"The enormity Of the evil
should prompt uuanilnlty Of action
among those desiring to correct it. No
such uuanlmlty is attainable unless
Difference is paid to the will Of the ma
jority Of those who interest themselves
IN the cause, and whatever remedy is
agreed upon by the majority should be
heartily and earnestly sustained by all.
The dram shop should never again have
a legal existence in Iowa. This much
should be apparent 70 all. : The
saloon is the educational Institution
which takes no vacation or recess, and
where the lowest and most pernicious
political doctrines are taugat. Its
thousands Of graduates may be found in
ali positions of wretchedness and dis
grace, and are the most successful can
didates for our poorhouses and peniten-
tiaries. It is the bank where money,
time, strength, manliness, self control
and happiness are deposited to be lost,
where drafts are drawn on the widows
and orphans, and where dividends are
paid only to bis Satanic Majesty. Let
it perish < x x The law has not vet
proved a failure, nor has it proved an
entire success. Reason and justice die
tate such action as will give the law a
fair trial. A fair trial implies not on
ly that the law should remain upon
our statute books for sufficient time to
test its constltutionality and the rights
of parties before the courts, but that an
honest and determined effort should be
made to secure obedience to it,"
This was in the beginning of 1886
In December, 1887, nearly two years
after, Governor Larrabee addressed
circular letter to each Of the forty dis
trict and superior court judges Of tho
State. The following is copy of the
closing paragraph Of this circular letter:
81 shall also thank you to apprise me
of the effect of the prohibition law in
your. district, particularly upon crime
and criminal expenses. Would you, af-
ter having for several years observed
the operation Of the present prohibitory
law, advise its repeal; and if so, what
would you propose to place in its stead?"
Nearly all Of the judges addressed
favored hin with replies; and twenty
eight Of the forty judges spoke in high
terms Of commentator Of the law and
its operation, and very strongly against
its repeal. Below [ give very brief ex-
tracts from several Of them, which seem
to contain the gist Of judges replies:
| Hon. Fl. G. Traverse, second district:
eve will have but little trouble, since
the recent decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, to enforce
the prohibitory liquor law My expe-
rience is, that wherever saloons are
closed, crime is diminished. In my
Judgment our prohibitory law should be
| eft just as it is"
Hon. Dell Stewart, second district:
Permit me to say that l would not ad-
wise the repeal of the prohibitory liquor
law. I have no doubt of the ability Of
the courts of Iowa to enforce this law
as easily and completely as any other
aw upon our statute books
Hon j. ". Harvey, third district:
'The law is well enforced ia this dis
trict. [ am not aware that there is
saloon in the district. 1t has reduced
crime at least one-half, and the Grim
inal expenses in like ratio would not
and do not favor the repeal Of the law"
The replies Of many other Of the Su-
perior Court ges are furnished, but
as they are substantially the same as
those here given by thi, writer, we
omit their publication. It is perhaps
unnecessary to state that it is state pro-
hibition which is SO satisfactory to the
people of Iowa, and this accounts for
the small vote for national prohibition
IN that temperance state at the late
election. The writer of the communi-
cation concludes as follows:
In view Of the facts from such high
authority, must not the verdict Of every
reasonable man be that prohibition is
not failure in Iowa, but pronounced
success? IT. g.