St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-04
THE IOWA ELECTION.

Our Davenport correspondent gives
an interesting and intelligent statement
OF political affairs in Iowa. from which
1t may be seen that the Democrats down
there have a reasonable hope of carry
ing to-ln0rrev's election. Camden cnm-
pels US to say that the GLOBE does not
share in that hope. yet we believe that
the Iowa Democrats are gong TO make
a big hole in the mammoth Republican
majority in that stats, and will to-mer-
row Law the foundation for future Dem
ocratic victories. 1t is q matter Of his
tory that the prohibitOry laws eHarted
by the Republicans Of Iowa have
done 4 widespread damage 70 the
party, and the longer those laws
remain on the statute books the
more serious the situation becomes for
the Republicans. Prohibition in Iowa,
as elsewhere, has assumed farcieal
finge, which is calculated to disgust all
reasonably temperance people, and will
inevitably create a sentiment against
prohibition among those who were its
original advocates. We already behold
the anomalous spectacle IN Iowa of the
saloon men supporting the Republican
candidates. for the simple reason that
they find prohibition more profitable
for their business than q license system
would be. In other words. the only
thing that prohibition prohibits in Iowa
is the collection Of a license fee. In the
cities and larger towns the saloons
are run by the side-door sytem just
as actively. and with less III
terTuption than they are here
in st. Paul, or In any other
city where they are licensed. So
that Prohibition is miserable farce.
and many who were formerly its cham
pions are now so disguised with its OPP
Grafton that they are stauneh support
erS of the Democratic policy Of licen-
sing the liquor traffic. The only ones in
Iowa who fall victims 10 the prohibitOry
laws are the poor druggists, who are
probably watched by the saloon men.
in order to keep the drug stores from
competing with the saloons In the un-
derground liquor traffic.
Our Davenport correspondent like
wise makes an interesting statement
concerning the effect Of the protective
tariff laws on the agricultural products
OF Iowa, and We cordially invite the at
tention of our Minnesota farmers to
what ne has to say on this subject. A
year ago the Iowa farmers were Induced
TO east their vote for the high tariff
party. with the promise that by the end
of another year there would be such
business boom sweeping over the eaun-
try that the prices of all farm products
would be jumping sky-htgh. The Iowa
farmer who is Rew selling his potatoes
for 10 cents q bHsi1el and his oats
and corn for 1s cents will reaIizs how
far those promises have failed of fulfill
ment. He discovers that protection does
not protect, no mere than prohibition
prohibits He also discovers that the
party which he has heretofore trusted
has again betrayed his interests by
nominating as candidate for governor
man who is Identified with the railroad
interests. and VINO is pledged in adj
vance of his election to interpose the
executive power to defeat all anti-rail-
road legislation, and to aid in binding
the chains of monopoly faster upon the
oppressed farmers Of the state.
And. yet iRthe face of all these facts
and all the receptions il has praeticed,
the Republican party confidently relies
upon its big majority in Iowa to have
its lease Of power perpetuated in that
state. 1t is singular fact that so strong
is the hold of party ties that men do
often vote against their convictions and
against their interests. Many of them
will do SO in Iowa tomorrow. And yet
there are many others from whose eyes
the scales have fallen, who will record
their first Democratic vote. While
there may not be enough of the latter to
give the Democrats the victory at to-
morrow's poll, still there will be enough
of them to swell the Democratic column
to such formidable proportions that by
the next election Iowa will be fairly
debatable ground. and will probably be
classed in the list of doubtful states.