The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-15
why Iowa Went n Democrats.

vadeY Every City nnd Town: Taxa.
ton Has Increased: Rents Have
Fallen and Properly Decreased In
vaiue-Tax-paycrs Robbed TO Pay
InformerH.
Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 3. Special
correspondence to the New York Sun
The declaration of the Hon. Jehn A.
Kasson, made to q reporter in Milwau-
kee the other day. that he has little hope
that his party will be successful in lows
this year. owing to the prohibition Is.
cue, aadsthst the Republicans here have
seen the danger aud are going 10 com
promise BY letting Ia beer asa excluding
alcohol and wbiskey. has been read by
the prUhibitionlsts Of this state with
open eyed wonder. MY. Kasson's &C.
acknowledgement of the danger of defeat
does not surprise them for they know
that all the signs OF the hour point to
Democratic success on Tuesday, but the
open and avowed determination Of the
party leaders to win back the German
vote by restoring the vino aud beer
clause Of tie old law, as voiced by the
leading Iowa Republican, next to Soma.
ator Allison, constitutes o surprise that
prohibitionists were not prepared for,
even on the eve OF ON exciting election.
There 10 no doubt but that MIR. Kasson
made the remark attributed to him. He
is a shrewd politician, knows the state
thoroughly, and cemprehends clearly
the effect the prob ibitery policy has
upoa the fortunes of his party and the
prosperity of the state. Republican ma
~jorities have boon steadily d~windling
since the party espeused its cause and
business stagaaticn 10 p%ervadiug every
city and town. within the state. Inmi-
grafton has been turned away, and the
growth Of population has not kept pace
with the natural increase of q heslthful
and progressive community. Tho bur
dsas Of municipal taxation have In.
creased. rents have fallen and property
has decreased in value. Mr.. kasson's
knowledge OK political economy teaches
him that this is not . healthful condi-
ton and there is no cause to which it
may be attributed except prohibition.
The operation OF the law has dieap-
pointed all Its reasonable friends. Ex-
perience proves that it Is imperative in
cities. 1t cannot be enforced and when
attempts are made to enforce it the costs
are simply frightful. Where tho open
saloon has been hanished, crime and
court expenses have not decreased. sa-
Icons and brsweries run opesly in Scott
and Dubuque counties just as in past
years. as they alse do In q good many
other counties, but, these two are cited
be they are of about the same pop
ulation of Polk county. where the 'set-
tied policy" of Iowa is said to be en-
forced. 1t is interesting to note the re-
suits. The criminal returns made 10
the secretary Of state for 1883 do not
bear the prohibltionists cut IN their dec
laration that the practice of their theory
diminishes crime and court expenses.
In Polk county there were 81 convic-
lions of crime at n cost In the District
Court Of S43, 750.50 In Dubuque county
there were 10 convictions at a cost of
81, 1913 and in Scott county there were
IL CO nylctiess at an expense of SIS, $3.50. Oh
The Dubuque convictions include two
for profanity, and Folks "a for violating
the liquor law. The total tax for Scott
county for 1888 was S117, sos, 80; Du-
buque $119, $50. 90; Polk s243, OBJ. SO.
These figures are all official. The crimi-
nal statistics are froin the report of the
secretary Of state and the statistics of
taxation are from the reports Of the
state auditor. Polk county leads the
list of all counties in its number of con-
victions and in the sum Of its criminal
expenses.
We are now in the sixth year of prohi
bition. The law as originally enacted in
1884 was amended in 1885 and again in
1888. The amendments la every case
were in the direction of greater strin
gency. Most elaborate provisions exist
for the enforcement of tbs law. 1t is
unexampled in this respect. For rape.
murder and p~secadilloes of that sort the
law provides indictment and nothing
more, but the ofeuce of liquor selling ID
more vigorously treated, Ifa man is en-
gagged ia the sale Of liquor see what ear
be done. First, his place may be
searched aud the liquor siezed aud de-
stroyed. Then he may be tried and pun.
ished for each particular sale Of liquol
he has made. Then he may be pun
ished for keeping liquors for sale. Then
for keeping a place where liquors are
sold. The place itself may be enjoined
and abated as q nuisance. Lastly, he II
civily responsible for any damages he
has caused by selling liquors to any
one. which includes damage done By
such person while under the inlueac,
of liquor.
Moreover, the institution Of these var
ioas proceedings does not depend uper
the action of the grand jury. The II
Quor seller is lawful prey for anybody
and he is a sure source of revenue to hi.
despoilers. If he has no money to pay
costs with the county foots the bill
This is the inducement that brings tn.
c~onstables and justices into the business
of enforcement. 1t is 9 lottery In whicr
there are no blanks. Every ticket draws
a prize. The lawyer who has nothing
&c do can find occupation in this field
The statute provides for attorneys fees
to be paid by the liquor seller. If he car
be made 10 pay, otherwise by the county
II there are are any briefless barristers a
the Polk county bar it is their own fault
Some of IL young lawyers, most Of
them. indeed, decline to engage in thii
: business They have old.fashioned ne
lion of propriety. But if they will con
sent to put aside their pride they car
mend their poverty aud gain az we'll tn,
appreciation Of our leading reformers.
But all the u of prohibition
have not ret been told. The Judges ar