The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06
CREsCO, IOWA, THURSDAY. MARCH 6, 1890


east Is not criminal. but instead thereof tnat
{ ID actually beneficial
1T Is needless to expect that criminal
statute, however armed with penalties for its
violation, will change such convictions II II
we're capable Of controlling the habits of these
people the power which would subjugate their
sill would be force alonc and the same force as
hat which awes into submission the subjects
u every despotism on the face Of the globe. It
would be degree Of force that engenders fear
mot love, not even respect for the law, nor for
he government that enacted 1t.
'Of all the means ever employed to improve
he morals Of men that Of excessive punishment
Is the least effective. No patriot ever lived
hat drew the inspiration Of mis- love of country
government he served. Weak almost TO
stupidity is the ruler who covers the
land he governs with q network Of criminal
wsen mis- ass
lnsCrutable reason society everywhere is di-
vided into classes Habits which are pleasant
10 one are distasteful to another. Christianity
Itself has its votarles and its foes. Why, then,
should we expect to compel uniformity Of senti-
ment on this subjects
IF practical experiment was necessary TO
ate ths workings Of this iav We have
ter facilt cs for its enforcement or armed with
mere excessive penalties for its violation, con.
sidering the nature Of the acts prohibited, and
yet with all its terrOrs, with every branch Of
the State government In the hands OF It's
friends, 1t has lain limp and lifeless, ignored,
aisregardcd and despised IN most Of the large
cities Of the State from the day OF its tirth TO
'.i'he friends Of the law ignore the real situa-
tion and assume too much. They exaggerated
the extent OF intempera.e habits among our
people before its enactment and equally so the
diminution Of such habit since 1t became oper
alive. It is incapable OF demonstration ex-
cept upon naked assumption that the
no%a has dminsnea since sns
law took effect. 1t Is . patent fact known
to every one who has taken the pains to inform
himself that in many OF our cities, containing as
they do q large fraction OF our population, the
only effect OF the law has been to relieve the
traffic In these liquors from legal re-
straint Of every kind. II Is equally no
where % the " omen M M saloon con- has ~ been ~ closed ,
secret traflc sufficient to supply all the wants
Of the trade has Immediately followed. 1t must
be apparent to unbiased minds that In these
localities at least the use Of intoxicating liquors
rs . beverage has not been diminished by our
prohibitory law, but instead thereof that 1t has
been greatly increased, IL want OF legal restraint
OF any kind will produce that effect
1T is equally plain that local option law
will supply for all localities where our pro-
hibitory law ~ now enforced precisely the
same protection from the evils OF this trade
that they now enjoy, while it would give to
localities where the present law Is ignored Q
practicable method of controlling traffic that
Ill admit should be put under legal restraint Of
Il can not agree with those who argue that
II is better that this business should be con-
Quoted in violation Of law than 1t is that 1t be
conducted In pursuance thereof. Through the
aid Of proper legislation the character Of the
commodities disposed Of, the fitness OF men
who are permitted to engage In the business,
and the class Of persons to whom sales shall
not be made can all be regulated and largely
controlled while the illicit traffic is open to the
vilest OF men for the sale Of the most adulter
ated OF liquids to every class OF human beings
that can be induced to buy.
fn 1saV.s x,{t in hn
which the demand for Intoxicating liquors as q
beverage is not supplied by either . legalized
or illicit traf1ic therein. nor has there been OF
will there be such city; and we must deter
own cities shall be put under such practicable
legal restraint as is within our power or be con
Quoted outside Of and in violation Of oil law
because we aim TO accomplish more than II
possible.
ut is NO argument in favor Of the law that
the courts have held II TO be constitutional
Not one wrong Of the British Parliament or En-
glish King that led our forefathers into open
rebellion against their government, and justi
fled, In their opinion, . resort to the last and
final arbitrament OF men, could have been i'm
peached in the courts OF England, because II
was beyond the constitutional power OF the
Government to infict It,
In my own judgment the chief obstacle te
the enforcement Of this law lies in the fact tina,
in and OF itself it Is cruel violation Of one Ol
the most valued Of human rights. By that aci
Iowa stands convicted OF first making the
business OF the brewer and wine maker legal
Of watching without warning the expan
sion of their business within her Dor
ders until millions upon millions OF the
capital OF her citizens had been invested there
IN and then coldy wiPhng it out wi.nou. one
thereby. We need not strive to console oul
consciences with the belief that this property
has been turned into other and more useful
channels. The naked truth Is that wherever
tilc law has been enforced its owners have beer
impoverished, and II any thing has been saved
from the wreck II Is the merest mite Of its
former value.
..Ignoring at this time the question o
whether or not the moral or material welfare o.
the State as = whole y being advanced by thii
law, . question upon which its friends and enc
all that is claimed for II in localities where 4
is enforced and recognizing the evils OF q
unrestrained traffic in intoxicating liquors
where it is not enforced, have WI
statesmen upon both sides Of this controyers!
that can inpartially consider the necessity o
the situations II we have they will ind ,
middle ground between the extremes o
every locality in Iowa that desires it the pres
ent prohibitory law or Its equivalent. They vii
force it upon no city or town where publi
sentiment rejects it. They will recognize tn,
entirely eficient for the control of this trafc il
the rural districts OF the State Is wholly made
Quate for that purpose in its great cities. The.
will concede the right OF self.government t
citizens capable Of deciding for themselves wha
is best for their own localities, and to deny Il
people in one section Of the State the power +,
OF another. In whose affairs they nave no right
ful interest, and with whose circumstances an
needs they are necessarily unacQuainted The
will look beyond mere questions Of sentimen
observe the naked truth that . vast majorit
of the inhabitants OF the civilized world are or
| posed to prohibitory laws upon principles tina
furnish no justification for the incorporate us
ISnfn Ahclie OF iYnn iznf h.,
| States to be prosperous must be governed b
| laws in accord with the judgment OF the masse
OF men and not by those who are opposed there
| to. But, beyond all theories, there is to m
mind u more weighty reason still for . rad
| cal change in our prOhibitory laws. TIL
| electors of the State, under circumstances Iha
have expressed their wishes In this respect.
1T is impossible to read the platforms Of tn
respective parties the letters Of acceptance {
their candidates for Governor, and remembe
the conclusion that no political issue was eve
| more clearly defined more thoroughly di,
cussed, or better understood by the masse
than that relating to this question In the can
ITO shut our eyes to this RlarinR truth is moth
/, ing less than . denial OF ordinary intelligenC
on the part Of those who east their ballots o
conscience except my own. Others may b,
| lieye they have higher duty to perform in thi
! matter than any they owe the majority who's
Clearly eNDreSSeu Will tucy 4Ee Wiling 10 lg0OFt
| They should not, however, mislead themselve
| into the belief that the people Of Iowa have nj
! through the only medium known to our instit,
| tions for settling political issues passed judi
| ment on this. Nor do want the scope or efe,
| of this Judgment misunderstood. They hay
not undertaken to deprive any locality in tt
| State where public sentiment upholds il
our present prohibitory law or its eQui
alent. They have simply declared tn;
| each city, town and township shall have IL
| right to determine for itself whether 1t will
| governed by prohibitory laws or by carefull
1 guarded license law, the minimum fee for whiC
| shall be 800, to be paid into the county trea
ury, with power in the municipalities to i
| crease this fee for their own benefit. ThOs
4 who believe In this decision. and feel 1t the
duty to respect it, can not rightfully depart fro
| the letter OF that decision Us 1t was made.
.sThe license law, il any. which III to supe
| sede prohibition must be all that has bee
| promised We can not make the fee less
1 provide one fee for the sale Of one kind of .
coholic stimuiants and another for other
without departing from the only plan whit
| has received the approval OF m
jority Of the people Of the State.
are bound In honor to furnish for localiti'
adopting 1t most carefully guarded licen'
| law. The greatest Of care should be exercise
10 take the traffic out OF the hands OF immor,
and irresponsible parties. Every safegual
possible should be thrown around those wi
nre in this respect legitimate subjects OF leg
control. willful sale to minor or drum
ard should be cause for revoking .
cense. PrOprietors should be required
| fnrnSsh IN sauna form al Snn,ri