Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-02-22
Prohibition and High Lieenss.
rcoMMuNIcArED.1

There are probably very few Of your
readers who have not admittsd In Their
own minds that tho liquor traffic 10 70
day the greatest evil In our midst. But
willie thsy may DO unanimous In this be-
lief, they are divteed IL their opinion =
to the method OF dealing with II.
The two principles Of prohibition and
high license each have their earnest and
conscientious advocates. Those who de.
iend the former constantly meet the 40
cuaation that prohibition 10 impractical
bio and does not prohibit, and they arc
called fanatics.
1t IL, therefore, with peculiar interest
that the following statement has been
read. 1t will have the more weight with
some, perhaps. that 1t 10 made by the
highest State official OF Iowa, and can no:
be classed a. . biased opinion, but rather
arrived ct from peculiar opportunities Tor
personal observance.
In his farewell message to tho Legisla-
tars Of Iowa Governor Larrabee makes
these statements:
DIES MONIES, a., Feb 17.-uovernor
LarrAbse's farewell message to the Legts-
lature has Just been made public. A
large part OF 1t 10 devoted to review OF
the Prohibitory law OF Iowa and its be-
nefcsnt results, and to protest against
any disturbance or weakening OF the
law. Tho following are few extracts
from tho governors remarkably strong
statements
Thousands Of those who votsi againsl
the constitutional amendment, iu the
belief that such law would prove dead
letter. are now convinced that II can be
enforced, and demand It's retention.
Sioux City, Dos Moines, Cedar Rapids
and Ottumw wa have banishsd the saloon.
and yet are among the most prosperous
cities in the state.
"The benepts which have resulted to
tho State IRON the enforcement Of this
law are far-resching indeed. It 10 we'll
recognized fact that crimc 10 on the In.
crease in tho United States, but Iowi
does not contribute to that increase
While the number OF convicts 10 th,
country ~ large rose from one In ever
8,44a OF population In 1850 to one II
every $50 In 1880, tho ratio In Iowa 10 q
present only one 10 every 3.l30. Tho jsil
Of many counties are now eMpty durini
. good portion Of the year. aud the mum
Der Of convics IN our penitentiArics ha
G04 on July l, 1889. II 10 the testimon,
| Va tuV 40ukCL VI Oot tS0t - tbeb
business has been reduced from 30 to Z
per cent, and that criminal expense
have diminished 10 like proportion.
"There 10 remarkable decrease 10 u
business and fees OF sherihs aud crimins
lawyers, as well 40 the number of reQu
sitious and extrsdition warrants Issued
We have less paupers and less tramps Il
the State iu proportion to our population
than ever before.
"Breweries have been converted int
oatmeal mills aud canning factories, an
are operated ~ such by their owners.
THE report of the superintendent Z
public instruction shows an increase,
school attendance throughout the State
"The poorer classes have better fare
better clothing, better schooling an
better houses.
"rbo deposits In banks show an vi
precedented increase, aud there al
every where Indications Of q health
growth In legitimate trade. Merchan
and commercial travellers report le
losses III collections In Iowa than els
where.
1T 10 safe to say that not one-tent
and probably not One-twentleth - muS
liquor IL consumed In the State now
! was i've years ago. The standard
temperance has been greatly raised, eve
. In those citirs where the Law 10 mol yet e
forced. Many man formerly accti
tou TO drink aud treat in . saloon b.
T abandoned this practice in Difference
public opinion.
sour courts show a marked improv
. ment In dealing with thls question
= nearly all OF the judges being now d.
i posed 10 enforce the law, WHISTLER the
n are In sympathy with 1t or not. In tho
4 counties where the law 10 not entorc,
a the fault lies almost invariably with d
executive officers"
For these iaots . kindly and hone
consideration is asked by member
the W. G. I. U.
Wilmington, February 81, 1890.
Doup hpI ty of naliunal rauOWn Mt III