Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-04
How Prohibition Works In Iowa.
iCorraapoudouca phila daIrhta Prasa

The number of ways of evading the IL
quor law is legion. Ono of the young boys
who shop" bells, as they say in a leading
eotel In Des Moines, strong prohibition
city, told me he aad made $2.75 on the pre-
vious day and $3.50 since In fees for getting
bottles filled with whiskey for the guests,
and he pulled flask out of his pocket in
proof of his statement. I thought he was
lying, and to discover the fact asked an
other bell-boy If he could get me bottle of
whiskey, and no promptly answered yes I
asked the cost, and he said forty cents for
half-a-pint and ten cents for his trouble, or
dollar for pint. On further questioning
get the stuff and that he could supply all
wants at any time. None of these boys
were more than eighteen years old, and they
all hoped the prohibition law would not be
repealed. There was no secrecy about the
business, and the boys said they were not
afraid of arrest. There is not q saloon open
in Des Moines. Before left I found that
all the employees of the hotel knew where to
buy whiskey and were making money on the
traffic. Finding that whiskey Is easily at
tainable not only in the river counties, but
at interior cities, sought to discover how it
was in the country. asked two physicians,
whose practice was largely among farmers, If
they found it necessary to carry stimulants
for professional use since the prohibitory
law went into effect. The replies were that
this was not necessary, as whiskey could be
found in nearly all houses, or in any event
| at neighbours. One of the physicians said
that liquor was more frequently kept in the
house since the law went into effect than
before. In confederation of this fact he said
| that forty mine express packages of liquor
| had arrived at the little town in which
he lives on one train on Thanksgiving Day.
But there are worse facts in the situation
than that prohibition does not prohibit. In
Des Noines It has been charged in court, and
proved to the satisfaction Of nearly every
body, that officers of the law, after acting as
spies on certain liquorssellers, have taken
| bribes from others and allowed the latter
to sell without molestation. 1t is further
charged that constables have actually sold
confscated liquor to their liquor-selling
friends, and that it has been retailed to the
public with the constable's knowledge and
consent. There have been number of cases
in court growing out of these transactions,
and in some Of them very damaging facts
were proved, though the whole truth was
clouded, as is often the case in suits relating
to the liquor traffic.
To sum up, the prohibitory statute of
Iowa is nulliied in some cases, and from
what I have seen believe it to be disre-
garded generally in all sections of the State.
As to the effect on business it is difficult
to speak. Property to the extent of S., 000,-
900 has been destroyed, and transactions in
volving s., 1000, 900 per year, much of which
was profit to Iowans, have been at least
partially wiped out or transferred to the
liquor-dealers of adjoining States. As keen
an observer as Mr.. j. 81. Bosler of Carlisle,
whom met on the cars, is of the opinion
that harm has been done to Iowa CONNER
cial interests by the prohibitory law. Mr..
Bosler, who has considerable interests In
Iowa real estate, spoke reservedly, but with
good deal of confidence. The manager of
Marshal Fields dry.goods store in Chicago
told me he saw no difference In Iowa sales,
and did not believe the effect on business
had been damaging.