Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-09-03
WILCOX ON BOIES.
The Governors Position on Pro-
hibition Mercilessly Dissect-
ed by Henry S. Wilcox,
of Des MoineS.
A Surprise for the Democrats Who Have
Been ParadiDg Henry :. Wilcox as
Republican Dissatisfied With
the Cedar Rapids Platform.

Mr.. Wilcox what do you think of
the speech of Governor Boies on pro-
hibitionp
'Well'' said he, ''it had ever had
any doubt about his uniiInesS for gov
ernor that speech would dissipate it.
The reasons he gives why the saloon
should be naturalized and rnlieved
from unfayorable legislation have
often been better stated but never
under such shameful circumstances
Please explain yourself. Why?'
"He first demands the repeal of the
law because no attempt has been
made TO enforce il in the cities where
the party he represents has had con-
trol OF the government. He proves
the persistent violations and lack of
enforcement by the evidence OF Demo.
cratic officials who have sworn to en-.
force the law. Why, he is the gov
ernor OF Iowa, bound by his official
oath to enforce this statute and should
be fountain of inspiration to every
state official prompting him to dis
charge his duty, and source of ter.
Yet he does not come before the peO-
pie urging them to greater vigilence
but instead of naming an instance or
claiming that either he or the party
he represents ever has done or offer.
ed to do a solitary act in discharge OF
their sworn duty, bold and unblush-
ing confesses and parades the wanton,
pcrJured, malfeasance in office OF
those he represents, and urges their
crimes as reason for the repeal of
the law. II is is trus that the law is
not enforced where Democratic
officials are entrusted with the govern.
ment, and | nave no desire 10 contest
the statement what better proof could
be given of the utter depravity and
uutilness of Democrats for power?n
What would you do in such
case?n
Officers that refuse to enforce a
law they deem unwise, and seek TO re-
peal it by the practice of official per.
jury should be hurled from their
Office into the peniteatiary. CriIni-
nal statutes are waste paper aud
| human government corpse when en-
/ trusted in such hands. In determiu-
| ing whether a law Is u good one, in
1 quiry must be made OF its working
where it is enforced and not where
because Of the deprGyitJ of officials it
! Is not put in operation. No law can
/ be 80 good as to benefit mankind
/ where not enforced. Is it possible
! that "a man has become governor o.
! Iowa who does not know this? II
! prohibition where enforced has proved
| a benefit then it should stand. Can
! any one who heard the sound of
/ school bell doubt its benefits were en-
forced? If it had been admitted tina,
| prohibition is Il blessing where en-
! forced then why not distribute these
blessings everywhere? II Democratic
officials will not do their duty remove
them and put in Office the friend OF
the law. But the governor goes far
ther He objects 10 the law where it
is not enforced and where II is enforc-
ed. He claims its enforcement so ham
pers the saloon business and iucon-
veuiences its pa rons as to interfere
with the increase OF population
What do you say of the statistics
he uses TO prove that the per cent Of
increase in Iowa is not as great as in
adjoining sta .es aud that this IS be-
cause Iowa has a prohibitory law and
the other states nave not and there
lore the lack Of increase is due to the
law?"
II say that with as much logic he
might have said. Adjoining states
have not elected Horace Boies gov
trnor; Iowa has, and the lack of in
rrease Is due to Horace Boies.' That
two things exist Is not proof that one
causes The other. Iowa has had a
prohibitory law since 1851 and it
would be as sensible to claim that her
wonderful prosperity in the past has
been due to that law as to make the
claim he has made. viii the govern
or claim that but for prohibition Wa
terloo would have increased as fast IS
Chicago? IL not, why claim that
Iowa would have increased as fast as
Illinois? 1t Is hard to see how the
saloon could increase our population
benefcially. II it was permitted TO
flourish in great magnifcence in COM
binatiou with its twin relatives the
gambling house and brothel, it might
allure a large variety OF thugs and
black legs, but it would hardly in
crease the number or improve the
quality of respectable people. A hun
drcd saloons running on Sunday
might collect larger crowd than all
the churches In Des Moines, but where
would be the public benefit? II the