The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-22
JUDGE DAYS LETTER.
A Prominent Republican Who Says
PROHIBITION Is InPRAcT1CABLE.
It Has Proven Worse Than Useless
in Iowa's Large Cities.
TINE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

J. G. Day, Former Chief Justice Of
Iowa Endorses Local Option %
the Best Method to Control
the Liquor Traffic.
Judge James G. Day, in letter
published below, declares his un-
alterable OPPOSITION to the principle
and practice of statutory prohibition
and will support Messrs. w. A. Park
and J. w. Hill for the legislature up
on that issue. The earnest, thought
full letter from Judge Day will be read
with interest everywhere.
Mr.. Day has been a life long repub-
lican and a leader in the party. He
served with high honor during the
war of the rebellion and upon his re-
turn from the army was elected Judge
OF the district court, q position which
he held until 1870 when he was ap-
pointed and the same fall elected
chief justice of the Iowa supreme
court, to which exalted position he
was repeatedly reelected until 1884, q
period of fourteen years.
The prominence OF Judge Day in
the great political party which for
thirty-five years controlled the des-
TIMES of the state OF Iowa, his stand
ing in the legal profession, together
with his personal integrity and
ability give his opinions in q CAM
paign much weight. The stirring ar
rAignment which he writes of the
working OF the prohibitory law in
the large cities Of the state will not
be disputed by any fair-minded man.
1t is to get rid Of this law and SUBJ
stitute therefor measure which will
effectually control the liquor traffic
in those places wherein prohibition
does not meet with the approval Of a
majority of the voters, that Messrs.
Hill and Park and Governor Boies
are pledged.
Judge Days letter is as follows.
Dies MONIES, Iowa, Oct. s, 1891.
w. A. Park, ESQ, Des Moines, Ia,
Dear Sir: When the constitutional
amendment was submitted to the PEG.
pie Of this state earnestly favored it
with my vote and influence. It was
a matter of deep regret to me that
my convictions of loyalty to the con.
stitution compelled me to hold that
the amendment had not been adopted
in a constitutional manner. The
failure of the amendment was follow.
ed by the enactment Of rrohibitory
law as stringent as legislative in.
genuity could suggest. For seven
years the law has been in force. ]
have watched It's operation interest
eddy and hopefully. In my judgment
it has failed to accomplish it's pur.
pose, especially in the large cities
where the liquor traffic most needs
restraint and control. In some Of
these, it has suppressed. the opeI
saloon, but has substituted for |,
numerous places, which are much
greater menace to sobriety and good
order. In others, the open saloon
continues without regulation ane
without restraint. ! have it upor
authority, which ! regard as entirel,
worthy of credit, that 1t is very
common occurrence for parties to &
from high license Omaha to prohihi
ton Council Bluffs to procure liquor
which under the more stringent regu
lations Of the former city, they ar,
unable to obtain. The law, in all tn,
considerable cities of the state, ha,
proved, in a very large measure, /.
delusion. doubt whether in any o
them it hes diminished either drunk
enness or the consumption of liquors
1t has promoted hypocrisy and in
creased intolerance. It has called in
to existence q gang Of unworthy ant
disreputable spies and informers WIN
have no higher object than to fl
their own pockets. 1t has increase,
the burdens of taxation to q poin
J beyond complacent endurance. b,
fami)iarizing the citizens with tn
violation of law, it tends to create
disregard for, and contempt of al
J laws. Experience furnishes n
ground for belief that it will ever pro
mote the sobriety, the honesty or tn
material interests Of the people of
large portion Of the state,
have been gradually, and no
without many conflicts with myself
driven to the conclusion that q rea
sonably restrictive high license, will
local option, furnishes the best mod
of regulating the traffic in intoxics
ting beverages.
, Understanding that you and you
, associate upon the Legislative tickle
| are pledged to such modification {
I the present prohihitory law, as wi
, secure local option and high licens'
e whilst your opponents favor the col
! tinuance Of the present statute, til
= inefficiency OF which has become al
parent to all, except those who Will
NOT SEE, l have determined to Civ
s you my vote and support. al
t very truly yours, JAMES &. DAY.