The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-08


cases has ever been made until | be-
came satisfied that SO far as the de-
PENDANT was concerned it was the best
possible method of securing complete
obedience to the law. When | had
been in Office year, and after | had
issued many of these conditional sus-
pensions. caused to be written to
the county attorneys of the various
counties in which suspended fines had
been imposed, letter asking them,
ii they had personal knowledge, to
report to me whether the defendants
had complied with the condition of
the order of suspension, and request
ing, If they had not personal knowl-
edge, that they institute an inquiry
which would enable them to give me
the facts in each case. And from the
whole state received but one single
letter saying the defendant had vio-
lated the conditions in the order of
suspension, and in that case l imme-
diately revoked the order and the de-
PENDANT. Is, believe yet in Jail. l
have acted upon the theory that
when punishment has accomplished
it's purpose and those guilty Of violat-
ing this law come to me imploring
clemency and willing to accept as a
condition thereof that they shall HERE
after obey the law, with a knowledge
that breach of such condition will
cause an immediate revocation of the
order, that such course in many cases
is better calculated to drive men out
Of this unlawful business than would
the complete enforcement of the
harsh penalties of the law.
THE MASTERS TEACH ING.
ut now seems to me that such
course was more in keeping with the
divine teachings of the Master, whom
my reverend accusers do avowedly
serve, than would have been the oppo-
site course which is plainly suggested
in the resolution to which have re.
ferred.
But of this permit me to respect
fully suggest each must be his own
Judge. do not feel that it is my
privilege to press my own views on a
subject that equally honorable and
intelligent persons may disagree
about, nor can I, while exercise the
prerogative of the Office now hold,
permit any class Of men, however ex-
allied their position, to dictate to me
in plainly discourteous language, the
manner in which l shall exercise these
prerogatives.
II must also add for the informa-
ton Of these gentlemen that they are
clearly ignorant of the duties of the
executive of the state in his relation
to the enforcement of this or any 9TH
er law. He is possessed Of precisely
the same power in this respect and no
greater than every citizen of his state
with single exception, and that oc-
ours when the enforcement Of any
law is resisted by physical force which
justifies him in calling upon the mill.
tary arm of the government to sup
press such force. When this is ac-
complished his powers shrink to those
of the common citizen and he can en-
force the laws through the aid of the
courts and in no other manner what
ever. No man who is reasonably well
informed as to the duties of a COVER
nor of any state could expect him to
60 into the almost innnmerable courts
clothed with jurisdiction to enforce
obedience to this law and become a
private prosecutor therein.
ATTENTION TO ANOTHER RESOLUTION
'There is one further resolution
adopted by this body to which must
refer. 1t is in these words:
I'VE believe it monstrous mockery
to pray Thy kingdom come and
then vote for the devils mightiest
agency, the licensed saloon We in
sist that in the present crisis our Pc +
tics and our religion should be well
shaken before using
, II do not wish to appear obtrusve
, fully recognize the individual rights
: of these gentlemen to mix polite.