Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-02
iowa REPUBLICANS INCUBUS,
Prohibition Hangs Like Pail Over the
Peoples Path,
PLANS FOR LAYING THE GHOST.
Various Schemes For Sh ftin . Rcspon-
sibility and Settling the struggle
Democratic Oil inspection
Christian Science Cranks.

The BEE. The issues of the coming poiti-
cal campaign in Iowa are already being
broached by few newspapers and poll
ticians. Two successive partial defeats are
fresh in the memory of the republicans, and
they will endeavor this year 10 prevent
third catastrophe. The question has never
yet been satisfactorily settled as to what led
to the defeat of the republican candidate for
governor and the almost overwhelming dem
ocratic gains in the legislature-state opinion
being divided as to whether it was the ques-
tion of prohibition or railway legislation.
The loss of five congressman last year has
been generally laid to the Mckinley tariff
bill, though good many insist that prohibit
tion again cut a large sized figure, and
there is but little doubt but that prohibition
will be a leading if not the paramount
issue in this years campaign. 1t was thought
in 1882, when the people decided at special
partisan election IN favor of prohibition
amendment to the constitution, that the
question would be removed forever from the
domain of politics. But the repu bcan party,
as the representative of the people, felt called
upon to enact prohbitory statutes after tho
amendment was declared unconstitutional,
and ithas been called upon each succeeding
year to defend and strengthen the law of its
own making Zach year the dssatis faction
of republicans with the law has become
greater, until now there is threatened out
break which might swamp the party forever.
Indeed, it seems that the republican party
has got itself into such shape on the prohlbi-
ton question that it "wil be damned if it
does and damned if it dou'tn stand by it, A
year ago there was organized in this city
i.Snl
republicans" whose object it was to try and
induce the legislature then in session to
modify the law or adopt resolution to re-
submit the question of prohibition to vote
OF the people at another non-partisan election,
but 1t failed to accomplish its purpose. 1t
then transferred its laborS to the state con
vention and succeeded in getting resolution
in the platform declaring that the question
of prohi bition was not a test of party fealty.
Now comes the Cedar Rapids Gazette, ude-
pendent republican, and asserts that there is
a secret understanding among the leaders of
the repu blican party in Iowa that the fight
this year is not to be for "blood;' that the
usual forms of a campaign are to be gone
through, but that the result will be allowed
to go by default, the Legislature turned over
to the democrats and the issue of
prohibition thus ''unoaded.n Then
follows the Sioux City Journal and suggests
that prohibition be made the issue in the leg
islative contests this year, with the republi-
cans declaring for continued prohibition and
the democrats against 1T, and announces that
outside OF the one question of prohibition 1t
does not now appear that any statewide in
terest would be ;eopardzed IL the republi-
| cans should fail TO control the next general
assembly" BY this means, the Journal says,
1.-The republican party would be freed of oD-
cations to stand for a policy of statewide
prohibition etc. These instances go to
show there is an influential element in the
republican party which is seriously consider
ing the policy of throwing off the CALLING
yoke of prohibition, even if it be at the ex-
pense of Il democratic legislature tor year
Meantime the prohbitionists within and
independent of the republican party keep up
the agitation. They are not satisfied with
the laws already enacted, but are constantly
clamoring for more. They will never be
satisfied Any party that Joins forces with
them must expect to continually be in hoC
water. They will never see that the law can
never be successfully enforced which is so re.
pugnant TO so large an element of the people
There has never been Il time in scarcely any
portion of the state when those who desired
intoxicating liquor could not easily obtain it,
AS fast as one clandeStine plant was de-
stroyed, another has sprung up in its place
and in many OF the larger cities there has
been little attempt at enforcement
Where enforcement has been attempted
costs innumerable and bankrupuing
to the treasures have been incurred
for the law abiding people to toll and
sweat to paw, without any returning benefit
These things are staring the people in the
face, and the demand for change will grow
stronger as the time passes 1t was a sorry
day for the republican party in Iowa when
the majority of its members undertook to float
the party ship on the prohibition wave only
TO be wrecked op the shoals OF fanatcism at
last
INSPECTION OF OILS.
The question of oil inspection in Iowa has
ono of absolute danger, The law IL intendeS
To gnard against danger nv REQUIRING that ali
illnminatin0 oils shall he of orade which
will not fash or oxplode beL,w I03 degrees Of
heat For this nurnose a chief lnsnector and
a number of IDENTITIES are annointed IN test nIi
ellis sold in the state and MACE thoir br.nd
therein certifying that the law has boen com
piled with. and to condemn and prohibit the
1se Of oils which will nor stand the test
This law has under republican udministra.
tions been well enforced and danger from
low grade oils practically guarded against
1t is different under the democratic adminis
tration. and a dangerous and criminal state
of affairs is shown by DISAGREEMENT be-
tween Chief Inspector Dunn and Deputv
Sauer. which resulted in the latter losing his
position. Sauer was in favor of the strict
enforcement Of the law in his district, while
Dunn seems TO be in favor OF making all the
money he can out OF his position regardless
of welfare or interests OF the people. 1t is
SAID he Is MAKING a very 1at thlng out OF tne
office, good judges estimating, that hls fees
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