The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-13
,en.l code and permit i.s xholesale violation

penal code and permit It's Wholesale violation
in 20 many localities OF the sta eY
Is 1t not apparent that the example - one
to be deploYed by every citizen OF this great
common wealth; and II IL not equally APP
parent that IL 10 useless to expect to change
present conditions unless new methods OF en-
forcoments are TO be adopted?
It IL puerfle in the extreme to attribute the
failure OF the Law to interferencs through the
pardoning power by executives Of the state.
Until the people of Iowa elect n1aa for
their governor rs heartless % Chinaac
Joss" and rs useless, too, so far as the dis
charge Of one OF his most imperative duties
~ concerned, It will be found necessary from
the standpoint of simple humanity to inter-
fere in many OF these cases. The situation
now is neither better nor worse than IL has
always been when the executives OF the state
we're in full sympathy with the law and It's
enforcement.
The simple truth Is that the penalties which
this Law infiicts are In many instances hid
eously cruel and their consequences to entirely
innocent parties are SO serious that no man
possessed of o human heart can turn deaf
ear to the appea!s that are constantly being
made to the governor for relief.
do not underestimate the evils Of intern
perance or the sorrow and suffering it brings
to friends OF its victims who are innocent OF
any wrong, and yet with . full knowledge OF
all this do not hesitate 10 declare that the
enforce ment of thiz law. as far IS II has besn
enfor. ed in this state since It's passage has
pauperized more families and Inflicted great
er suffering on wholly innocent parties, than
all the intem perance tn 1t would have existed
In the state II the sale Of alcoholic liquors
had been absolutely unrestricted during that
time.
IL we. turn to the effect OF the law upon
the material interests OF Iowa tho situation
is no more satisfactory. 1t Is now as arpar-
emit as any fact can be mads by statistics
that the increase of population in our state
has been greatly retarded by this law. 1t
needs but a casual acquaintance with the
natural advantages OF our own and surround
ing localities to convince the most skeptical
that we should in tho ordinary course OF
events outstrip any one OF our neighbors
in the race for supremacy - state,
and yet the truth is that during the last
decade, every year Of which has witnessed
the turmoil and ill.wiil this statute has en-
gendered, we have fallen behind every one
Of the adjoining states In our per cent OF in
crease.
The recent census gives the rate Of such
increase, emitting fractions, during that
time as twenty-four in Illinois, twenty-eight
In Wisconsin, sixty In Minnesota, twenty
three In Missouri, one hundred and thirty
four in Nebraska, two hundred and. thirty
four In South Dakota and seventeen In Iowa.
TEe states have named other than our own
adjon Iowa and every one OF them, with the
exception OF South Dakota for brief period
has been license state while this only has been
governed by prohibitory law. Instead OF
adding TO the wealth OF our people the hrst
effect OF the law was the practical connsca-
ton of property valued ut many millions Of
dollars invested In the breweries, whey ards
and distilleries of the state. all of which had
been ~ no aestly and lawfully acquired by it,
owners, SO far as q legal right to acquire prop
erty was concerned, - any within the jur-
isdiction OF our laws, and today In most OF
our cities are TO be seen these diamantled
monuments of the toll or many life time,
stricken aud destroyed BY the unfeeling hand
OF a msjority, in q country that boasts Of
the purity and justice of the government
under which we live.
From this hasty review of the past, We
must turn TO the future and decide for our
selves what policy the state ought hereafter
to pursue.
This question ought not to be hampered by
party affiliations, and yet the two great
parties have taken positions thereon that are
Numerically opposed to each other.
Our repu olicaa friends declare themselves
satisfied with the law and demand its reten-
ton and enforcement.
lthas been matter of some surprise to me to
see how ofte n and how persis tently the position
of the democratic party has Teen mlsrepre.
sented by friends of prohibition. The
source OF this III representation in soma in
stances has been theme of great astonish-
mont ne well rs regret for l have seen 1t in
reported proceedings of religious bodies and
heard OF it IN the sermons Of prominent d.
vines.
1t has been repeatedly charged that the
purpose nf the dem cratic policy is to bring
thu saloon back I'D every part of Iowa where
man can be found It !s willing 10 pay
the fee for aiicsnse required By law.
Those who MAKE this CHI rye are, to say the
least. who'll. ignorant of the position OF that
party and are guilty OF grave wrong In
making q stateraent Of so much importance
wi.hous taking pains to inform themselves as
to the truth OF what they are saying.
There is nothing ambiguous In the position
OF the democratic party on this question. i,
Is not proposed 20 bring the le9aized saloon
back to single locality in the state where
puoiic sentiment is opposed to it. The bro I'd
proposition 10 to let each city, town and town
ship determine by vota Of the electors thereof
whether they do or do not want licensed
saloon therein. Until it is shown Dy ma
jority vote Of the electors that such Is their
desire the democratic party Is pledged ~
strongly any party can be to leave undis-
turoed the right of every municipality to
maintsin . prohtbltory law.
Nothing therefore could be more unjust or
more untrue than statement that the dem
ocratic party is trying to force upon locali-
ties whe re public sentiment demands q pro-
hibitory law, the legalized saloon. Instead OF
this, planting itself upon the impartial
ground that each municipality Of the state
should have the right to settle this matter
for itself and that its win should be respect
ed by every other locality, that party
appeals to the people OF Iowa to come to its
aid and help to settle now and forever In
accordance with the fundamental principles
on which our system OF government IL based,
this disturbing element In the politics and
progress Of our state.
So long as there 10 an honest difYeren 20 of
opinion, SO long rs we know that In some
localities public sentiment upholds the law,
while In Others il il absolutely ignored, let
mo ask fair men of all parties whether
there Is a more just way of dsposing OF this
question th4n to leave it to each locality to
settle tor itself in Its own way.
Let me inquire il there Is any difference in
the moral or legal effect OF the act, between
permitting localities that desire a license law
to compel every other to submit. to one, and
permitting those that desire prohioitory law
to compel all others to live under one. To
permit either Is to Aasu ne that non.residents
OF the several municipalities arc better quail
flied TO judge what laws should be made for
their government than those who live under
them, and are subject to their provisions.
So far as the position of the democratic
party is concerned, there 10 no chance for
dispute. 1t fully recognizes the controlling
fact that public sentiment in different locali-
ties OF the state 10 precisely opposite on this
question, and 1t strives to be just to all by
leaving to each the right t. settle 1t In accord
with the judgment of its own Inhabitants.
By Its platform that party has Clearly out
lined its policy. and rs far IS 1t 10 practicable
In an instrument Of that character has defined
the character of the legislation IL proposes to
enact II successful 1T the polls.
wish that rs much could be said for the
republicAn'platform. Considering the situa-
ton In our state, II there was ever q
time when simple duty demanded OF political
parties . clear and explicit declaration Of
their purposes In dealing with this question,
that time 10 now.
II axperience can demon strata ANYTHING it