The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-03
| party can be to leave undisturbed the right OF
every municipality to maintain prohibtory


where public sentiment demands prohibitory
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 will should be respected by every other To-
cality 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
Is based, this disturbing element In the politics
and progress OF our state.
So far as the position OF the democratic
party Is concerned. there Is no chance for dis
pute. 1t fully recognizes the controlling fact
that public sentiment In different localities OF
the state Is precisely opposite on this question,
and 1t strives to be just to all by leaving to
each the right TO settle 1t in accord with the
judgment of It's own inhabitants.
BY its platform that party has clearly out
lined its policy. and as far rs II Is 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 as much could be said for the
republican platform. Considering the situa-
tion In our state. II there was ever time when
simple duty demanded OF politca, parties
clear and explicit declaration Of their pur-
poses in dealing with this question that time
is now.
II experience can demonstrate anything It Is
now established that this law can be reason
ably well enforced where public sentiment is
largely in its favor and that II is SO enforced in
such localities; SO that u demand for its en-
forcement In these localities would be mean.
ingless. and suppose rightfully assume that
the demand for its enforcement In the republic
an platform was not intended TO apply to such
places
do not hesitate to say that IL the republican
party propose no change In methods for the
enforcement OF this law its platform is intended
"a "A n.otv, "A Hxs.1H<, f-~
purpose deserve the censure OF sincere men
everywhere.
Nor do hesitate to say that when that in
stTument was formed the men that put it to-
gether lacked the moral courage to put their
party on record before the people whose suf-
frages they seek on one OF the most important
questions involved in this campaign
It Is. however, position that cannot be
maintained. The people Of Iowa must know
before November next what this demand
means. They already know that it means one
Of two things-either that the law shall remain
as II Is. q dead letter in nearly half the state
or that it shall be enforced through the aid
OF what is equivalent TO some form Of Q state
constabulary to be maintained at public ex.
pense.
They know il it means the first its only effect
will be to mislead those VINO are honestly in
favor Of the enforcement Of the law
Many believe II 1t means the last. that IL &C
COulpHSueu ~ Will thrust u ktllIe INTO Tue very
yitals OF popular government in our state, and
adopt in its stead the methods OF the car OF
Russia for the enforcement OF one at least OF
our criminal laws.
In the presence OF a question OF such magni.
tude as this no leaders Of great party have a
right to be silent
As the campaign progresses We shall learn
the position Of republican candidates and re-
publican leaders on this question or the people
Of Iowa will reject them because OF their want
OF candor II for no other.
cannot leave this question without few
words which want to address to you as people
OF Iowa instead OF members OF any political
party.
You have heard for years the claim that the
republican party OF this state enacted our pro-
hibitory law in obedience to the will OF her
people expressed at what was termed q non
partisan election.
You were told at first that this bound the
party to enact the law and give II fair trial
You were assured by those who advocated
and some other practical mode OF controlling
the liquor traffic would be adopted in its stead.
You now know that in very many localities
this law has always been and still Is absolute
~ inef1icient as means Of controlling this
traffic. And yet the very men who urged you
to support 1t because the will Of . majority de
manded it. are to-day working With equal zeal
TO induce many OF you to smother your convic-
tions and thereby deprive the state of On
honest expression Of opinion by its electors, al
though that opinion could now be given in the
light Of many years OF experience under the
law. Since the agitation In our state upon the
subject commenced, no less than seventeen
members Of the union have passed judgment
BY popular vote thereon.
OF these. six have yotUl for and eleven
against prohibition. The aggregate OF all the
majority IN favor Of such laws was in roL.4d
numbers one hundred and seventythree thou
sand. The aggregate OF the majorities against
them was four hundred and seventy one thou
sand, showing an aggregate majority In the
seventeen states that have voted on the oues-
tion Of nearly three hundred thousand votes.
II the electors Of Iowa were ever confronted
by an imperative duty they are in that position
at this time.
do not believe overestimate the situation
when / say that We are educating our people to
become u community Of law breakers.
In . government by the people. law must al
ways follow. it can never precede, public senti
ment 1t must do more than to be successful.
1t must follow . substantially united public
sentiment.
TARIFF REFORM
Thorough as the discussion has already been
the subject OF tarin reform is one about which
too much cannot be said. Many people have
heretofore believed this subject beyond their
comprehension and have willingly submitted
to any policy the leaders OF their parties have
seen ut to adopt
This has been all wrong. Upon no ques-
tions that affect our material welfare Is 1t so
important that we should be correctly IN
formed on those that touch our financial in
terests.
All will concede that by nature every citizen
Is entitledto an equal chance IN the struggle for
subsistence and success. No party would
dare to boldly maintain that one class OF our
npOnla entitled Snpeiai nriyilapaS
others.
How important therefore IL Is that every
elector who casts ballot should fully under
stand the effect OF what he is doing: should be
able to judge for himself whether his act Is for
or against his own interests and how danger
Gus II is to submit this vital questi n to the
judgment Of others whose personal interests
may be the very opposite Of those they lead.
1t Is serious mistake for any elcctor to
reach the conclusion that this subject OF tax
alton Is one he cannot understand. All can
do SO II they will take pains to inform them
selves.
COnciseiy stated q tariff is tax which our
government levies on merchandise produced in
other countries and brought here for sale. Be.
fore II can be disposed OF the party who i'm,
ports 1t must pay into the treasury OF the Unit
ed States the tariff which the law imposes. and
then in order 10 save himself from loss he must
sell It tor enough to get back the original cost
in the foreign country and the tariff paid on II
here. To illustrate let US suppose an ar
ticle that costs 300 In foreign country is i'm.
ported the tariff on which Is I'D per cent OF its
value. The importer first pays &lOO for the
article and then 30 to our government for the
tariff. The article has therefore cost him $l5O
for which he must sell 1t to get back first cost,
and II he sells it TO q consumer he calculates
the cost at xi5. adds to this the expense of
importing II and his per cent. Of profit, and the
consumer pays the aggregate or all these sums.
and thus he pays In the end the tax.
Now, by this transaction. the government
collects 80 which gees into the treasury and
helps To defray its expenses, and no one class
is directly benefited by 1t more than another