Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-22
A Statement
CREsco, Ia Dec. 10, 1s.

sI~oSOS LA bcC. 1898.
ED1Toa T1MEs:-As it is currently re.
ported on our streets that the Anti.Sa.
loon League OF Cresco, Is responsible for
the prosecutions recsntly instituted
Against DR.. VIM. Connolly of Cresc,.
:. q. Love OF Lime Springs, and B. F.
Lowry of Chester, the League asks per.
mission to state, through the columns of
the TINES, that it knew absolutely moth.
ing OF these prosecutions, directly or in.
dlrectiy, until they we're filed in the o..
Clerks office. The members of this
League do not approve of these prose.
cutions and believe they were detrimen.
tal to the cause OF temperance.
One OF The LEAGUE.
From the above it is evident that the
TRADE in the Plain Dealer about the
CLERGY" and the temperance people of
Cresco was wholly and wantonly false,
prompted by the usual disposition of its
editor to belittle people interested in the
best moral good OF community, it they
differ with him in the least. His abuse
turns out to be wind of the usual value
and variety, as was expected it would. =
Times
A conspiracy to do certain act is
formed, men in different places unite
with 1T with knowledge of it's pur-
pose, contribute funds for its support
and pledge other funds to be raised by
assessment upon the money pledged.
The conspiracy is to rob bank, a
store, to steal or murder, and IL one OF
the acts or purposes Of the organiza-
Lion is committed by few of its
member, the Others ignorant of the
time and place of the COMMISSION Of
the act. For the commission of that
act every member of thatorganization
is equally guilty with the actual per-
petaators. And this is exactly the
condition here. There was an organic
alton to do certain things which were
done by members of that organization
which tars every member with the
same stick. Gone of the league" had
better put in a plea of guilty, a YER
dict the law would renderagainst him.
And ii the members Of the league dis
approve of these prosecutions, it had
better disband. We are proud to say
that Rev. Otterson, Rev. Domersneas,
Rev. Niedermeir, Rev. Shafer Rev.
Gorrell and Rev. Mccarthy did not
approve of or become members of this
league organized to levy tribute up
on any whom the detectives might Sc
lect for that purpose and for which
purpose they were to secure evidence
for conviction, as the only means to
reach the purse of the person COM
planned against. And to the Times
we state that we have no faith in
methods for the "best moral good'
that relies solely upon the fear of the
law as their strength and we ask it to
point to just one intemperate person
who has been reformed by such fear.
Our hope for the reformation of men
rests upon the basis of doing good to
the unfortunate victim of intemper-
ance; the social standing, the honor
able employment, the respect of his
fellow men the good he can do for
himself and his family, being purer
better and higher motives than fear
OF the law. The Plain Dealer will de.
fend its bitterest enemy against
wrong: it will censure it's warmest
friend who persists in the commission
OF wrong. This should be understood
by wrongdoers whether of uthe cloths
or otherwise,