The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-05-03
THE PRESENT CONDITION

and antl-salOOn sentiments agree that the
situation in Oskaloosa is a grave one.
From the time when prohibitionists be-
gan to slacken their hands. and an anti
prohibition governor sworn to enforce
the law SOUGHT to defeat it by pardon
ing convicted criminals, and politicians
became careless o. the morals of the
state, things have grown worse in Oska-
looSa, as in manY Iowa towns. Through
the work of the Anti Saloon League
much has indeed been done to open our
eyes to the lawleSsness and to the mean
ing OF the law. And the good work Of
the Committee of Thirteen two years
ago had its temporary effect and revealed
some important facts. But as the prohi-
bitioniSts before them too often lid.
they spurted up, spent their force and
some monev, and gave up the cause,
when they should have and could have
redeemed OSkaloosa and restored its
good name. But what are the present
conditions?
I. The saloons are said to be opened
by the will of the majority? Is this
true? 1t is rather through the careless
ness of prohibitionists and the lack Of
courage in those who like prohibition
principles. 1t was too much taken for
granted that the saloon would be favored
and hence many ignorantly signed the
petition of consent or else yielded to the
demands of the saloon After the with
drawals are subtracted, as every body
knows, and as the Supreme Court has
recently decided, they have right to be,
the majority is small, only about thirty
And there are many more who sorsly re-
greet that they ever signed it, Our eff
forts have revealed the fact, which oar
onnonents confess, that a pronlpter ac-
ton on the part of the anti-saloon people
would have won them the victory Even
yet there are sufficient grounds for APP
peal, by which the petition may be de-
feated.
2. The character and influence of the
saloon only needs to be understood to
arouse the majority against it. In fact,
only few people are in any way profit
ed by it, while all suffer from it. Not
withstanding the opinions of some to
the contrary, the interest of trade de-
mands the 100000 to $4,000 annually
under license in Oskaloosa should be
turned into useful business 1t is on be-
half of the merchandise as we'll as the
morals of Our city that we are concerned.
3. City and county politics and gov
eminent are in bad way with us.
Council and court are too much domin-
ted by the organized liquor dealers JUS
tice is perverted, and crime goes unpun-
ished; liquor taxes have gone unassessed
and uncolected. while our increasing
criminal court expenses are burden
upon the county at large. Why should
it not be so, since we have given Our
consent and moral support to the crime
producing institution? 1t is fine talk this,
about regulating the institution which
the license laws describe as the saloon,
when Our hands are morally tied in the
face Of the ever aggressive enemy of So
ciety of commerce, of industry, of ed
ucation and of religion. Many really
thought they were clearing themselves
OF the evil by signing the petition; they
will soon discover that they were en-
couraging Oskaloosa to rival Burlington,
Muscatine and other lawless river towns,
for whose convenience the mulct law
was enacted. but which have conformed
to no sort of liquor laws. Who that
signed the petition of consent will raise
his hand against even the unlicensed liq
uor traffic?
4. Although the statistics are to the
contrary, honorable men still believe that
with the open licensed saloon in Oska-
loosa liquor sales may be reduced to a
minimum Admitting that statistics are
not always a true index Of the condi
tons, they are the best available evil
dences. and fifteen or eighteen years of
them begin to show approximately the
true state of things. The statistics are
until these gentlemen cease to speak
from mere impressions, and cease to
profit by the traffic, the people will find
it difficult to believe in their sincerity.
5. 1t is difficult to understand some
OF our prominent citizens, whose names
are upon the now historic petition. They
don't like the saloon; they know its as
sociations are bad; they would apologize
for being observed in it; they are aware
that it is pitfall for young and old, ell
framing their neighbors and neighbors'
children. and sometimes themselves and
their own children. In all candor we
ask these gentlemen of the Committee of
Thirteen, why, If it is a good thing. did
they organize two years ago against the
saloon and liquor traffic? Again, why,
when they proved it such an evil, did
they stay their hand. when they might
have led all of us in the publication Of
Our loved city? Why do some of them
continue to turn their property to the
use of the traffic? Is it because they
draw double rent from it? Or do they
insist on the extravagant rent because
the saloon is so dangerous to person and
property? If the latter, must not they
themselves with the saloon be adjudged
dangerous to society? If the former,
they are selfshly, sinfully getting gain by
giving the cup of woe to weaker neigh
bors. 1t is only fair to say that some of
the Committee of Thirteen refuse to rent
property for saloon purposes. and to have
anything to do with the saloons.
g. But all spirit of judging aside, We
appeal to the pro-saloon citizens to
recognize our common interests in OPP
position to this common evil and for the
betterment of our town. Their interests
are ours and ours are theirs. We stand
for purity and peace We ask them to
stand with us, to be our leaders; we will
support them in every genuine reform
and in the renovation of the city. OF
course they, like ourselves. will have to
make sacrifices. and sometimes their mo-