Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-03
MR.. PHILLIPS ACCEPTS.

VITA fT1iLIlFS ASSEF ..
Thomas J. Phillips, democratic can
didate flor governor of Iowa has made
public his letter Of acceptance. There
is nothing remarkable about this let
ter, either from a political or literary
standpoint. 1t refers largely to the
subject of equal taxation. problem
which calls for the greatest sin
certify and effort to legislate upon with
absolute fairness and justice to all in
terests. 1t is a problem that is not
settled at one session of the legislat-
ure and which, under constantly
changing conditions and circum-
stances, must be ever with the legis-
lative bodies of every state. Mr.. Phil
lips endeavor to make point upon
this matter will count for naught, be-
cause they are no stronger, so far as
every element of justice and right is
concerned, thar the declarations OF
the republican candidate for governor
upon the same subject.
The one significant utterance in Mr..
Phillips letter and which we are in
clineu to believe emanates from Mr..
Phillips himself, is the one upon the
subject of liquor legislation in the
state of Iowa. Mr.. Phillips says:
"A local option high license law
should be enacted whereby each COM
munity, acting in the same manner
as they do in other political matters,
could express a binding preference by
majorityspf its voters5as to whether
such community should permit the
sale of liquors therein"
In other words, if Mr.. Phillips had
his way he would throw the state
wide open to the encroachments of
the, liquor power and would shift the
burden to the temperance people to
prove in every community at an,
nually recurring elections that they dc
not want the saloon, instead of com.
pelling the burden as now, to resi-
upon the saloon crowd, to prove con
clusively by the signatures of the vot
ers that the community does want the
saloon. The difference in these two
methods of procedure is of immense
Importance to the people of the state
of Iowa. The substituting of saloon
elections for the present system of Sc
touring consent by petition woult
be great step backward in this mat
ter. Circulating petitions is by far the
most honest method of obtaining con
sent for the opening of saloons. 1t il
by far the least disturbing. In an av
erage town a saloon election would
Itear up the whole community. L
| would mean an active campaign cover
ing weeks and months. There. woult
be a lavish use of money and attemp
at corruption OF voters on the part o
the saloon power Indeed, the an
lnually recurring saloon election is al
lintolerable condition of affairs.
Under the present system it is TIN
business of the men who want sa
looms to circulate petitions at thei
lown expense. They can not saddl,
| the expense on the public. 1t makes
no disturbance of business or other re
lations. The fact that few men ar,
circulating petitions does not disturb
lany one. The whole burden is on th,
men who are interested in the openin.
lof saloons and they can afford to pa.
the expenses or let the proposition
lalone.
AS far as honest expression is con
cerned it can be more accurately ot
tanned by circulating petitions than b,
an election. The petition is open /
man must sign it in the open and bea
the responsibility of such signature
He can not sneak up to a ballot boz
and deposit a secret ballot The or
ening Of saloons is business ques
ton and every man who is in favor o
opening them ought not to be afrai
to go on record. The substitution @
elections for petitions would greatl
multiply and aggravate the existin
evils.
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