Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-23
.LOOKER-O In IOWA:
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Baskerville, Dec. pa recent editor
ial in the T.-R.-'Anti- Saloon Seni-
ment Grows"-was not only appropri-
ate as headline to what followed,
but expressed a general truth in so far
as Iowa is concerned. This is senti-
inent which exists, not only in the
dry but in the wet counties. But
it by no means follows that there is
an increased sentiment in favor of pro-
hibition. There is a feeling of disgust
among our real temperance citizens,
concerning the sale of liquor in the
counties, where the mulct law is not
in force. And real temperance citizens
living in counties where the legal sa-
loon exists are just as much opposed
to the conditions which are matters of
open remark there. These referred TO
citizens in both the wet and dry coun-
ties find a common feeling over the
failure to enforce the provisions of the
prohibition law in the dry counties and
the nom observance of the details 1.-THE
mulct in the wet counties.
The writer travels regularly in some
fifty counties in Iowa. He sees what is
going on, and has daily conversations
with citizens who deplore noticeable
conditions. Avoiding any craftsmanship.
here is what must be admitted is the
condition in the prohibition counties:
First and foremost is the large number
of drug stores, having permits to sell
Intoxicating liquors, and it is also true
that the stronger the prohibition senti-
ment exists, the more drug stores. I'M
fsIya ~ al r,oan IF
are conducted under the object, aim
and interest of the pharmacy law. But
just as sure is it, that 'the whisky
drug stores" thrive most, both in num-
bers and money making qualities, N the
strongest prohibition towns in the state
of Iowa A definition of the whisky
drug store can be put thus: 1t is q
drug store where the sale of liquor was
the object of going into the business,
and the proprietors of such drug stores
care little for the sale of other arti-
cles carried in stock. They are in every
prohibition town In Iowa, and are as
well known by the citizens of such
towns as any other line of business.
Curiously enough the prohibitionists in
a large majority of such towns make
little or no effort to close such places,
or IL they have spasm of virtue they
send off and get Abrams and COM
mence wholesale prosecutions, taking
in the innocent as well as the guilty,
like the late crusade in Butler county.
Again, in these prohibition towns
the bootlegger thrives and fourishes.
He is so well known that the aver
age hotel clerk can give the address of
the nearest bootlegger at once to the
thirsty stranger. Many men of the
town, DESTROYS of entertaining their
friends with beer lunch, give their
orders to Mr.. Bootlegger. and the goods
are always delivered promptly and at
very reasonable figures. The prohi-
bitionists of these towns know of these
men and their business as well as that
of barber shop they have never en-
tered, and yet they are never molested
or made afraid. Business men in such
towns frequently rather encourage
such business, for they can put their
out of town customers "onto the
place when confidentiany approached
Meanwhile prohibition is preached
from the pulpit one Sunday year at !
least. Prohibition conventions are
held frequently and strong speeches
are in order, always closing by "resolv-
ing" which settles the whole business
until the next convention is held.
$50
In the wet counties and In the towns
where the open saloon exists, more
drunkenness is noticeable now than at |
any time, for the past fifteen years. |
The writer Is weighing his words when
he says that during the past month, |
day after day, he has seen drunken men
going in and out of these saloons, has
seen the bartender handing out liquor
to men crazy drunk, and, many unable !
to walk straight. He sees every day
open violations of the mulct law and
no one of the citizens of these towns
taking interest enough to see that the
laws are enforced. Many of these sa-
looms have curtains drawn, many have I
chairs and tables, many have two or
three entrances many allow minors to I
remain in the room, some have music. I
some keep open until midnight and /
after, some open Sundays and keep
open holidays. He has been in towns I
during the past month wet towns and
met by actual count, walking from the
depot to the hotel, met eleven drunken /
men on the sidewalk,-this in a town /
If drunken men We're liable to arrest, +
the mayor would frequently have to
take in" the town marshal. Those
who have read this column in the past
are aware that the writer Is not a pro- I
does not believe in that
plan. but to paraphrase little the
terrible and growing worse condition
of some OF our wet towns, tends to-
wards the exclamation,-alm thou
persuadest me to be prohibitionisti
And the cause of these conditions
within prohibition and mulct counties,
is the lack of enforcement of the laws
now in the statute books. The cure Is
always in the same line. Abrams and
his crusades do not lessen this bad
state Of affairs. Wherever he has
worked and the writer soon after
wards visits such communities, he all
ways finds feeling of antagonism ex-
listing against the man and his methods.
Finds 1t among some of the temper
ance people. The very fact that he is
IAN outsider" and makes a living" bv
such work destroys the real good
that might be derived from such ac-
tive work If done by other hands.
and other states have
tried the state constabulary system,
only to give 1t UP as lacking of re-
suits. The need of Iowa today is ed
ucation, showing to our citizens the re-
suit of the non enforcement of any law