Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-22
(By the Hon. John Mahin.)

iHduc ny tne MafSnalltOWn I1neS- Ike
publican to my communication pub
!ished in your issue of November 81,
IN favor of state enforcement. While
thankful for the expression Of the T.-R.
that am entitled to a respectful hear
ing 1T would have pleased me more
II 1t had met my arguments fairly and
squarely instead of beating around the
bush and starting out and chasing
after hobgoblins not connected with
the subject. For instance, after stat
ing that "the newspapers especially
criticised by Mr.. Mahin are staunch
defenders of the mulct law and editor
tally insist upon its enforcement, 1.-THE
T.-R. proceeds to say:
The question raised by Mr.. Mahin
is not one of an end to be attained, but
of means to an end. 1t is question
OF organizing a body of state marshals
to go about the state bringing liquor
prosecutions much as Mr.. Abrams has
done, or of leaving the initiative of
prosecution with the community itself
and its officers who should know the
propriety and possible success of an
action.
The idea Of state constabulary is
alarming to the average Iowa citizen.
He diStrustS it. The tax ferret syS-
tenn, with its trail of blackmail and
insolent annoyance has put him out of
the notion of state and county private
detectives. There are large commune
ties in Iowa where the sale and restric-
ton Of liquor are sincerely believed to
be question of local government and
where a state constabulary might meet
forcible resistance. When asked,
Mr.. Rankin replied, Go there with the
bayonet.' But the state of Iowa is
not ready to enforce 10 o'clock closing
of the saloons in Sioux City or Daven-
port with the bayonet."
What has the tax ferret system, or
any attempts of Mr.. Abrams under ex-
listing methods of local enforcement to
do with the subject under discussion
This objection of the T.-R., If 1t has
any relevancy or weight at all in this
matter, is against the contention made
by that paper; for, if abuses exist
under the present system, may they
not be obviated by the proposed change
In the manner of enforcement Of law
Whatever may be the evils Of the
ferret system or of the methods pur-
sued by Mr.. Abrams Ito which the
T.-R. so strenuously objects) they are
obviously connected with present con-
ditions, and cannot therefore be rea-
Sonably urged against proposed
change, which would more likely re-
move than aggravate{ such abuses, be-
cause the machinery of enforcement
would be placed in the hands Of hon
orable and discreet men, selected be-
cause of their fitness. as are those
now in our state who are on commits
sions for the enforcement of the game
laws, the mining laws. the oil inspec-
ton laws, the health laws and the rail-
road laws.
Who told the T.-R. that state en-
forcernent of the liquor laws is to
bring into effect an obnoxious system
~ or,fn nd LOFT GxrytfIS kr@nt ~
blackmail and insolent annoyance? %
This is bugbear. 1t is the stock ar
gument Of the National Liquor league
attorneys. 1t Is surprising that news
paper of the high character and usual
good sense of the T.-R. adopts 1t as an
argument. There is not scintilla OF
| evidence that it is proposed to bring
| OF the liquor laws not now available
or in use by the several commissions
already formed in Iowa for state en-
| forcement. The credulous editor OF
the T.-R. has been imposed upon. He
should at once free himself from this
misrepresentation. in order to consider
this subject fairly and dispassionately
| forcement Of the liquor laws are prac-
tically left to municipalities or ooun-
| ties, the trail Of blacknail" such as
| has made Tammany a reproach to our
nation, Is to be found in many COM
munities in our otherwise fair state
The proposed change of method of en-
| forcement would in all probability wipe
out this stain. Thus the very reason
| brought out by the T.-R. for OPP
| posing state enforcement is in fact a
| reason for 1t. No one can reasonably
doubt that men appointed by the gov
ernor or elected by the people Of the
| entire state Gas is now the plan Of Sc
| lecting members of commissions for
enforcement OF state laws) would be
men Of such high character that they
would never stain their hands with
brides or in any other manner prac-
| tice or sanction blackmail
1t is amazing to find the T.-R. putting
in plea for the setting aside of law
| of the state by a locality, as it does
when It says "the state of Iowa is moi
ready to enforce 10 o'clock closing OF
the saloons in Sioux City or Daven-
port with the bayonet." / wonder
The people of Iowa have three times
voted in favor Of banishing entirely
| the saloon system from the state.
| They have never voted in favor OF
| the saloons. No law on the statute
books has had such an emphatic pop
| ular endorsement as the prohibitory
law. Is not the "T.-R. reckoning with
Jul llS pOSl, WlleH ildhIllS d OScldTd-
ton which to say the least OF it, sa-
vors of anarchism?
| The solicitude shown by the T.-R
for "the cause of real temperance re-
FORM" by declaring that it will be "se,
back twenty years in Iowa and that
a high license law will result from
state enforcement, is not shared In
any degree by the temperance mer
| and women who have given this sub
| ject careful consideration. They car
see no reason why proper enforcement
| of good law can do harm. Tha,
the temperance laws of Iowa are not
enforced in many localities will not be
denied by any intelligent citizen. And
the reason why they are not enforced
by these localities is the reason
| (and strong one, too,) for state en-
| forcement
The T.-R. ought to see that its at
titude on this subject places it in line
with the organized liquor power OF
the nation and it's democratic allies
and against the head of the nation
Which the New Republic Was Found
ed" He gave little inside information