Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-19
NOTED TEMPERANCE LECTURER
DELIVERED ADDRESS.
EXPLAINS STATE MARSHAL BILL
First Methodist Episcopal Church is
Overlooking Speaker Tells OF the
Z Proposed Measure, Its Object and
the Good 1t Might Do.

1.-THE liquor laWDreakeT is pecuiiai
and has no parallel in criminology
was the statement made last evening
by A. G. Rankin, the moulder orator,
who is touring the state in the inter-
ests of the marshal bill, which its
many champions have hopes OF max
ing law when it is presented to the
legislature. The auditorium OF the
First Methodist Episcopal church was
packed from pit to gallery. Persons OF
i all creeds were present to hear the
noted temperance orator tell OF the
Estate Marshal Bill" what he held to
be the reason for it,its objects and its
vast necessity. He classified liquor
selling as a law breaking occupation
and explained his remedy in an explic-
it manner. The meeting was presided
over by Rev. P. A. Johnston, pastor OF
the First Congregational church, who
introduced the speaker. Mr.. Rankin
gave short preliminary talk and read
scripture lesson, following with the
principal subject, "The State Marshal
! Bill" The address in part follows:
Organized In Newton.
"The marshal movement had its
birth in Newton over two years ago
and since that time the movement has
spread in all directions in the state,
permanent societies having been
formed in 1875 cities, 100 newspaper
editors, eight of whom edit dailies,
bankers, lawyers, clergymen, profess
sional men and business men constitut-
ing the various clubs. The first draft
of the marshal bill was made at Grin
nell last year. and the principal
thought was the best and most appro.
pirate way to handle the great curse,
the liquor traffic. The convention was
composed Of 112 regular delegates. The
bill could not be perfected at this
meeting and we selected attorneys to
go over it. Next Wednesday evening
a meeting will be held in Des Moines
to pass upon the bill and elect rep
resentative man to present it to the
legislature.
Cause Of Organization.
1.-THE organization is composed Of
voters without regard to party aftiilia
ton; men who believe in the enforce
ment of the liquor laws of Iowa and
that by officers commissioned by the
state. The notification of both the
prohibitory and mulct laws in many
large centers of population; the sys
tematic invasion by liquor vendors tc
defeat the principle of home rule II
the prohibited districts of the state;
( the INSCRIPTIONS and dishonest con
duct of many druggists who violate the
sacred contract entered into with the
people when taking out a permit, by
converting their places into whiskey
dispensaries; the organized effort OF
liquor men and the corrupt methods
employed to secure the election oi
men committed to the non-enforcemeni
of the law at our town and city cleo
tions, and the extreme violent attacks
of liquor men made upon the loya
private citizen who tries to secure the
enforcement of law has called this or
ganization into existence.
The Liquor Business.
81 shall not try to argue that the
enforcement of the laws of the stat
ute books would wipe out all the lega
phase of the liquor question. In com
mon my subject is. first, the crimina
character Of the liquor business as /;
business; second, the peculiar ant
desperate character of the liquor law
breaker; third, the singular characte
of man when under the influence o
any intoxicant. Men say to me tina
the liquor business is just like an,
other business. 1t Is not like an,
other business. The supreme cour