Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-19
of the United States has declared that

of the United States has declared that
Intoxicating drinks are detrimental to-
mankind. Why are laws passed re-
stricting the saloon keepers in their
business if it is like the hardware or
the grocery business. Why does not
the liquor men have representatives
on the platforms, or why have they no
lecturers going around the country
telling the people the good results OF
intoxicating liquors?
Statistics show that crime Is
traceable to the liquor traffic. 1t, is
not like any other business. 1t is here
by sufferance and not by right. The
liquor man is here because some poor
man has not kicked him out. His ar
guments are driven from the field and
no man will defend him on his merits
or the merits of his business.
The Pennsylvania Way.
''The very life Of the liquor business
is a campaign of lawlessness. In my
native state, Pennsylvania the sys-
TEN is something like this; the judges
grant the licenses to sell Intoxicating
liquors and in some large places where
anti-saloon opinions prevail there are
only a few saloons. In the places
where this state of affairs reign, large
quantities of free beer are shipped in
by the brewers and as many boys and
men as possible are made drunk. The
people then think that possibly more
saloons would remedy this evil and so
several more licenses are granted.
The New York System.
eve are not pushing the marshal
law in Iowa because it is an exception
ally bad state, for it is not. In COM
parison with Missouri or Kansas Iowa
stands out better. Minnesota and the
Free beer flows plentifully in Mime
apolis and st. Paul during election
time and the brewers send distributors
with the beer. In New York the sa-
loon men dictate to the governor They
have said; We don't obey the law and
We will not obey the law, SO Mr.. New
York YOU come down and make law
according to our dictation.' They
wanted law passed that would al
low them to keep open on Sundays
from 1 o'clock until IL o'clock. In
other words: Remember to keep holy
the Sabbath day, till / o'clock, and
then let her go Gallagher until II
O'clock
Il have been called to Albert Lea,
Mimi, three times in twelve years to
drive the saloons from that little city,
and, not boasting of my abilities,
have been successful each time in
temporarily abolishing the business
Three times have ! received letters
asking me to come back that the sa-
looms have started again. On the third
visit to the northern city I apparently
| made no disturbance for the saloon
men, they saying, Rankin has been
here twice.. he is talked out; he can't
drive us out this time They evidently
overlooked the fact that was from
the natural gas district of Pennsyl-
vania. Law breaking was the oppo-
sition I met on each visit, yet the sa-
| looms We're abandoned.
The "can't Voter.
| "The can't voter has saved every
liquor man. The man who believes it
| is a good thing to do away with the
| saloons, and publishes his views, yet
when he goes to the polls. convinces
himself that he can't do without
them. Let us come to the business of
the saloon keeper. First he must
know how to break the law. then he
f1cers. We find liquor men in every
line Of politics. late and early with
money to procure that which he wants
1t is rare that we elect man who will
out and out enforce the law and for
| this reason the saloon men are easy
victors over them. The liquor men
| try to control every Office because
/ their fc
against 1t. When they get the local
officers on their side, it is easy sail
4 ing.
The Officers Duty.
1.-THE officer is the representative OF
the people. He is the people himself
1t is the duty of every good citizen tc
see that the law is enforced, but it is
not expected of every good citizen to
enforce the law. The officer is there
the citizens. The people are only ex-
| pected to enforce the law on especia
i occasions. when the local officers fai
4 to do their duty. The liquor men ar.
Il que that their opponents are cranks
and fanatics, yet they have no figh1
to put up, unless it is their mainstay
that Of unlawfulness.
Il A Peculiar Criminal.
i 1.-THE liquor law breaker is peculiar
4 ana has no parallel In cr1mlnOlogy. we
i never contemplated his case. Wher
the legal machine was made, we new.
. err supposed that we would have mer
who would disregard the law, yet WE
have them in the liquor dealers. The!
set UP notification as their campaign
If you will look carefully at the law
you will find that nineteen twentieth!
Is against personal property. Nine
4 teen-twentieths Of liquor law break,
ing is against the public. OCCASIONAL.
a father or wife will file informa
ton against saloon keeper. an
opposed to any member of a famil,
fighting the liquor men. He is a pc
culiar law breaker in that he is pub
lie offender and it is the duty of tn
state to provide officers to look afte
the liquor dealers. The state does pro
vide officers for a majority of tn,
crimes, but not for the liquor men.
4 Not Like the Tavern Keeper.
"He is peculiar criminal in tina
his customer will not appear agains
him. He will not testify to the truth
IL he can possibly avoid 1t. If asked
If he went into the saloon, he will &C
knowledge that much. but when quer
led about drinking whisky, or beer, h