Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-27
Representative Il. w. Weeks
Favors the South Carolina
Dispcnsary System
MAY SEEK TO PASS LAW
He Is Studying he System of Con-
trolling the Liquor Traffic in South
Carolina and Is Favorably Impressed
With It-Rankin Plan Too cumber-
some.

Des Moines April 27.-Shall Iowa
adopt the South Carolina scheme OF
dispensing liquors thru state agents
and abolishing the privately conduc-
ted saloon?
Representative e. w. Weeks OF
Guthrie county was in Des Moines yes
terday and said that 1t was his inten-
ton to introduce q bill providing for
state sale of intoxicants at the next
session of the legislature. He is study
ing the South Carolina system and the
other schemes In this country and
abroad, for the state control OF the
liquor supply up to the moment II
passes into the hands of the retail GUS
toner and consumer. and his measure
will include the feasible features OF
each of the laws on the subject now
in effect.
'vrhe condition in some, sections Of
the state is deplorable in the ex-
treme," said Mr.. Weeks, at the Saw
cry hotel, yesterday. "In some OF the
COuHNIS lONJlS, We Stiil oGG lJC lSIloN q
hasten to the depot on Saturdays AMI
later find them on lumber piles and
telephone poles all around, bountifully
supplied with the liquid which they
crave.
This liquor is being shipped into
communities which have no mulct
saloons or other means of supplying
the want than by the c. o. d. package
from out of the state.
II have not yet carefully considered
the extent to which we shall be able
to control interstate traffic of this
character. in view of the recent de-
cisions of the United States supreme
court adversely to the state of Iowa
- but 1t seems to me possible that the
law may be so adjusted that we can
prevent the sale to individuals by sep
arate and distinct G. o. d. shipments
of liquor manufactured outside of the
state. This matter remains to be de-
termined, however. have not yet Civ
en- it sufficient investigation to say
definitely what the powers of the state
may have, il it shall itself assume the
II have studied the South Carolina
pan OIL HduullllS lluuoI. IL HAS SOAiiS
very admirable features.
Suppose we We're to require the
monopoly Of this business by the state
of Iowa and should establish state
agencies for the distribution OF the
liquor by agents. who would not have
the slightest interest In the amount
sold, and prevent the liquor from be-
ing consumed on the premises.
81 believe it would decrease drum
kenness materially, would decrease the
amount Of liquor consumed, would re-
move the profit element from the bus
mess, which is responsible for attract
ing so many men into 1t, and would
give the consumer purer liquor. If 1t
were not consumed on the premises
there would be no fascination about
visiting the saloon. Indeed, one may
sum up many advantages to the plan
of establishing state monopoly in the
liquor business, leaving on the statute
books the sections of the law which
prescribe penalties for such offences
as maintaining nuisances, and selling
to drunkards and minors.
"I suppose that the Rankin plan to
establish a state constabulary will be
IeSiVcu I'LL SllC SOlilli5 SCoSASiA VI SiAN
legislature. Many of the people of my
section Of the state earnestly favor
it.
IT have been inclined to think that
the plan is altogether too cumber-
some. That was my opinion when the
matter was under consideration and
1 told our people so. But this is worthy
of consideration along with any other
plan which may be suggested to lessen
the evils of the liquor traffic, which
extended outside of the communities
where the majority of the people IA
vor saloons, to those sections where
saloons will not be tolerated, but
where immense quantities of the stuff
is consumed to the tremendous det-
riment of the consumers and of the
community.
Such incidental evils as treating
would be abolished under the. govern
ment sale plan, for the liquor could
not be consumed on the premises. The
sociability Of the liquor drinking BUSH
ness is it's principal asset in the way
of Inducing the expenditure of money
needlessly and in making men drunk.
The profit being removed the incen-
tive TO 90 a liquor business IN COM
petition would be removed and the
state would absolutely control the
business.
81 have done nothing toward can
vassing the legislature on the ques
ton, but believe that there is rap
idly growing sentiment that the pres
ent laws are inadequate along these
lines and that something should be
done so curb growing evil. The an
ti-saloon league is doing very good
work, in my judgment, but something
more is needed.
kossu1H COUNTY COURT.