Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-21

very day that this particular offender
was violating the law at least one
other saloon was doing the very same
thing, and did not suffer arrest for it.
But if you will listen | think can
throw little light on that action
which the general public does not
know anything about.
| When the Anti-Saloon league filed
five cases applying for injunction
against as many saloons, and included
in that application the property own
ers, the case became somewhat seri,
Gus, it looked as if it meant business
! this time. Now it must be said OF
these gentlemen that they are fertile
of expedients in getting out of tight
places. Imagine then my astonish-
ment when the attorneys of the saloon
league waited upon me offering to
make a contract with me that if we
would drop our cases they would agree
to be just as good as good could be.
To make assurance doubly sure they
agreed that they would discipline them
selves, and if anyone violated the law
they would pay themselves the sum of
$40. 1t was further stipulated that we
should give them four weeks to show
us how capable they were in this
work of discipline and then when they
had demonstrated their capacity for
good morals and order, we should dis
miss our cases and keep hands off
their business. This agreement was
signed by the president and secretary.
Now it was while this solemn agree
ment was under consideration that
this grand stand play took place in the
police courts, and one offender was
brought in on the carpet and fined, to
show us how they could do it. Now
may be wrong in my Interpretation Of
this particular action, but the facts
which recite are beyond question, the
conclusions are such as any person has
the right to make for himself.
Now I would like to emphasize this
fact, If few private citizens are cap
able of producing such CONSERVATION
in the camps of these lawbreakers,
what might the administrative forces
Of the city do il they desired. do not
exaggerate when say that all that the
mayor of this city has to do is to lift
his finger and every refractory saloon
keeper would fall in line as quick as
flash. There is not the slightest ex-
cuse for this condition which we now
suffer.
Utterly IndefensibIe.
1t is utterly indefensible The sa-
looms have all the liberties under the
law that they need, for this particular
law as l have suggested was given at
their dictation. There is not citizen
in Ottumwa whose consideration is
worth anything who will complain if
these institutions are required to live
The best of the liquor men themselves
would hail with delight just such a
state of things.
l might take this occasion to sum-
Marie in measure the things have
said, and to explain more accurately
the purpose I have in view. have
undertaken to show that there is a
state of lawlessness in our city that
is exceedingly unwholesome. l think
have amply proven my case. l have
given you simple unvarnished re.
cital of the lawless things that are
conducted right under the eyes of the
authorities without the slightest eff
fort at molestation.
| have called your attention to the
disgraceful prize fights conducted in
our midst and showed you that they
were pulled off with the fullest knowl
edge and consent of the authorities
who were themselves in attendance
| have shown you that the gambling
vice fourishes in most fearful de.
thof ~ 1,o ,,I,r
of privacy. but as open and defiant
as it could possibly be conducted This
too is with the fullest knowledge and
consent Of the authorities. have suf.
ficiently proven the prevalence of the
social vice which fiaunts itself in the
same brazen fashion indicating that it
too has the authorities on it's side and
has all the sanction of a legitimate
traffic in our midst. I have called
your attention to the evident fact that
the saloon is permitted to enjoy priv.
ileges that the laws do not sanction
through the grace Of the men whose
sworn duty it is to keep it within
the limits of the law
l have done all this with the distinct
purpose of showing the completely OF
the administration with vice. That
was my purpose, and my only >pur.
pose. Now there seem to be a few
people in our midst that misapprehend
my aim in this matter. They complain
that I have not shown up all the per.
sonal misdemeanors and private pecca
dillos OF their several neighbors with
whom they do not happen to be upon
friendly terms.
Not Airing Private Affairs.
Let it be understood once for all
that I am not airing anyones private
affairs at all. If have been com.
PEELED to introduce the names of pri
waite citizens in these discourses ii
was not to blame them, but simply to
use their names as evidence of the
thing l set out to make plain to you
that is that our city administration is
in league with vice.
Disorderly House.
In order to emphasize what l mean
by the city's being responsible for the
state of things have recited would
like to read the ordinance touching