Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-03
culanalNs AND RANKIN.

Governor CumminS took q sensible
position when ne announced his oppo-
sition to the state marsi,als bill and
M. Rankin took one equally strong
when he argued against the COVER
uor,s substitute. It IL a case where the
public will agree with each in denial
ana disagree with both in affirmation.
{ The two arguments stand each other
OF. Cummins is right in his objec-
tions to the marshals bill and Mr..
Rankin has very plainly exposed the
weakness and infeasaybility OF the
governors proposed substitute. Neither
the state marshal plan nor the system
Of Impeachment OF county attorneys
viii do. The governors plan. under
present conditions affords opportunity
Tor Infinite complications, embodiment
Of counties and communities ana en-
barrassment OF the state adminlstra-
ton. The chances are,nowever, that
! law like that proposed by the gov
garded and unenfoced. Impeacf-
mont proceedings are proverbially hard
TO start and historically ineffective in
their results when they have been
started. Az Mr. Rankin shrewdly sug-
gests the impeachment Of standpat
Official thru progressive governor or
Of d progressive thru a standpatter
would raise a storm Of protest both
sincere and calculated. The governors
proposition will not do.
Neither will Mr.. Rankin's proposal
70 create state constabulory for
special purpose. The fatal weakness
{ OF the state marshals bill is its usur-
patton Of the rights and privileges, real
or assumed of communities to govern
l themselves in matters the regulation
OF which is at present generally con-
sidered to belong to localities Mr..
/ Rankin's state police force Is not to
sbe created for the enforcement Of all
law. but for the prosecution of sin
RE class OF violators and that a class
whose dereliction is connlved at by a
large proportion Of the people OF this
llstate and especially in the so-called
dry towns and counties.
Il Is best to look at the liquor ques-
ton in Iowa sauarely. Business men
who do not use liquor as beverage
stand for the saloon as trade getters
and condone the illegal sale of liquor
when 1t draws trade to the town."
The average Iowan is not inclined to
disturb the whisky drug store" 50
long as It's proprietor exercises ordin-
AIRY Judgment In sales or in most In
stances the blind pig SO long as 1t
does not become byword and dis
turbance to the peace. 10 be sure Mr.
Rankin's constabulary is calculated to
supplant this indifference with the
zeal OF the ultra prohtbitionist, but it
IL wholly unlikely that a special liquor
constable from another portion of the
state would be welcomed into the or
+ =.
binary community under the assump-
ton that it is incapable Of governing
It's own affairs.
Enforcement of liquor laws rarely
runs ahead OF public sentiment. When
public opinion has reached the point
where Mr.. Rankin's police force would
be effective there will be no need OF
state constabulary. The state has had
one era of attempted enforcement,
1 law too far in advance of the actual
sentiment of the state pertaining 20
regulation OF the liquor traffic. 1t
should move carefully in the matter of
the Rankin bill. which il passed. would
cause a revulsion Of the growing tenn
.perance sentiment in Iowa and set