Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-02
Temperance Advocate Will Urge
His Bill, Slightly Modified,
i'm House
NO QUARREL WITH cuMmINs
Rankin Lays Defeat Of His Measure
to the Anti Saloon League, Which
He Says Has Not Dealt Fairly With
the Friends Of the State Marshal
Bill.
IBy Ora Williams1
Special to Times Republican.

Des Moines, March "A. c. Rankin.
worker for the state marshal law, in
sists that the Legislature has not yet
seen the finish of the bill. 1t will be
urged In the house. II may be passed
and go to the senate for second con-
sideration A slight change has been
made in the bill as it Is now In the
house. which will remove some of the
opposition to the senate bill. The fea-
ture of requiring druggists to make
duplicate reports and send one to the
county auditor and one to the state
marshal, has been eliminated. This
will relieve the druggists of one pro-
posed burden.
How about the statements of the
officials OF the state antl-saloon league
as to their attitude?" was asked OF
Mr.. Rankin.
Il stand by my sworn statement In
every particular" he said. II have
nothing to add and nothing to take
back. l accuse the officers of the anti
saloon league Of breaking faith with
us, and they cannot defend themselves"
What about the attitude OF the gov
ernor toward the bill?"
Il do not complain of Governor
Cummins. He has perfect right to be
against the marshal bill and he has a
right to favor, as he has said he does,
a bill to give the governor power to
remove county attorneys who do not
do their duty. And he has q right, II
he can, to line UP the anti saloon
league for his way of thinking: but
what complain Of is that the anti-sa-
loon league while pretending to be for
the marshal bill has been in reality
against it,"
Mr.. Rankin does not believe the plan
of having authority lodged with. the
governor to remove a county attorney
would help matters. 'If these anti-sa-
loon league people have any plan which
they consider better than mine, let
them bring it out. They have bill to
give this power to the governor of re-
moval. but they have held 1t up to be
presented as substitute for the mar
shall bill on the floor. They would be
willing that governors of Iowa should
become czars and autocrats l would
suggest that along with their plan they
make an appropriation of $50,000 to
buy temporary crown for the Iowa
governors"
The feud between the two branches
of temperance workers Is becoming
serious. 1t makes 1t almost certain
there will be nothing done beyond the
final passage of the mulct law limita-
ton which bill is now mysteriously
missing.
In connection with the controversy
as it relates to Governor Cummins the
following from his message shows that
he has not overlooked the importance
of some action looking to enforce
ment of the law;
-Four years of official observation
have made deep impression upon my
mind respecting the inadequate en-
forcement of the law relating to the
sale of Intoxicating liquors. Whatever
may be our opinions with regard to the
wisdom of particular law, we all
agree that so long as it remains the
law it should be obeyed, and that those
who violate it should, be punished.
There is no greater evil in this country
than the laxity with which laws are
administered. We very much need the
infusion of new spirit into the gov
ernment that will not tolerate an In
territorial failure to obey and enforce
the law. I believe that our statute for
the sale of intoxicating liquors needs
strengthening in respect to its enforce
ment. There are varying opinions as
to the plan that should be adopted, ana
I submit the matter as one worthy OF
your consideration, but without recon-
mendation as to the character OF the
legislation that should be enacted.