Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-21

makes interesting reading:
Some years ago the city Of Worces-
ter, Mass, erected a. costly court OF
justice, and the good people of that
community desired as an inscription a
motto that would be an inspiration 70
coming generations. The venerabie
senator Hoar was called upon to sug-
gest the inscription, and he penned the
words. obedience to law is liberty
These words were cut deep In the
marble, an abiding reminder to old ana
young. Let us write that inscription
SO deep upon the hearts Of he people
Of this community that 1t will be
fresh in memory long after we have
passed from the stage of action.
"In this contest the people OF TINS
city are divided into two camps. There
is no middle ground. Every citizen rs
either in favor of obedience to law OF
is in favor of defiance OF law. Inc
banner that floats over the one de-
mands q reign of law. That Wnich
floats over the other demands reign
of lawlessness. In the ranks of one are
the lawabiding people. In the ranks Oh
the other the law-defying people.
Where a, mans heart Is. there will ne
he found in this contest. If one class
may disobey one law, another class
NAV do likewise with some other Jaw,
and so on, and the end is anarchy.
"Suppose it were true that driving
ont the saloons would injuriously ef-
feet business and increase taxes.
Where is the man who would not RAIN LIN.
err lose all his worldly possessions fhah
part with his good name!
as not poverty with honor TAR more
desirable than great wealth with as
honor? Where is the merchant tnat
would not willingly forego some OF MS
nrofi+s. If that were necessary, 10 the
end that you have a decent city TOT
men to live in?
"The man who would part with ms
honor for a few dollars is tnler d.
heart and the man who would part
with the good name of his nelgnoor
sons OF daughters or the good name
Of his city for the sake Of making OF
saving few dollars, is no better.
population can not bully history,
NOR can great wealth bride eternal JUS
tiCe into WriUluS AdiSC
over the name of your city.
mo man will trust his lie ana
pproperty in the hands of those VINO
wish wealth at any price.
"Rut is it true that obedience to law
destroys prosperity? It Is fair to pre-
s,,ne that. the result which followed
law enforcement in Kansas City, kas.,
will attend a like movement here.
when I first moved upon the dens OF
vice two leading bankers in company
with three prominent merchants called
upon me: to protest against closing the
saloons. saying it would ruin business.
Not long since these same men re-
turned to my Office to apologize for
their former request, and stated that IL
had not only not injured business. out
had helped every line. The bankers
informed that in three months under
closed saloons, deposits had increased
$500, 900. The merchants said their
business had increased, that collec-
tons were better, and that women
were trading with them, presenting
their husbands pay checks, statlng
they had never seen a pay check until
the saloons were closed. Ex-Mayor
w. A. Coy, the proprietor OIL TIE Iaiss
est store in the Sixth ward, which was
the storm center of the fight, stated
to me recently that to his personal
knowledge a score of families now
lived in comfort that lived in squalfd
poverty before the closing movement.
The same statement has been made
to me by more than fifty merchants
in that city. 1 consider it safe propo-
sition to invite any one who feels In
doubt to write to any merchant In
Kansas City as to the effect. During
the recent election, DR.. George M. Gray
made the canvasS upon a strict law
enforcement platform. and in about
two hours the business men on Min
nesota avenue subscribed $4,000 to
cover the expenses of his campaign.
Do you suppose for moment that the
business men would ahve put in the
money to defray the expenses OF his
campaign If it injured their business ?
An appeal to the voters of that city
was signed by more than $50 business
men, asking the election Of DR.. Gray