Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-13

Hon. L. S. Coffin, FIT. Dodge, My
been called to your open letter to me
published in the Eft. Dodge Messenger
of September 5. l appreciate most
highly your kindly and very compli-
mentary expressions of appreciation
of my official services while governor
OF our state, and especially as l rec
ognize them as coming from one of
the strongest of our many able men
of the state, one who has spent long
life of persistent and energetic devo-
ton and hard work to better the con-
dition and uplift to happier life the
rank and file OF his fellow men. May
God bless you and raise UP the gener-
alton that has received your teachings.
to carry on your work until your high
est aspirations are crowned with sue
cess
Il am entirely in accord with your
belief as to the magnitude of the evils
growing out of the liquor traffic, and
the terms that you use to describe the
curse are not overdrawn. The saloon
is the greatest enemy with which our
civilization has to contend. Gould we
Danish it from our midst the millennium
would seem to be near at hand. l am
not inclined to look upon the matter
despondingly When we look about
and see the great number of loyal and
unselfish workers in the field. with
many strong men and women like
yourself in the lead of the movement
it seems to me that we have every
reason to be encouraged.
When we consider that during our
lives we have seen the monstrous evil
Of slavery abolished in the south, and
the great work that is going on there
in extending the cause of temperance
it should inspire the people of Iowa to
follow the steps Georgia has taken,
and Danish the saloon from our state
1T is shame and a disgrace to
us that we permit these recruiting
stations of the devil to blot certain
portions of our Garden of Eden, or
garden of Iowa, whichever you may
call it, for consider them nearly syn
onomous terms.
ION recent visit to Georgia found
that there was hardly state officer,
judge on the bench, or a member of
congress who did not openly and bold
ly declare himself against the saloon,
and the public official who does not
do this is quite sure to be relegated to
private life. In that state man who
has not courage to raise his voice
against the evil cannot spend long
lifetime in public office. Ii our peo-
pie would make this rule, think 1t
would have most wholesome effect.
| am hopeful and expect in the near
future that the man who defends OF
even apologies for, the saloon in Iowa
will be looked upon as an undesirable
citizen, and one who is living out Of
his time.
II realize that persons can honestly
differ as to the best method for abol-
ishing this great evil. When had less
knowledge and experience than now
have and did not realize that the sa-
loon could be exterminated, thought,
as some of our public men seem to
think now, that the better way was to
levy a taxation upon it. | am now OF
the opinion that entire prohibition is
the proper rule for Iowa. The sale of
indulgences is too low standard of
morals for Iowa people. The more re-
spectacle you attempt to make the
saloon the more dangerous it is. The
doggery is preferable. l have enlisted
as private in your army, my good
friend Coffin; and intend to so serve
as long as live.
concerning the enforcement OF the
laws for the suppression of illegal
liquor traffic, If authority had been