Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-01-30
w. c. 7. u PRINCIPLES.
A Call To Action.
CBy Gov. Hanly OF Indiana.)

cially OF laws regulating the liquor
traffic. Pardon me if 1 speak of
Indiana. With its changes in law
there has begun a steady and i'm
partial and effective enforcement
of law, the laws of the state, and
starting in cities under the ad-
ministration of metropolitan and
police departments, it has spread
throughout the commonwealth,
and, mark you, with the increase
in dry territory and a stricter en-
forcement of the law, there has
been a noteworthy decrease in
crime, especially in crimes in
volving physical violence. In
1896 the number of murders in
Indiana was sixty-one; in 1908,
100; in 1904, 131; in 1905, 1856; be-
ing thirty three per cent less in
1906 than in 1905; fifty per cent
less in 1906 than in 1904, and sixty
per cent less in 1905;' and ninety
per cent OF all persons accused of
murder In Indiana last year were
convicted, as against seventy per
cent heretofore. In 1906 the crimes
of assault decreased fourteen per
cent and the crime of riot twenty
nine per cent, as compared with
the number of crimes committed
the year before. The number of
persons arrested for drunkenness
in public places increased last
year, not because there were o
drunken men, but because the law
against drunken men in public
places was enforced. Appreciate
the fact that statistics for a single
year are not conclusive; a longer
time is needed to measure with
certainty the effect of restrictive
measures and the stricter enforce
ment of the law, but the increase
given shows the tendency of the
policy, the direction in which it is
carrying us. This condition is
indeed gratifying, in view Of the
of the fact that in a number of
other states these crimes have
greatly increased in the last year
rather than decreased. The bene-
fit to society of this decrease in
crime can scarcely be estimated.
The economic value alone is a
convincing argument for the con-
tinuance of the policy of restric-
ton. There were 104 fewer MUIR
der trials in a single year, sixty
two riot trials, and 1851 fewer
trials for assault. The monetary
saving to the people of Indiana
has amounted to thousands of
dollars, so, taking it from the
economic standpoint alone it pays
to restrict the traffic and to enforce
the law.
One of the difficulties with
which we must constantly reckon
is the peril of losing next year
what we gain to-day. That is
especially true in local option
territory. The policy of the traffic
has been, and now is, and will
continue to be, to break down
public sentiment, and the second
condition will be wors than the
first. When you get local option
here, if in the future years you
have to fight for the territory you
have gained, do not be surprised.
The foe is vigilant and active, it
knows no law, it respects no per-
son and no condition.
Another matter to which | must
advert, one in my Judgment of
great Importance, and one that
has not been overlooked by the
Anti-Saloon League, but one hal
has been overlooked by the great
majority of citizens of the country.
q refer to the policy of the federal
government, its policy Of nullifl-
cation Of the liquor laws in the
states.) The present law permits
the shipping of liquors from one
state to another. The state into
which it is shipped is powerless to
prevent this notification of it's laws.
In the last Congress a bill was in
PRODUCED and favorably reported
to the House but not acted upon,
which would have changed tn 0
law in this regard. Its purpose is
to render all intoxicating liquors
shipped from one state to another
subject to the law of the state to
which they r consigned as soon
as they enter such states. In my
Judgment this measure ought to
become a law.
Senators and representatives in
all states should be instructed that
the probability of their continu-
ance to represent the people Of
your commonwealth and mine in
the United States would be the
support Of the measures against
the liquor traffic. This is the
peoples government, aye, it is
our government, and these men
are our representatives, and we
have a right to instruct them. and