Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-31
Morris Williams
HORSE SALES AND REAL ESTATE
AUCTION EVERY OTHER FRI.
DAY--PRlvATE SALES :
DAILY.
Did / Sign The Remonstranoe


NO Sir, ] Did Not! DID NOT! l
emphasize this because don't want to
claim any false credit, or have my
position misunderstood.
do not use liquor, L despise drunk
enness and all the evils attached upon
the whisky business. If ! had my way,
would have it all driven from the
state, but While it is sold in towns all
about us, towns competing for the
trade that Ottumwa has been securing,
would continue it's sale here. but
would put the license so high that not
over half a dozen saloons could afford
to run. and l would limit the territory
SO that the traffic would be confined to
two or three blocks in the business
center and | would have each saloon
closely watched SO that no minor, no
habitual drunkard. and no man under
the influence of liquor could enter the
place. Make the license $4,000 and If
that isn't high enough make it $4,000.
AS a business people we should re-
cover our senses. We have still got to
do business. While it might seem
about Billy singing his praises, that
wouldn't buy any bread to stay the
inevitable panes of hunger. nor any
clothes to protect us from the chills of
winter.
In our eShuberance of enthusiasm.
q had almost said farceism, until l
thought of the large number OF hard
worked business men, who signed only
through fear of public sentiment) we
must not forget that we are still hui
man and must still provide for the
temporal wants of ourselves and fam
lilies.
This is an age of very sharp conlpe-
l't1tlon in trade. Low railroad rates make
Itit practicable for communities to go a
n 20 "a, l,, ,,... i
there is no denying the fact much as
we may condemn it, that many people
think it no harm to take glass of
beer, and that it has a bearing on
craving trade. That is why it should
be state wide. then neighbor towns
could not draw any of our trade.
Does any one doubt that the notice
IN the Courier to the effect that
the city council of Oskaloosa had in
special session. granted license to 81
saloons. but for any other pur-
pose than to draw to Oskaloosa the
over Sunday travelling statesmen. and
the trade of the farmers from the
northern nart of Wapello and the
southern part of Manaska counties,
,, trade that has been coming to Ottum-'
wa?
Nor do l deny that an interest of
nv own is at stake.
During the past four years we have
built up the Ottunwa Horse Market
Through hard work and square deal
Ing. until it now stands absolutely first
among the markets west of the Mis-
| sissippi. ] repeat the statement and
| it is open for any one to disprove.
OttumWa now has the largest Year
round native horse market west of the
MISSISSIPPI; sells more market horses
to go east, south, north or vest than
does any other town or city in the
western half OF the United States.
Our customers come from New
York, Baltimore, Buffalo. Cincinnati.
Chicago st. Louis. Kansas City, Minis
neapois and dozens of smaller places.
Many of them are gentlemen who are
accustomed to tallin" drink and go
ing on ABOUT their business. and they
think it is right: don't agree with
them. but they are good customers,
they buy horses by the car load. They
have all helped us to put Ottunlwa
where it is. at the head of all western
horse markets. Now the question with
ne is, VII! these men. coming here.
and finding that we have assumed
village customs, be as regular patrons
OF ours as thew have been? Will they
gradually drift to other places for their
supplies?
| nope it will not be so. hope OF
tulnwa may continue as prosperous
as before, ard Tor my own part, am
tsinpl,y going to redouble my efforts
| to Increase our trade. Here's our
record for four wears mast:
S165.000 in 1905
$4,000 in 1906
! S445.o00 in 1907.
| s536.000 in 1908.
We will open business for 1909 with
d boom sale on Thursday and Friday
January and S. will work for it
as I never worked before to make il
rousins success, and if We can make
her still grow in 1909 as we have in
the past, even if it takes twice the eff
fort to do it under present condi-
tons will be most ready to acknowl-
edge my mistake and apologize for not
signing.
| My best wishes and efforts for the
continued success of Ottulnwa and
her enterprises in 1909, including the
temperance sentiment.
Norris Williams.
A Lot L. ,;-1,