Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-14
Byers Makes Public a Reply to
Davenport Paper Which Tried
to Put Him in Hole
EVERY QUESTION ANSWERED
Attack on Attorney General by Infer
ence Falls F'Iat-Indisnant at Charge
That He is Candidate for Governor
Davenport Paper Refuses to Publish
Special to rames-Republ,can.

Special TO Ttmes-Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 14.--Attorney
General II. w. Byers today gave to
the press a letter in answer to an
editorial printed in the Davenport
Times of Dec. 81. 1907, in which GER
tain questions were propounded to
eral Byers in answer was mailed
to the Times more than "a week ago.
but has not yet been printed by it.
The letter is as follows:
Des Moines, Jan. 4, 1908. Editor
Davenport Times, Davenport, Iowa
Dear Sir: My attention has just been
called to your editorial of December
31st under the heading Let Byers An
sWer" The suggestion in the editorial
of lack of good faith and want Of sin
cerlty upon my part in the effort that
is being made by this department for
better enforcement of the laws reg
ulating the sale of Intoxicating liquors.
is too pointed for me to permit 1t to
go unanswered, and shall try to make
my answer so full and so definite that
there need be no further misunder-
standing about the questions you raise.
First. "Why, Mr.. Byers, do you let
the Elks' club of Des Moines, of which
it is understood you are a member,
sell liquor at all hours! Why, If the
Davenport Commercial club has to pay
Iot tov nt ba NfninaS
Elks' club have to pay the mulct tax?'
4 am not a member OF the Elks'
club of Des Moines, but have the word
of several reliable members that the
club abandoned it's bar under some
arrangement with the Anti Saloon
league several months ago and have
sold no liquor since.
Second. "If the Davenport Turner
society has to pay the mulct tax and
close its place in conformity with the
mulct law regulations, why is it, Mr..
Byers, that the Des Moines Turner
society pays no mulct tax and sells
liquor to members at all hours?"
1 was not aware that Des Moines
had Turner society until a gentleman
from Davenport called my attention to
1t a few DAYS ago, nor has any one
ever suggested to me that liquor was
being sold by such a society contrary
to law. Since reading your editorial
/ have taken this matter up with Mr..
Lawrence DeGraff, the very faithful
and efficient prosecutor for Polk coun-
ty, and have his promise that the
mulct law shall be enforced to the let
ter in his city and county.
cial club has to observe the provisions
of the mulct law, why is it that you,
Mr.. Byers, allow the Commercial club
at Dubuque to operate without paying
the mulct tax?"
If there is Commercial club at Du-
buque> operating a saloon or selling
liquor to it's members, as your ques-
ton would indicate, it will have to
comply with the mulct law; and the
county attorney Of that county has al
ready been called upon by this depart
ment to enforce every provision of the
law against every person or associa-
ton violating it.
Fourth. "Why is it that, if you Vim
sist upon Davenport saloons closing at
10 o'clock, you allow the Burlington
and Dubuque saloons to close at II
o'clock?'
The saloons in both Burlington and
Dubuque are required to close their
doors at 10 o'clock at night. If they
are not doing SO, they will be prompt
ly prosecuted.
Fifth. "Why is it, Mr. Byers, that
you allow as many as thirty drug
stores in Des Moines to sell liquor con-
trary to their permits, at all hours of
the night and day, when even the Reg
lister and Leader editorially has called
attention to the fact? That liquor is il
legally sold by Des Moines drug stores
is matter concerning which there is
no doubt. Then why do you not put
stop to it?''
Actions are now pending in the dis
trict court of this county against fif-
ty-three drug stores in this city where
it is claimed liquor is being Illegally
sold, and the county attorney and his
deputy are working over time in their
efforts to compel compliance with the
laws of the state
Sixth. 'How does it happen that
representatives of your office have
been sent only to Davenport. while
liu1or laws are violated at Council
Bluffs by clubs and saloons, at Sioux
City, Dubuque. Clinton and Cedar Rap
ids? Did you ever send representatives
of your office out into Des Moines to
ascertain whether the law is being vio-
lated there, or ever write letters to the
Polk county attorney concerning law
enforcement?
1 have sent my assistants to such
cities only as have asked for them.
Up to date they have visited Burling-
ton and Davenport. If their services
are needed at any time in the other
cities mentioned by you. and request
is made for them, they will be sent.
Barring your editorial. no complaint OF
any kind has reached this office from
Cedar RAPIDS or Sioux City.
Seventh "Why is 1t that you have