Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-02
Iowa Newspapers
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
LET BYERS ANSWER.
fIlavennnrt Times

davenport I1meS.)
Attorney General II. w. Byers Wis
tied Davenport Sunday and made the
declaration that the mulct law will
be enforced thruout all parts of the
state alike, but since his department.
has been devoting overtime to Daven-
port and ,neglecting some fragrant vio-
lations Of the law in Des Moines sof
which he must have personal knowl-
edge, 1t is not out of place to ask Mr..
Byers some pointed questions.
Why, Mr.. Byers, do you let the Elks,
club Of Des Moines, of which it is I'M
derstood you are member, sell liquor
at all hours? Why, If the Davenport
Commercial club has to pay the mulct
tax does not the Des Moines Elks'
club have to pay the mulct tax?
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?
If the Davenport Commercial club
has to observe the provisions of the
mulct law, why is 1t that you. Mr.. BY
ers, allow the Commercial club at Du-
buque to operate without paying the
mulct tax?
Why is 1t that. If you insist upon
Davenport saloons closing at ~
o'clock. you allow the Burlington and
DUBUQUE saloons to close at III
o'clock?
Why Is 1t. Mr.. Byers, that you allow
or IN DpS
Moines to sell liquor contrary to their
permits. at all hours of the night or
day, when even the Register ana
Leader editorially has called attention
to the fact? That liquor Is Illegally
sold by Des Moines drug stores is
matter concerning which there is no
doubt. Then why do you not put
stop to 1t?
How does 1t happen that represen-
tatives of your office have been sent
only to Davenport while as matter
of common knowledge the liquor laws
are violated at Council Bluffs by clubs
and saloons, at Sioux City, Dubuque
Burlington, Clinton. and Cedar Rap
ids? Did you ever send representa-
tives OF your office out into Des
Moines to ascertain whether the law is
being violated there, or ever write let
tiers to the Polk county attorney con-
corning the law enforcement?
Why is it that you have made ad
dresses on law enforcement only at
Burlington and Davenport! You say
that there are complaints from Twelve
counties. but have you advertised the
other eleven counties as you have ad-
vertised Scott?
How does At happen. Mr.. Byers. that
when you were invited to Davenport
TO make an address on law enforce.
ment many of those who heard you
went away with the impression that
YOU were inaugurating campaign
for the governorship? Your ADDRESS
so impressed many here Sunday. can
it be possible that you, too, nave
Joined in the game Of playing to the
Notwithstanding your appeal to the
"dry" counties without doing anything
at the same time to enforce laws IN
other places where some support
might be expected, but Where Tue
liquor laws are violated!
If you are sincere In endeaNofhg 10
enforce the laws thruout the Whole
state. if Scott county is being impair
tally treated, why is 1t that you 90
not at once take steps to secure exact
observance of the law in Des MONIES
and other places?
Understand, please, thai DaVenpor.
is not objecting to the enforcement OF
the laws provided every other county
lin the state is made to observe the
laws in all their details in the same
way; but Davenport and Scott county
do object to being picked out from
among a dozen counties and being au-
versely advertised turnout the Whole
state in order that some politicians
may make capital out of a campaign
of claw enforcement" which IS nelther
sincere nor general. When the at.or-
ney general of Iowa enforces the Id"
on clubs, Turner societies, drug stores
and saloons, in other parts OF the
state and particularly in Des MONIES
where violations are fragrant, the peo-
ple of Scott county will concede sha1
the campaign for law enforcement IS
based upon an honest conviction ana
is not begun for the mere advance
mont of politicians.