Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-04
Looker-On In Iona


headlined might properly be styled,
confessions Of a former Iowa saloon
keeper, or how we evaded both
the prohibition and mulct law" 1t
didn't happen here, the worst or best
this town ever INDUCED in was tenn
perance drink put up in black bottles
and openly sold as "non-tox' until
somebody interfered.
You see" said the ex-saloon man."
received quiet tip that the business
men of the town wanted an open sa-
loon run in decent sort of way, to
draw trade to the town. So / went over
and talked with the members of the
city council not in their official capac-
ity, but as individuals, and they agreed
to not bother me If I would take out
a billiard table license at s25 per
month. Then I called on the mayor, told
him what the members Of the council
said and agreed. and to my sur
prise he would hear of it. I had
about given up the idea of opening a
saloon in nextown when got a
nunch" from one OF the business men,
so called on the mayor again. Again
he refused to go into any deal 1 fin-
ally told him / was not only willing to
pay the city marshal $500 a year to go
into the city treasury, but would DO
what was customary with the mayor
He wanted to know how much 1 felt
like handing him every month, not 20
be paid in the presence Of witnesses
and for which he would give no re-
ceipt. We agreed on s25 a month for
him personally for the extra work a
in, III q
got a government license ordered
some key beer and opened up. i for
got to put in billiard tables, what was
the use, had all could do tapping
kegs of beer. The county had similar
saloons in nearly every town run on
the same plan, perhaps the mayors
deal was different in some of them. We
did not take the trouble.-to get I'D a
petition. watts the use? Nobody both
cred me for nearly two years, and I
kept a decent place selling nothing but
beer. Finally that man Abrams and an
attorney formed partnership and got
after US. I quit, no use fighting as
had openly sold beer by the glass, and
thought best to stay quiet and keep
the little pile had layed away.
The attention the daylight saloon
law has received by the readers of the
daily papers and 1t having become a
law in Nebraska, makes it pretty GER
tain this feature of liquor legislation
will be added to our Iowa laws at the
next meeting of the legislature 1t is
curios to notice the expressed opinion
Of the voters both in wet and dry
towns on restricting the sale of intox-
icating liquors. AS much Of such talk.
saloon as from those in favor Of pro-
hibition. One business man in Kama
VIVA said, Il would not object to a
daylight saloon here IL the law was
strictly enforced. Such a place opened
at in the morning and closed at 8
in the evening would be an improve
men on present conditions. We couldn't
have bu, one under the new 1000 pop
ulation law, and by putting on stiff
mulct tax could raise considerable
money for the city crossings and nee
essary expenses. AS it is, much liquor
and beer IS shipped in and the city
does not get cent of revenue.
Talking with county attorney the
other day, he expressed an opinion that
under the new law both the county at
torney and sheriff will henceforth earn
their salaries. He understands that
now the citizen does not have to get
the witnesses and file the information.
Now the sheriff does not sit back in
his easy chair and say, "bring me a
warrant and I'll arrest him" Both Of
these officials under the new law have
to ASSIST in the detection and con-
viction II it's a matter of common
knowledge that "a quiet game is 60
ing on" every night in the rooms over
John Smiths grocery, they must get
busy and find out If such report is
founded on fact. They are not to act
as detectives, but on the statement of
reputable citizens that Mrs. Blank
runs an designation house. they must
And where one stops to
tank of the many Illegal affairs COM
mon knowledge of every we'll posted
citizen that are going on in almost
every town, matters heretofore receiv-
ing no attention from county attorney
and sheriff, because 1t was somebody's
business to work up evidence, 1t would
seem as tho candidates for these Of
fees will be less in number in the very
near future.
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