Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-02

est extent of law which to our
minds does not go far enough.
But what is done cannot be mend
ed. And Ottumwa and her citizens
are to blame.
1t is the price they pay.
THE WIDE OPEN TOWN MUST GO.
The Iowa press, commenting on the
crime wave in Ottumwa, is almost a
unit in denouncing the wide open
town" policy and in declaring that
such policy must be wiped out. The
Clinton Herald has strong editorial
on this subject in which it points out
that Ottumwa is not alone in learning
the fearful lesson that the wide open
town" can no longer exist Every COM
munity, it says, is just what its citizen
ship makes it, or allows it to be made,
and no community needs be unsafe to
life and liberty where there is even
a reasonable enforcement of the laws.
The Herald's editorial is as follows:
Ottumwa is beginning to realize the
real cause for the terrible crimes COM
mitted there during the past few
weeks, arousing the citizenship TO
frenzy that almost resulted IN the en-
forcement OF mob rule, and which has
shocked the entire state of Iowa.. And
in that realization they have discover
ed that they are simply reaping as
they have sown. Public officials in
their determination for wide-open
town have simply extended an invita-
ton to the lowest classes of every
community to congregate in that city,
a place where they might conduct
themselves in a manner most pleasing
to themselves without fear of being
interfered with by the authorities.
That staunch Ottumwa Courier
has sounded the tocsin and makes
a vigorous demand to strike at the
very root of the evil which has cursed
that prosperous city so long, and
which has resulted in such blot of
shame to be spread over her fair
name.
The Courier is right. 1t should
have the endorsement of every right
minded citizen there. 1t should have
it to the extent that the people should
rise up in their might and instead of
being satisfied only with a vigorous
SllOlC W VI ing W JuSllSS lAiS iuSi "
of Clara Rosen and the fiend who as
saulted Mrs. Johnston. should go far,
Their and demand that the conditions
which made it possible for such men
to find a refuge in Ottumwa be wiped
out now and forever; not at some time
in the future, but at once.
Every community is just what its
citizenship makes it, or allows it to
be made. And no community needs to
be unsafe to life and liberty where
there Is even a reasonable enforce
ment of the laws. But when public Of
ficials, in the endeavor to strengthen
their political fences, will willfully
and knowingly permit and even en-
courage the "wide-open town" idea
then crime sooner or later must run
rampant Just such experiences as
have aroused the good people of OF
tumwa will follow. Such officials are
but little less culpable than the Grim
inals themselves, and the citizenship
is lacking In the true American spirit
when they tolerate such officials
Truth and right will finally prevail
however, and the probabilities are
that these last outrages will prove tc
be the straw to break the camel's
back. We look to see such renova
witnessed, and to have the pleasure o.
knowing Of the redemption of the good
name of that city. The Courier has
fearlessly blazed the way; the citizen
ship will follow.
Ottumwa Is not alone in hel
shame; Ottumwa is not alone in learn
ing the fearful lesson; Ottumwa is moi
alone in realizing that the wide oper
town" can no longer exist; Ottumwa j:
not alone in reaping as she has sown
Less than year ago Springfield, Ill.
was the scene Of an outbreak thai
forever will be to the shame
of that city. That came largely be
cause of the desire for the wide oper
town" Today South Omaha is in {
state of turmoil and strife. not yet free
from mob rule which swept dowr
through the infected district, lait
waste to the habitations of despiset
criminals, and caused blood to flow
freely in the streets. That was tht
sure outcome Of the wide open" town
AS a matter of fact the people
generally take altogether TOO littl.
lIlJ0ICSC III lOCdl ASO 81
fort is made to call halt until sucf
affairs as have blackened the name:
OF Springfield, Ottumwa and Soutl
Omaha have occurred. and even ther
! the people as a rule lost sight of the
real evil, the underlying cause Of /
all.
It is not necessary to return to al
enforcement of the blue laws to sc
cure the safety of life and limb. say!
the Herald in concluding it's editorial
+, 1t is not necessary to impose hard
ships upon the citizenship: it is no
necessary to abridge any Of the rights
of the people, in order to proven
these things. The conduct of Low
down dives, the gambling houses, ut
ter disregard for all decency and al
such things are not the rights Of an!
one, the Herald asserts. and if thu
safety of the people is to be subservet
they must not be permitted. There Il
plenty of clean and elevating amuse
ment these days for all. and beyont
that says the Herald, not even the de
PRAYED and the degenerate must be al
lowed to indulge.