Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-14
corner of the state. and it is at all
times inspiring and helpful.
State Normal school

otdtS LNOFiilul tSCIlOOt
The Normal school has shown Won
derful growth and its usefulness has
been extended to the entire state be-
cause of the supply of trained teachers
going into every part of our COM
munity.
We should have greater facilities
for the training of teachers, and l am
of the opinion that the time has come
when we should decide upon the loca-
ton of an additional normal school.
Regulation CT the liquor Traffic
There is no doubt that the trend
of the times is in the direction of the
thorough control and reasonable re-
striction of the traffic in Intoxicating
liquors. The tendency to decrease
rather than to enlarge the area in
which the traffic is permitted under
legal sanction meets the approval of
the people generally.
l am firm believer in local self
government and each community
should be left to the control of it's
own affairs just as far as possible
without interfering with the interests
of society as a whole. But I believe
that the law should be amended so
that the machinery for the enforce
ment of the regulations surrounding
the saloons and the liquor traffic will
be strengthened and be made effec-
tive in every community of the state
The governor, and through him the
attorney general should have the I'M
questioned power to fulfill the re-
quirements of the constitution as to
the enforcement of the laws. I feel
Not HI 81, -
of the abuses which have prevailed
in the past.
I regret that the limit was placed at
five years instead of at three years in
the law requiring renewal of consent
petitions. However, a year from
coming July new petitions will be re-
CURED before saloons can legally exist
in any community, and I doubt not
that it will result in materially re-
ducing the so-called saloon area of the
state.
In quite another way, I believe
there should be reform in our attitude
toward the liquor traffic as shown in
our laws. I would recommend that
you memorabilia congress for change
in the revised statutes so that it would
be definitely provided that the intia-
tive for issuing federal license for
the sale of Intoxicating liquors would
be with the local community directly
interested. In other words, the United
States should recognize the right of
each community to regulate or re-
strain in a reasonable way the sale of
Intoxicating liquors. The federal gov
eminent should not legalize, so far as
1t can do, the liquor traffic in places
where the people do not want it to be
legalfzed or tolerated. And when a
federal license is issued, the holder
thereof should be compelled to post it
in conspicuous place and to confine
his dealings to a definite place of
business | believe this would go very
far toward reducing to the minimum
the evils of the system, and l am
sure that if the congress sets itself
earnestly to the task, it will find a
way to give to the people in this mat
ter, as in others, measure of self
government so vital to the people.
Our laws now recognize as an evil
the traffic in Intoxicating liquors, and
we all know that the saloon and the
saloon influence are baneful. I be-
lieve it should be your policy, in every
barriers we have tried to place be-
tween the saloon power and our boys
and men, and to give to society the
fullest measure of protection.
There is no more legitimate bust
ness in the state than the dispensing
of drugs. A very large per cent Of
these people comply strictly with the
law, but there are exceptions that are
so glaring in character that it seems
almost necessary to throw additional
safeguards around them. Men who
are supposed to be dispensing medi-
cine for the cure of the body often
do that which is destructive of mind
body and soul. I would therefore rec
ommend a most careful scrutiny Of
our law governing pharmacies, with
the view to destroy, as far as possible,
this nefarious branch Of this very
worthy business.
The States Legal Department
I desire to place especial emphasis
upon the admirable and instructive
report which has been made by the
attorney general with reference to the
legal department of the state. If you
will read this report, as you must, you
will be led to the conclusion that this
department ought to be expanded and
strengthened and that by so doing its
usefulness will be enhanced many
fold. The attorney general recon-
mends that it be made possible for the
governor to take care that the laws
are faithfully executed" by giving
him the power, upon proper COM
plant, to remove peace officers,
mayors and prosecuting attorneys.
This may seem like a radical step
but it is proposed as measure to
eliminate evils that are destructive to
our whole social system. He suggests
reorganization of the attorney gem
erals department along the lines of
the department of justice in the ma
tional government and he gives rea-
sons for this change which are worthy
of your thoughtful consideration
The state is fortunate indeed in
having in it's legal department men
who regardless of criticism and posi-
BILE political effect, have gone on and
looked after the affairs Of the COM
monwealth. l especially commend tc
the people of Iowa the magnificent
work done by Mr. Byers, and his assis-
| tantS, Mr. Lyons and Mr. Cosson