Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-20

our town that we all should help place
In the cart and then placing our shout
ders to the wheel and cart the whole
,rowd out of our midst. We are all
more or less to blame for this, but
Ior one am going to support none who
are not opposed to the liquor traffic.
let our taxes increase. and If the town
goes dead saloonless, let us all help to
bury it to the bottomless pit. But to
me it seems that our town will be like
in the very air we all breathe, and its
fragrance can already be family
smelled. Let US all help the rose grow
to full bloom
= Bank Accounts Increase.
Cheers and huge volume of hand
clapping met the assertion of Will
lam McNett that since the close CT
the saloons one hundred and sixty
one new bank accounts had been
started in one local bank, compared
to sixty-one of the three months prev
ious to the closing of the business.
Upon the thirtieth day of this month.
| will have lived in Ottumwa forty
years" began Mr.. McNett and nevor
in that time have seen such large
audience at any municipal political
meeting. This audience would do
credit to many a national political
meeting, and that very fact causes me
to realize most fully that there is
good reason for 1t. The reason is that
we have never been nearer crisis III
municipal affairs. 1t must be soma
thing unusual that would actuate You
men to leave your cosy fire sides.
your beloved wives and children to
come out tonight and demonstrate
your interest in this campaign in such
numbers. I admired the words Of
Brother Work; I heard with interest
the remarks of Brother Emery, but II
my appreciation could be greater, it
was at the speech of the gentleman
who has just preceded me. Mr..
Brollier is man who represents the
laboring class of Ottumwa, and 1t is
to them that the conditions Of OF
tumwa strike home, This talk of los
ing so much revenue through the
closing of the saloons Is weak ar
gument-no argument at all. Just to-
day | had occasion to satisfy myself
about the number of new depositors
in an Ottumwa bank, and was agree
hundred and sixty.one new accounts
had been started since the closing OF
the saloons, as compared with sixty.
one during the three months previous
to their close. This statement Is
borne out by the actual experience
of Mr.. Brollier when he relates the
fact of laboring men spending their
Saturday checks.
The Cost Of Saloons.
During the life of the saloon here,
81 900 day went out of this city for
liquors. Do you realize how muci1
money this is? $365,O0O each year
for something that your wife and your
daughter derive no benefit from
whatever. 1t costs something like
sos, 900 yearly to maintain our schools.
Place on top Of this all that is cor
| tributed to our churches, our Y. M G.
A.; our Y. w. G. A.; the Open Door
| Mission and the Ottumwa hospital
and it would total 100000 less than
the amounts paid over the bars In a
year. And from whom does this mon
ey come? Some one has said don't
| talk against the saloons, it will hurt
our chances will talk against the
saloons and if our party rests on the
saloons, which 1t doesn't, let It
go down in defeat. I urge every one
of you men present to make your self
politician on the 10th day of this
month and go to the polls and cast
not only your vote for clean city
but take your neighbor, your friend
anC. show him that Ottumwa needs q
government that stands for the en-
/ forcement of all laws. The saloon
keepers will be there and they will
be working. The prostitute will ado
their influence to get votes and tht
gambler will be working hard, too
! We will not get any of the saloon
! prostitute Or gambler vote and theri
are some Republican voters who vii
not support our ticket, but I am gla6
to know that there are many goot
Democrats who will vote with us.
Explains Clergy Activity.
"They talk about the activity of oul
ministers, and they condemn the WON
en- for what good they are accomplish
ing. Why should the women not b.
busy? Are they not the chief victims
of the vile open town; Of the condi
lions we have had for the past twt
years? They fay the clergy for voic
ing their sentiments. This is no ma
tional political battle, wherein there
is no great moral issue. 1t is no
one party arrayed against the other
but it is question of safety, of pro
lection to our homes and property.
is matter Of the open town whert
the police say they will enforce thi
law and step over that law If the.
step over one they will also step Owe
all. The ministers are right in thei
condemnation of such disregard 70
the enforcing Of laws. There SHOULD
be no loop hole such as a $50 fine TO
any violation. There should be II;
small priced license for crime"
Much Work Necessary.
Eloquently urging the voters to all
in every way possible to elect Thu
ticket pledged to law enforcement c
w. Whitmore was the next speaker
Upon the announcement Of Chairman
Work that the regular program o
speakers had been exhausted and tha
any speaker may be called to III
floor, numerous requests for MI
} Whitmore were made, and although