The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-17
The cosson Law Again.

Cedar Rapids Republican: The Des
Moines Register and Leader replying
to the objections to the Cosson law,
made by this paper. says that we tired
tc prove too much. Justifying state IN
reference the Des Moines paper
says:
The state makes rules and regu-
lations for the taking OF game, 1t IN
spects the banks. it regulates insur-
ance, it says how liquor shall be sold,
1t limits city indebtedness, it pre-
scribes the form of government a city
may have, city may not even buy
park without express warrant OF the
state. There is no complaint Of these
activities, nor would any citizen want
these matters turned over wholly TO
local control.
I'm every state there is growing
demand for state enforcement OF law
1t is not wholly a matter for the local
community whether the law shall be
respected 1t is not wholly a matter
for the community whether public
officials shall do their duty. Every
citizen is affected If one community
fails to measure up to Its RESPONSE
hility. 1t is not wholly within Maren-
COS right to have anybody it pleases
for mayor. Local self-government
cannot be argued to mean doing just
as any community wishes in matters
that affect the general welfare"
The cases cited are not all parallel.
But we believe in local self-govern-
ment even to the extent of enforcing
the laws of the state. We have little
or no faith in schemes for law en-.
forcement from the outside. Such eff
forts result, generally in friction and
controversies. Take it in the matter
of the mulct law, is it not true thai
decisive results were obtained through
the arousing Of public sentiment II
the various communities. In Du
buque the law has been enforced, bu'
through home and local influences
The same is true in Davenport, ant
in other cities Public sentiment fin
ally got right on those questions ant
enforcement was the result. The stat
might have accomplished the sam
results sooner, but they would no
, have been as beneficial There /
nothing so wholesome as letting
people themselves exercise the al
thority In such matters.
Our theory is that there is no CON
; munity in Iowa that needs outside II
reference in such matters. The pet
pie of the various communities are II
,. herently in favor Of law and orde
! and justice and right. These ma
sometimes be disregarded, but tn
: balance will sooner or later be resto
: ed locally We need a great deal les
outside interference than some gel
tlemen in Des Moines imagine. W
are capable of governing ourselve
/ Alright in Cedar Rapids and we do 81
n We assume this is true also in Ma
0 engo.
So far as the Cosson law is concerl
ed, it has become largely la
against drunkenness in office, but
drunkenness SO general III Iowa cor
Il niunities among officials. Are &,
u towns and cities and counties In til
:, habit of electing drunkards to Office
:. Must it be said among US that tt
!, communities, to whom local self-go
:. eminent is guaranteed, are no long'
:. able to elect fit men to office? Mu
= there be an inspector of such actor
i in Des Moines? The whole theory
- the law, we continue to believe, is vi
~ ious. the result of spirit of pet
10 interferences in purely local affair
i. There was no excuse for the enac
,e ment. AS Judge Wade has point.
out, it even takes from the peop
= of the right of trial by jury 1t Is Il
s. fit fruit of a spirit of small politi
h which has concerned itself in pc.
IN espionage anil petty relationships ov
Id the people.
at