Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-23
fects on the individual, society and
the community

the community.
Is Accurately Posted.
The speaker then cited the condi-
tons in Ottumwa today, as given
above, showing how accurately posted
he was on the situation.
IF | understand it correctly, the Is
sue here is between peaceful law
ABIDING community and an open
town General Weaver continued,
after asserting that the saloon men
wanted to usher in conditions again
Wherein the frequenters of the bar
supplied the revenue to run the city.
Are you people familiar with the
sentiment over this great state? After
1t was known that your saloons were
out of business, all Iowa rejoiced with
YOU over the victory. A fervent Thank
COD went up from all quarters. But,
If the result of the election this month
IS TO return this cursed traffic. you
VIII have lost Infinitely more than you
sained in shutting UP the saloons.
Men, If you are in earnest there's
enough Of you here this afternoon to
rise up triumphantly and kill this
thing. Christ is the head and the
church Is the body. Christ does the
thinking and the mind work. Have
you any doubt whatever what He'd do
II He was here at this time? Christ
told his disciples that If there was a
man among them that loved his fam
lily or himself more than he did Christ,
tnat he could be no follower of His.
What does that mean here today. 1t
means that if any of you men love
little old political office more than you
90 Jesus that you are not fit disciples
of his.
Swore Allegiance.
Il see there are other old soldiers
a.
efal proceeded. Il ask you, when we
enlisted, didn't we swear an allegiance
TO this glorious country similar to that
of Jesus disciples? Jefferson Davis,
Alexander Hamilton, Bryan and others
nave all had followers, but none had
to take an oath like that. You can't
pc good citizens If you permit this evil
thlng TO run rampant in your city.
My God, brothers, YOU ought to get
out here on the streets and march up
and down this old town and wipe this
thlng clear off the map. Here they've
got this poor devils candle lit at both
ENDS: they've destroyed his earning
capacity, weakened his manhood,
aroused the prodigal tendencies in
him, ruined him taken away his ca
pac1ty to be good father, husband or
citizen and then they want to use him
as the source of revenues to run OF
tumWa! Can you think of anything
more devilish than that? He's a mere
shell and burnt out she'll What else
does the cursed business do? 1t makes
criminals. That cursed thing awakes
all that is vile and bad in a man.
THEY'VE set their traps to catch men;
they We caught men and now they want
to use them.
Some Experience.
Forty years ago 1 was your district
attorney ! fought this business then
and I'm still fighting it. ri never
De llcked. | may be downed at cleo
ton time but that is only one dav in
the year. The next morning 1 go on
hghtlng as hard as ever. Where do
you suppose my men went to find
these criminals when I was the attor-
ney here? To the Y. M. c. AS, the
churches, respectable homes? No
we went to the saloons and gambling
mems. Ihank God-they passed a bill
Yesterday to make it a penitentiary
oftense to gamble in old Iowa
Do you want this election decided
by the wishes of the criminal class?
You can't regulate this damnable bust
ness anymore than you can curb the
degenerate impulses Of carnal mind.
The law says Thou Shalt. or Thou
Shalt Not There's no half way
ground. Show me the head of any
great church that ever COMPROMISES
Win "IoliS. SNOW me any great moral
leader that splits half way with the
devil"
Demonstrations Given.
In closing General Weaver asked all
men who would work and pray with
their whole hearts. for a signal victory
on election day to stand. and of the
seven hundred or so men present
scarcely score remained in their
seats. The ovation rendered the speak
er spoke loudly of the impression his
words had made on the men. Seldom
does a speaker receive such prolonged
applause as was accorded General
Weaver yesterday both at his intro
duction and closing remarks.
Iowa National Barber Shop.
Chas. Poulton has purchased the
barber shop under the Iowa National