Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-09

iinuSuCe VI Tie SdDDdlA oCuoOi tedCu-
er is very much; the influence of the
city official is much greater than we
suppose, especially among the ignor-
ant and low minded. In fact they get
their inspiration of their ideal of life
from the city officials. Suppose for
example, a negro looking for some one
to initiate would see policeman sit
ting on the steps of a bawdy house,
chatting to the inmates. Would he NOT
think if the city officers do such
things, it would be smart for him to
do SO? In other words, he gets hts
ideals from the vile. Secondly it cul-
tivates disregard for the law, II the
officer winks at its violation For If
the officer winks at the violation of
the law, the low minded and ignorant
can not have a very high regard for
the dignity of the law. What Is the
hope of this nation if a regard for the
law is gone?
Fifth Result.
GAN ALARMING NEGLECT OR
FAILURE TO ENFORCE THE LAW,
In the last two years we have had
eleven convictions for gambling, and
in the matter of the finding of the Of
fender and proving the offense, net
one of the city officers had any hand.
In the last two years, we have had
eight indictments for the illegal sale
Of liquors, and two additional cases
brought before the federal court. In
the ten cases some fellow from the
outside had to get the work done, for
not city officer had finger in the
pie. At least twenty injunctions
against places of various kinds have
been secured within the last two years
and Of the twenty cases, not city
officer has had hand in the good
work We have had two or three con-
victions for bawdy houses, and in
these not a city officer has had any
part And now in the city of Ottum-
wa some eight or ten bawdy houses
and numerous lesser institutions OF
sin are running, and after the notori-
Gus cleaning up, following the widely
heralded proclamation, there are only
two empty houses in the Row. In the
last two weeks, the Law and Order
league has gotten out ten warrants in
succession, and of the ten warrants
issued, not man has been captured
One member of the league was Offer.
ed fifty dollars month If he would
give the gamblers tip and let them
alone. Such is the neglect or failure
to enforce the law in an open town
policy.
Sixth Result.
"a CROP OF CRIME. (a) Because
where the carton is the vultures como
and corruption brings the flies. Hence
the open town is an invitation to tn,
lawless and vile to flock to us. (b) Be
cause drink ana dope cultivate lus
and brutalize men and make then
capable Of the unmentionable horro,
recently committed.
Urges Cleanliness.
"Men be clean and true like Cal
of whom it was said He is patriot
whom neither fear Of danger nor hop
of reward can move from what IL
} regarded as his duty Right is pra:
teal and practicable, and we can TIL
/ "a city without selling out to the deyi
: The man who argues that we can nc
run a city without the saloon, III
) bawdy house and the gambling DEF
: is either wilfully ignorant or woefull
vile. Junkin deserves all the law q
, lows, but the man who knowing Il
| was dope fiend or drinker, sold hir
3 the stuff, ought to suffer the sam
penalty with him, and the man VIII
votes for an OPEN TOWN to max
gain out Of traffic in these deprave
, wretches is thoughtless to the poir
of criminal negligence and is deser'
} ing Of the panitentiary whether h
: wears broadcloth or overalls
J. "Vote and vote for the man VIII
t stands in the open. This is not
5 question Of politics, but of right an
t wrong. Do not worry about your p,
: litical future, but be right"