Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
of hand clapping and shouting.
Gives History of Lawlessness.

Gives History of Lawlessness.
J. A. Ballard as chairman of the meet
ing, introduced G. w. Whitmore as the
first speaker. A volley of cheers and
hand clapping greeted the speaker as
he advanced to the platform, and as
numerous periods in his forcible pre-
sentation of arguments, the applause
was deafening. Mr.. Whitmore's ad-
dress Is complete as follows:
The foremost public speaker in this
county today has suggested that
know what he is talking about
and to mean what he says.
l want to talk to you a little
while tonight about the administration
Of city affairs; l will not theorize with
you, nor deal in generalities, but will
confine myself to demonstrated facts.
l know what I am talking about and
l mean what l say, though not dis
tinguished man nor public speaker.
What are the issues in the present
campaign? Why this spirit Of unrest
in our community? Why do the women
in our city cover in our homes timor-
Gus of deadly assailants; fearful to
walk half block on a public street
at night without protection? Why do
these defenseless members of society
who have no voice in public affairs,
display the phenomenal interest they
are taking in the present campaign?
Licensed Crime the ISSUE"
Various speakers and various per-
sons may have various views on the
subject. My own view is that there
is but one issue in this campaign. 1t
is not an issue over prohibition or sa,
looms. Under a Democratic admins
tration the saloons are now closed !;
if the recent petition Of revocation of
license of saloons is sustained by the
courts we will have no saloons regard,
less of who Is mayor; if that petition
is held by the courts to be not signed
by a majority Of the voters of the city
we will have saloons regardless OF
who is mayor. So the saloon question
Is not direct and immediate issue in
this campaign. And therefore there
is not involved any issue as to the re.
ceipt or loss, the increase or diminish
ment of revenue to be derived from
such source. Nor is there any issue be
InSCA tlC pdl IlCo upoh IllS
Of the service of the Public Water
company; both parties are pledged tc
the endeavor to obtain an adequate
supply Of wholesome water. And the
only real issue that I can find in the
campaign is solely that of whether we
shall have a so-celled "open" OF
"closed" town. This in no way means
open or closed saloons, as I have
shown. But by open or CLOSED
town is meant the question Of whether
Or not the provisions of certain
"disorderly house" ordinances Of the
city shall be SO interpreted and ap
piled as to practically license and per
NIT the running Of open, public ant
notorious houses of prostitution ant
gambling hells; or shall such ordin
ances be SO enforced as to put stoI
to such business. The Republican plat
form Is definitely and positively anC
Internationally pledged to the promise
of the party If it is placed in authorit!
by the voters to put a stop to sucf
business; the party's candidate fo
mayor, Captain Emery, has repeated!
orally, and in writing, time and again
promised that If elected these resorts
will not be permitted to run. The
Democratic party, on the contrary
neither by its platform nor by any ex
preston of it's candidates, has mad
any such promise; they are non-com
initial on the subject, leaving it to b.
inferred that if continued in offic'
they will continue the same condi
tions and practices for which the,
have stood heretofore; and what the.
have stood for has been the "opel
ltown"