Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-07-13


the peace numbered 1874. In 1908,
with population thirty per cent
greater than in 1893, the total num-
Der Of arrests for this cause was only
571. Other cities show like improve
ment
Today open saloons are to be found
in Iowa to the number of 1889. They
are, perhaps, as decently conducted
places of their kind as can be found
anywhere.
What wrought this change? The
Mulct Law. What is the Mulct Law?
1t is the direct outgrowth of the fail
ure of prohibition to prohibit in Iowa.
II came into existence in this wise:
For ten years the dominant political
party, In obedience to the demand
that the will of the people as ex-
pressed in the non-partisan election
which adopted the amendment should
be enforced in the statutes" stood
squarely for the law which established
prohibition in Iowa. For ten years
prohibition was the overshadowipg is
sue in every election of state and
county officers. In 1889 the Republic.
can party, which had not failed of
victory in Iowa in more than thirty
| five years, met defeat. Horace Boies
was chosen governor on "A platform
demanding repeal of the law; but his
party failed to gain legislative con-
troll and prohibition was not repealed
versus repeal was again Joined, Hor-
ace Boies was elected by an increased
majority; but again the Democrats
failed by narrow margin to win the
legislature. II was evident, however,
that the people were weary of the ex-
pertinent The law had been reason
ably well enforced in perhaps sixty
per cent of the counties, but else
where conditions had become intoler-
able In many places the municipal
governments entered into tacit agree
ments with saloon-keepers, according
to the terms of which they were to
pay monthly fines into the city treas
uries, and in return received police
protection. The debauchery Of II all
can scarcely be described. BY rea-
son of the open contempt for this law,
respect for law as law was every
where weakened. The Republican pat-
ty accepted its two defeats as evil
dence that public opinion on this sub
ject had undergone a change, and in
the election of 1898 refused longer TO
stand for the retention OF statewide
prohibition. promising not straight-out
repeal, as its opponents did, but such
legislation as would result in main
tanning the present law In those por-
lions of the state where II is now or
can be made efficient. and giving to
other localities suun methods of con-
trolling and regulating the liquor traf-
iic as will best serve the cause OF
temperance and morality"
With this pledge In their platform
, the Republicans elected their candi
, date for governor by plurality OF
/ 10000 votes. The Mulct Law was the
fulfillment of that pledge. This law
has heen upon the statute books III
teen years. II is perhaps as Illogical
a law, theoretically, as can be found
anywhere. 1t satisfied no one at the
time of its enactment II did not
operate to repeal the prohibitory law
To quote a favorlte expression, PRO
hlbltlon still remains the settled pc
licy of the state" The Mulct Law
simply provides way whereby the
penalties of the prohibitory law may
be avoided. Briefly stated its provl
siOns are AZ follows: Any city In
the state having u population Of MOI,
than 5000 may, upon the filing Of
what Is known as petition of con
sent, signed by a majority of the cleo
tors who voted at the last election
secure immunity from The penalties ri
the prohibtory law, Towns Of more