Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-08-03
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION ON
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.


If as large a degree of individual lib \
.rty as is compatible with the rights 4
VI organized society, and therefore
With reference to the use and sale of d
intoxicating liquors we are in favor Of /
l strict local option law with high l
license, the minimum to be fixed by 6
he legislature under which the mu-
shall declare by vote of
The people thereof, whether or not
shall be sold therein"
Although under another name, the
resolution is for all practical pur-
poses declaration in favor Of the
present law of the state.
1t would, however, have been
more advantageous from political
standpoint, had the committee ig-
nored the liquor question entirely,
because, for the past year or more,
the political tides have run strongly
toward economic questions, upon
which real democrats have been ever
lastingly right and present day re-
publican bosses deciiedly wrong. Ev-
cry independent and progressive force
in the country has been leaning to-
ward or openly favoring the demands
of the democratic party for a broad
er justice for human rights; and any
thing. no matter how meritorlous it
might be, that would tend to change
the trend of present day political dis
cussion, would, of course be hailed as
a life line by the enemies Of dem
ocracy and vigorously attacked. For
those reasons the question should
have been left alone.
But, after the committee had re-
ported the resolution, the convention
could not ignore the-subject.
There are only two approved meth
oGis Of dealing with the liquor ques-
ton:
Il a. High license with local option.
i (2) State wide prohibition.
4 A vote against the resolution was
! practically a vote for state wide pro-
hibition, and upon roll call the res
olution was adopted by a vote OF
about nine to one. Nine out of every
ten of the democratic delegates were
Of the opinion that, under existing
y conditions, state wide prohibition wa'
impracticable.
No matter what the fellows at the
outer end Of the life line may say,
the democratic platform resolution de
clares for a law much the same and
quite as restrictive as the present Law
! Of the state.
Fl t.
4 "a strict local option law with high
license" is declared for in the reso-
luton. Have we anything better OF
sur statute books in Iowa?
II Are there not open law protected
saloons all over the state under the
present mulct law?
/ Does not the saloon flourish under
Il the present law in every county
which adjoins Delaware county?
Il All that is necessary for the estab-
1 ishment of liquor saloons under the
present law, is to secure consent
i petition signed by 65 per cent. Of the
Illegal voters of a county who voted at
| the last preceding general election.
| And this IS per cent. does not In
Ic'ude the voters residing within the
| limits of cities having a population
Of 5000 or more. Such cities act In
dependent Of the counties in which
they are located.
Is 1t not easier to secure the
names of IS per cent, Of the voters
lof a given city or county, than 1t Is
II to secure 81 per cent. Of their votes?
il Under the democratic platform no
saloon can be established in any
! town or city Of the state, until ma
iority o. the voters of such town or
city SO declare by majority vote.
And again, under the democratic
declaration, the legislature must fix
i the minimum sum for which licens
j. shall be granted, which sum shall he
high license. Under the present law
the minimum is fixed at $500 per year,
a sum scarcely large enough to come
within the meaning Of the words,
high license"
ii Unless the republicans have some
thing better to offer the advocates OF
i state wide prohibition than the pre-
], sent law, they have no advantage ov.
sr the democrats. But, as stated
above, anything which affords an OPP
portunday for escape from their pre-
sent position will be welcomed by
i, he standpatters as God send.
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN suLLl.
VAN URGED DEMOCRATS AND
). INsuReENrs TO WORK