Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-28
PROBABLE THAT SPECTACULAR
OCCURRENCES OF TWO YEARS
AGO WILL BE REPEATED At
DEs MONIES THIS YEAR.
OUTLOOK DOES NOT
SEEN SO BRIGHT
DRYs LOSE FIGHTER IN REPRE-.
SENTATIVE MEREDITH AND THE
RANKS OF VETS HAVE BEEN
INCREASED BY NEW MEMBERS.
[BY w. H. POWELL

[BY w: H.. POWELL
Des Moines, Jan. 26.-(SpeciaD
The prohibitionists are preparing to
wage a tireless war against demon
rum" during the present legislative
session, and 1T is probable that the
spectacular occurrences of two years
ago will be repeated. There has as
yet been no opportunity to secure q
line on the views of the new members
of the legislature as to the traffic in
liquor, but hurried glance at the sit
uation indicates that Senator Proud
foot, last session the champion of the
dry forces in the upper house. will
have even bigger load ON his hands
this time than he had then.
For instance, La Monte Cowles Of
Burlington. now senator from Des
Moines county, was one of the 5prin-
cipal speakers who opposed the re-
submission of the prohibitory amend.
rnent in the historic hearing in the
senate chamber. when ''wets' and
"drys'' congregated to plead their re-
spective causes before the senate
committee on constitutional amend.
ments. Mr.. Cowles was appointed as
delegate from the Burlington Com
!, mercial club to voice that orgnn.za-
tons opposition to state wide prohi-
bition, and he voiced 1t, too. 1t Is
only fair to believe that he was voic-
ing his own opinions, as we'll as those,
of the majority of his club, and II he
feels called upon this session he can
merely rise at his desk and tell the
senate what he thinks about it, with
out securing q special dispensation as
was the case two years ago
Representative Meredith, the adj
pose Cass county legislator who
started all the trouble two years ago
with his resolution fer constitutional
prohibition. isn't in the legislature this
year and some new Moses must be
found in the lower house. Mrs. Anna
NJ Edworthy of Des Moines, chief
lobbyist for the w. c. T. U. and the
dry forces, said today tina. no selec-
ton has been made for the post 50
we'll filled last session by Mr. Mere
dith
Mrs. Edworthy Good Fighter.
Mrs. Edworthy. by the wav, is not
only a good lobbyist but unique
/, figure in Iowa politics. She is q Des
Moines woman and typical home
body Her husband is a business
man here and she has daughter who,
though she doesn't have to do it, lakes
bread and cakes SO well that at the
, last state fair she, received first prize
among a large class Of contestants.
Mrs. Edworthy is living contradic-
ton Of the popular idea that woman
who breaks into mans sphere poll
tics-is masculine being and knows
little of the art of making home
happy for husband and family. She
! is a little woman, thoroughly woman1y
I; with bright smile and twinkling
eye. She doesn't wear mannisa
clothes nor talk with a raucous voice.
But she talks and men listen.
She has been lobbyist in the Iowa
legislature for almost score Of
years. She doesn't hesitate to tackle
the grnffest member and ask him to
vote for this or that reform bill which
happens to have her support and in
terest at the time. She has fund OF
information and knows how to argue
intelligently. She never makes any
one angry and no one calls her bore.
She came pretty close to success two.
years ago, and was the happiest
woman In Iowa on the day when the
Meredith resolution passed the house.
After its defeat in the senate she
showed that she was a good loser by
congratulating William Ewald, the
principal lobbyist for, the vets al
most before the ballot was finished
'T hope you'll be fighting on our side
the next time" she told him with a
bright smile. You're a good fighter,
and I'd like to see you lighting for a
good cause once
Looks Dark for Resubnnlsslon.
But it looks bad for Mrs. sEdworthy
this time. It is probable that the sen.
ate will have the first shot at the re-
submission resolution this time. Two
years ago the house passed it and the
senate committee on constitutional
amendments reported it out with an
adverse recommendation. Then SEN
ator Proudfoot came to the front and
fought every inch Of the, way to final
defeat. He put the senate on record
as against the resolution. and the vuto
was pretty strongly against 1t, TOO.
q &. H T.