The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-18
Election vs.. Ballot.

SlankianQ Dill mas ll6 unique OiSlluC
tom of being the only saloon regula
ton measure ever offered and receiv
| ed in this state with high approva
on both sides OF the conventions
Temperance line. In brief, the Shank
land bill does away with the peti
tions now required to suspend thu
mulct law and provides that the sa
Eloon question, like other questions o
public policy, shall be settled by The
voters, with the secret ballot, at al
election In favor of the change 1t i.
urged that only the secret ballot car
reflect the actual sentiments of ma
jority- of the voters and that botf
sides of the saloon controversy every
where should be willing to acquiesct
in policy that will permit real pub
lie sentiment to prevail. Some of the
most prominent prohibtionists, phil
ianthropists, educators and ministers
have subscribed to this view, quite
willing that their names as sponsors
go alongside some of the most promi
nent individuals on the liberal" side
who likewise favor the principle.
While Iowa as a whole, made up
largely of prohibition territory, may
not be greatly interested In the pro-
posed change, there are number OF
cities in which the best people on
both sides Of the saloon question will
join hands and work enthusiastically
and untiringly for the Shsnkland bill
as for the genuine reform. These
are the cities and towns that under
went close fights over saloon petitions
in the winter and spring of 1911
fights that left wounds which have
not yet healed Such fights were
waged in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids,
Waterloo, Fort Dodge and a number
of other towns in which the division
between dry and wet sentiment is
more even than in the river cities. In
practically all the towns in which sa-
looms had been operating they were
successful with their first petitions
specifically successful. But that
was only the validate names on ac.
count of technicalities, but they could
induce any signer to withdraw his
signature before the Anal approval OF
the petition. Everywhere the fight
was fought for all there was In it by
both sides. Business pressure was
brought on signer to withdraw. his
name, and Immediately some other
kind of pressure was brought to in
duce him to withdraw his withdrawal
From both sides comes accusations Of
bribery and intimidation and undue
influence. After the petition had
passed the local canvassing board il
was taken into court on technicalities
and carried UP to the supreme court
For months every community was
kept in state of continuous excite
ment, and strenuous contention dis
turbed every local commercial, socia
and political circle. Out of 1t all, al
now recalled, ne temperance people
did not really make much gain in the
way Of keeping saloons closed while
the saloons were badly mulcted in {
way not contemplated by the orfgina
mulct tax.
1t was to prevent a repetition o
these community racking petition
fights that Representative Shanklan,
proposed to abandon the petition ant
go back to the regulation local op
ton election which settled the ques
ton In every other state except Iowa
Almost to man Representativ,
Shankland found himself backed b,
all the individuals who had been prom
.inent in the knockuown and dragon
fights over petitions The bill wa,
not offered in time to make mucI
progress at the 1911 session OF ths
but It's hackers seem to b,
preparing to make vigorous cam
paign in its behalf next winter. TIL,
odds are, always against any proposet
change In the liquor laws, but tn,
strong showing of temperance supper
for the Shankland bill Is likely to in
sure it unusually considerate treat
ment.
Some persons are trying to adjus
their views toward the shanklant
bill on the theory that it will eithe
increase or decrease the number d
saloons in Iowa. So far as this i,
concerned The Journal is unable /,
predict Just what the effect would be
1t would depend wholly on whethe
the saloon people or the fen1nara n
people have been getting the bette
of the undue influence exerted under
the petition plan. Obviously however
a decision on this phase of the oueg
ton would be narrow When publ,
question comes to the front the de
sirable thing is to find out the righ
side Of it. Question; Is It right tina
every voter should have the priyileg,
of settling by the secret ballot th,
saloon question as well as every 9th