Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-10-03

a legitimate expense to the publicly
But the expense compared with the
expense of circulating and opposing
petitions would be insignificant, and
this expense is now borne by the
great majority of the citizens. But
why not have the law so framed that
those petitioning for the special cleo
ton should pay the costs of the cleo
tion as is now done in special cleo
tons? Or why not have the ques-
ton submitted at the regular cleo
ton, on a special ballot, and require
that in order to operate saloons there
must be specified percentage of all
the votes cast? These are merely
suggestions; this is a matter of de-
tail to be worked out by the legisla-
ture.
Second-It Will Arouse Turmoil and
Discussion.
1t is next suggested that the Sc
cret ballot would open the saloon
question in many communities where
the question is now settled. So
would any referendum and initiative
law. Is that an argument against
the referendum and initiative? Is
the arousing of the slumbering con-
science of the people upon great
moral question to be avoided? And
besides any question which can Sc
cure any considerable number of vot-
ers to petition for it, say Is per cent,
is surely live question and should
be settled by the people. The tenn
perance people have nothing to fear
from agitation and education. What
we fear most is lethargy and lack of
interest
Third-Mcn Will Vote Who Will Not
Sign.
1t is next urged that many men
will vote secretly for the saloon who
will not dare to sign openly for it.
This is fallacy that cannot be
proven. There are doubtless a few
such men. But experience shows
that nearly all of such men do sign
in the end if their names are needed.
On the other hand wherever these
petitions have been circulated it is
shown beyond doubt that there are
hundredssof men who would not vote
for the saloon, who are coerced into
signing the petition. We do not
hesitate to say that the number is
ten to one in favor Of the secret bal
lot. Temperance people need have
no fear of the people when they are
left alone with their conscience and
God, but left to the mercy Of the
shyster and a petition and we may
we'll fear. We have faith in the
great common people.
Fourth-People Change Their Minds.
The next objection to the secret
ballot is that once a man has voted
he cannot change his mind and with
draw, while with the petition he may
withdraw his name after he has
signed. This is too absurd to re-
quire an answer. All such men sign
under pressure and against their
better judgment in the first place,
! and not one of such would ever vote
secret ballot for the saloon. In
| addition to these there are hundreds
who once having signed the petition
will not withdraw.
Fifth-The Liquor interests Favor It.
Well, the liquor interests favored
the mulct law and the petition meth
cd. If it be fact that they favor
this change it must be that they
have decided that the people of Iowa
will not tolerate the infamous petit
ton system much longer and that
rather than take absolute prohibition
they will concede this much. Or
there might be some measures Of
good government that both friend
and foe of the liquor business could
support, aside from their effect upon
the liquor question. The Moon law
passed by the Thirty-third general
ASSEMBLY is conceded to be one of
the best temperance laws passed in
many years and yet this law was in
troduced by senator from wet
city and supported in the house by
the great majority of the representa-
tives from wet counties. among them
being those who have been most bit
terly attacked by the temperance
vote. But aside from all this, any
one who desires to abrogate the sa-
loon at the expense of FORGETTING the
right Of the people to express them
selves on any question freely and
fairly at the secret ballot is not
working for the best interests of the
people. Respectfully submitted,