The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-09-02
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PUBLIC OPINION
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Enforcement of Laws.

Enforcement OF Laws.
To the Editor of The Gate City:
Do the people want the laws en-
forced in Keokul1? / think l know
they don't. When a set of officers are
elected in that town IS per cent OF
the people settle down satisfied that
everything is all right and let 1t go
at that. But small faction Of the
number see fragrant violations OF law,
and lax methods of law enforce
ment with horror and amazement, and
start to wondering why such condi-
tons are allowed to prevail, and begin
to talk decency and law and order;
this small bunch of citizens conclude
1T Is time to clean up the town and
they commence to agitate reform.
One or two or half dozen of these
fellows start out among their fellow
citizens and talk about the prevalent
vice in the town and express the view
that the law should be enforced. 1t
Is business man he talks to. Sure"
says Mr.. Business Man, conditions
are disgraceful and should be improv-
ed. Yes, am with you for law en-
forcement." So the good man goes
about the city and finds everybody in
sympathy with him. 1t looks
reformers would sweep everything
before them. Then their leader calls
a public meeting at the court house
and advertise it well in the daily
press. There will be an enormous
meeting of the "God-fearing and man
loving" citizen of the good old town
and movement will be started which
will make the corrupt officials quake
in their shoes and force all violators
of the law to seek cover. The meet
ing is held. There are twenty-five
voters and two reporters who are
there for the news. An organization
is effected. The great question is sub
mitted. Ten votes In the affirmative
and five in the negative. An adjourn
men is taken. The second meeting
is called. Another decision of senti-
ment Is expressed. Five of these if
teen citizens differ from the other ten.
uOlu6.
What Keokuk, or any other COM
munity will get is what the majority
of the voters want-nothing more and
nothing less.
When the voters of Keokuk regard
less of race, color, church affiliation or
anything else want the liquor, dives,
the gambling laws, the laws regard
ing prostitution enforced, the same as
the laws against murder, larceny
burglary, arson, rape. assault, ETC., is
enforced they can have it. Until they
do this there will be no law enforce
ment. Be honest, good people. Vote
the way you talk.
There hasn't been an administration
in Keokuk in thirty years that hasn't
retired just as much or more dis
satisfied with the acts of his admins
traitor, than anyone else, still each
succeeding administration follows the
precedent of his predecessor when it.
comes to certain lax methods of law
enforcement.
The substance Of what want to
say is this: If the voters Of Keokuk
want public gambling stamped out of
Keolsuk they can have 1t done by de-
handing that it be done.
If the voters of Keokuk want the
alleged violators of the liquor law put
out of business they can haveHt done.
If the voters of Keokuk want the
houses of prostitution closed they can
have them closed
Any reputable lawyer will tell you
that these are plain statements of
facts.