Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-06

pef1ty. Vhlo may nave Somcthln8 70
do with the situation. Mine Inspector
Sweeney says that . majority OF the
miners in and around Des Moines are
against the saloons.
One feature here has been that the
colored population Of the city is almost
solidly against saloons. The leaders
among the Des Moines negroes have
taken q strong stand against saloons
and very few OF their followers have
signed the petitions.
The real determining element, which
has made possible the immediate Sc
curing Of a very large new petition of
consent. Is the attitude Of big business
in the city. Des Moines is a big re-
tail business center. There is no doubt
that as for retail trade Des Moines
compares well with cities much larger
where jobbing is more controlling. This
Is because Of so many persons coming
Ivy interurban or automobile from
towns within radius of fifty to sew
ty-five miles to trade here. It Is
tradition-whether founded on fact or
ctherwise-that great deal Of this re-
tail business Is because Of the fact
fact of open saloons and possibly some
other things. Now this big retail bust
ness has been concentrated in the
hands OF u few Walnut street firms
and fe miles whose sole considera ton
these people have been figuratively
scared to death" over the prospect Of
losing some dollars by lessening the
CT IF N,,ir N q
of these business houses, not all Of
them. the proprietors did not wait to
have the regular petition circulstors
come around. but they secured blanks
and personally circulated them among
their employees. This influence. COM
bined with that more closely connected
with the traffic, is Of immense power
IN the city. For instance, the
tear OF losing some advertising
from these business houses is a pretty
strong influence in publishing circles.
The fear Of lessened rents is a great
leverage with the owners Of big blocks
on which heavy mortgages have been
placed. And SO on.
There seems to be no doubt that it Is
the intention Of the vets to file their
petition and have it canvassed. Their
claim Of more than a sufficient number
Of names is not a blum. They have
the names. AS soon as 1t is filed than
starts the fierce fight to have men
remove their names. This is where
the present system under the mulct
law becomes a mighty embarrassing
thing for lot Of people. For instance.
merchant doing a small business in
a residence section. states that he
signed the petition. largely because he
realized tina; his bankers and the job
bers with whom he deals and the trav-
cling men, want the saloons as a pure
business proposition. Some OF his
neighbors found 1t out and notified him
that they would circularize his neigh
borhood and his customers II he did
not take his name OFF. and he has
promised TO do SO. That is enc OF the
faults of the system that it opens the
way for such actions. A great many
business men are in a very embar-
RAISING place when the petition signing
business Is on.
A. C. Parker. attorney for the retail
liquor dealers, was mildly boosted for
nomination to the supreme bench two
years ago. and he may be entered In
the race this year since party lines are
obliterated and no political party Will
have to be responsible for what hap
pens. He would have very strong
following, for his ability Is unQues-
toned He came here few year:
ago from Algona. which suggests he
would be able to command very strong
newspaper and political backing.
1t so happened that the two decisions
affecting saloons most that have re-
Gently been declared by the supreme
court were written by the two newest
members-the Fort Dodge decision
holding that only city election can be
used as the basis for a petition writ
ten by Judge Gaynor, and the Des
Moines decision written by Judge Pres
ton.