Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-02
VALLEY JUNCTION HAS REASON
FOR COMPLAINT AGAINST
OPERATION or SALOONS.
WOMEN FIND IT UNSAFE
TO RIDE ON STREET Cars
Citizens Almost Unanimous in Effort
to Have Village Saloons Declared
Nuisanees-Dss Moinss Liquor Deal
srs Simply Playing For Sympathy in
Petition Before Judge Preston.
special to Times-Republican.

81 --s.-
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 1.-The latest
phase of the saloon question here is
| Of decided novelty and much interest.
1t relates to the Valley Junction ques-
ton.
| The matter was brought to a head by
the people Of Valley junction. A meet
ing was held of the railroad organiza-
tions on Sunday. Naturally the saloon
question came up. They discussed the
| situation frankly as affecting their
little town.
my wife went to Des tMoines to do
some shopping on Saturday." said a
conductor. "She feared to return home
| on one Of the Valley Junction street
cars, because of the character Of the
| crowds that are patronizing the line.
She went to the Rock Island station
and waited a half hour to ride out on q
train rather than take the street cars"
Il was not opposed to having two sa-
looms in the town." said another, when
| ordinary conditions prevailed; but
| since the closing of the Dies Moines sa-
| looms the whole of the most vicious ele-
| ment in Des Moines has been dumped
on US, and it is really unsafe for our
families to remain in Valley Junction.
We can take care OF our people but we
can not take care OF the Des Moinesers
who come here. It will be impossible
for the railroad men to permit their
families to remain here II the present
conditions prevail
United in, Opposition.
$h<A
| mayor asking him to exercise his un-
doubted police power and direct the
closing Of the two saloons as nuisances
and menacing to the lives and hearth
! of the people. They began signing 1t
freely. Very many Of the residents Of
the city signed up. They consulted
| lawyers and found there was no doubt
| in the mind Of any one that mayor Of
town can, If he will, declare saloon
| nuisance when it has actually become
| such and direct that it be closed as
| measure Of protection to the people
| who are menaced.
Then the saloon men got busy. One
closed. They may be opened in the day
| time only. They realize that unless they
! are very careful they will forfeit all
rights.
| In the meantime seizures were made
| OF liquors in transport to Valley juno
| ton, for they were being taken without
the proper papers.
| Situation Muddled.
/ The situation is therefore very much
1 muddled. 1t was stated last evening
that as matter of fact the Des
Moines saloon men did not expect that
anything would be done by Judge
Preston that would specifically author
! liza tho YQ.nnanfnU NJ thA no
rather that would assure to the saloon
| men immunity from punishment under
the general prohibitory laws Of the
state at time when there 10 no valid
consent petition anywhere. But what
was evidently planned was to gain
more sympathy by having the court re-
fuse to take action and thus make It
easier to secure additional names to
! the petition. That the petition will be
! sufficient when filed is not doubted. but
the men in charge want to make II
very strong SO there can be little fight
| on the petition.
1t is stated that proprietors Of prac-
| tically all the large retail stores Of Des
Moines personally circulated the petit
tions in their stores.
Preston Withhoids Ruling.
OShdloOSd, Lee. Judge preston or
the supreme court decided to wait I'M
til Wednesday before announcing his
decision on the application of the Des
Moines saloons for stay Of execution,
which would permit them to open,
This means that the Des Moines sa-
looms must remain closed. until Judge
Preston makes his decision.
The hearing was held yesterday af-
ternoon in the office Of Attorney Dewitt
of Oskaloosa. The "drys" asked for two
days in which to submit a written ar
gument and Judge Preston agreed to
wait until Wednesday or Thursday be-
fore giving his decision.
During the hearing Judge Preston
said that he believed there was some
pretty good grounds for rehearing of
the saloon case, as set forth in the APP
plication of Judge Parker.
Judge Preston also said that If he
granted writ it would not be one UNI
der which the saloons could resume
business unless at their own risk.
Judge Parker announced that the sa-
loon men would take the risk IL he
would Issue the stay order.
Mrs. Joseph Stork Dead.
Special to Times Republican.
Clear Lake, Dec. Mrs. Joseph