Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-25
Senate Stands By Education Board

4
yet with the mulct law before them,
they deliberately chose tovary from the
simple plan there set out, and we must
pre- sumo for a purpose.
No provision for determining the
sufficiency OF the petition by any OH
Ger or board. No finding made, ana
nothing to appeal from to court tor
adjudication. No penalty for signing
the name Of another, and no criminal
action contemplated. All the require
ment necessary is to file list OF names
with the clerk, who has no means or
authority to inquire into the contents
Of this list. Does not know and can
not know whether it is list of genuine
signatures Of electors or not. All that
he has is the list and tho declaration
by someone who delivers 1t to him that
1t is a petition for an election on the
saloon question and he must accept IL
as bona fide and sufficien: without any
other evidence, and the question must
be submitted. Had this system OF pro-
curing a mulct petition of consent peeh
adopted this demand by the liquor IN
terests for a change IN the system
would never have been dreamed OF.
" Foundation Is Rotten.
With the foundation Tor this law
demonstrated to be rotten IN every IN
gredient. how can we expect anythlhs
else or desirable in the entire structure
resting upon it,
This bill, conceived by the saloon
interests, but promoted by parties sup
posed to be opposed to them, takes INTO
consideration only the welfare or the
saloon business 1t provides for -:
establishment of saloons by vote in
stigated by the saloon interests and the
only provisions made for such an cleo
tion is one to comply with their needs,
shall the sale and keeping for sale OF
Intoxicating liquors be permitted WIN
in the limits Of the city of ........'..'
under The provisions of the laws OF the
state of fowa+?. Why was there not
form of. petition provided for the OPP
ponentsg cf~t1ne saloon to get up a peu-
tion and cali an election TO ''aooiisi
saloons, already ..in., existence. l9r m
stance those desiring TO e!ose ,tne sa :
looms, could, have. suP'nltted. 70 tne
electors the. question shall the SAFE anu
keeping for" sale of Intoxicating LIQUORS
be prohibited within the limits OF the
city Of -: 49,. under the pro-
Visions Of the laws OF the state VI
Iowa. ~ T'-5
THE opponents of ;:ie sa!oc.: evil
IDENTIFY were not considered in drafting
thiss bill. and II they desire to4brlng an
action to, close the. saloons, must resort
to the petition method. which is re-
sponsible for. all the terrors and In
Justices complained Of by the promoters
Of this law If the authors Of this bill
were seffcitous only for the welfare OF
the community. which was jeopardized
thru the petition system. why did they
not, dispose, Of the petition method OF
revocation and substitute the ballot!
If they were acting in good faith with
the temperance people why did they not
see that they were given, at least, equal
opportunities with tho saloon promot-
ers? Oversight can not be legitimate
explanation as this bill has been under
their consideration for over two years.
and rewritten many times. and they
evidently had before them the local OPP
ton laws Of other states, and In prac-
tically all Of them either side may take
the Initiative IN forcing an election"