Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-06
Gathsrsd il, the By,oays
rBy Ora wnliams.l

CBy Ora Williams.l
Des Moines. Dec. g. The saloon
situation In Dies Moines has furnished
material for good many Jokes. 1t
has had an amusing side all the time.
A good many people look upon the
whole subject Of drinks and saloons
and prohibitory laws and other laws
and the technicalities Of courts as q
joking matter, anywayt and with the
battering back and forth across the
game board Of the saloon shuttlecock
at the hands Of corps OF excited
players has been a source OF much en-
tertainment for good many people.
This week the saloon question and Its
incidentals has been almost the sole
topic OF conversation on the streets.
Enterprising newspapers have helped
to make 1t 50. An outsider ought
to spring a cartoon showing Des
Moines street with one newsboy calling
an extra" with Saloons May Close
as the heading, on the next corner
another with an extra" headed "Sa-
looms Will Be Open" still another, Sa-
looms Wait on Court" and man
emerging from a press room with
new "Huxtry" headed "All is IN Doubt.
That has been about the situation.
And the public buys the papers ana
laughs The Valley Junction SITUATION
was filed with ridiculous features. Inc
early rejoicing over the good luck
which had come to the two owners
Of saloons was turned to dismay wnen
1t was found the. entire bum eie-
ment of Des Moines-the element
which insists on saloons for their own
sake rather than because they want
to drink-had been dumped on !he
junction, there was revolt whlch
threatened the existence OF the Two
saloons. 1t became apparent al once
there could be too much OF mon
opoly.
Thoughts Of Des Moines people were
naturally turned toward next sptihs
and its city election and consideration
Of the probable effect of the SITUATION
on municipal affairs. The prospect OF
a city election with the saloon ques-
ton as main issue was not pleasing 10
ANYBODY. But along with this came
another thought. It was as TO no"
such a campaign would affect the re-
suits under the free-for-al election
system Of the commission form OF CIT!
government. II became apparent that
IL the vets should get together they
would be able to control the Guy
council even yith minority. But ~
would be hard to get back OF TICKET
all the forces that can be llneo up
for a consent petition. AS Things are
now. Ii would be much easier 10 com
bine all the dry forces on ticket. IL
the dry forces should combine on JUST
three candidates for the nomination
and "plunk" all votes for them ootn al
the primary and the election. they
could make dry council. even Win
minority Of votes. Az things are now
this might easily happen in Des
Moines.
And IL three members OF the city
council should be elected VINO are
dead opposed to saloons IN Des
Moines. the entire scheme OF the mulc'
law goes by the board, and they could
and probably would make Des MONIES
a dry town. regardless OF any peu-
ton or court ruling.
In other words, 1t Is entirely pos
sible, because Of the commission FORM
Of government here. to effect defeat
Of the mulct law by shrswd cam
paign by the tempcsancep people 20
control the CITY councH.
80
Another interesting development OF
the case. following the decision OF
the supreme court, is as to whethef
or not there is any right anywhere
warranting the appointment OF wom
an as a notary public. A search OF
the code failed to reveal a word on 'ne
subject A notary public 1s puolc
official as much as a prosecuting AZ
torney or a governor. 1t ID an ONCE
recognized long before the state e1-
listed Not word as to aual1ncauons
therefor. Now the courts have heio
that, in a general way. our scheme OF
governme en-, contem plates that govern
ment shall be carried on by the peo-
pie who are a part thereof. nancy
those who by law participate IN the
government hence by qualified eiec-
tors. Only when the laws provide that
others may be invited to have a hano
in government is it legal for any OF
the Others" to exercise any OF the
authority which proceeds from the
civil government. In view OF the en-
tire absence of any special provision
by which women or minors or others
not qualified electors may be appointed
to the office Of notary public 1t Is
possible that some one may ralse a
question about the legality OF female
notaries at any time. II this view
prevails, possibly the Bessie Cohen
failure to renew her commission WIZ
pale into insisuifcance: and she next
legislature will have on It's nanos q
big lob of legalizing illegal things.
There are several thousand coal
miners in Des Moines. 1t was sup
posed they would be almost unanimous
for saloons. 1t proved to be otherwise.
John P. White says that in the south
and in Ohio. Kentucky and some other
places. where the miners absolutely
control the situation under local OPP
ton, they have voted their conman-
tiles dry The mine population is un-
dergoing wonderful change in Its
character: but more important Is the
fact that by reason Of Organization the
miners are reading more and thinking