Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-12-30
COLLEGE HEADS
CLAD SALOON GONE
IOWA UNIVERSITY MEN SAY ITS
PRESENCE GAVE RISE TO
WILD STORIES.

Iowa City, Dec. 29.-When the
Iowa City saloons slosed their doors
in obedience to the mandate Of the
five mile limit bill, the administrative
officials and members of the faculty
of the State University of Iowa heaved
long sigh of relief.
With the passing of the saloons
passed also the excuse for false Cos
sip about the condition Of student
morals in Iowa City--a thing that
has been much more serious menace
to the name Of the university than
have the saloons themselves.
The university mas chosen consist
emily to disregard the wild stories Of
student drinking which have fioated
about the state at various times. No
formal effort has been made to refute
any Of them, although in almost every
instance they have given fantastical-
ly exaggerated version of the evil or
positively false one. University au-
-thorities have known that If the
saloons had had to depend on student
trade for profits they would have
gone out OF business years ago. They
have known that mo city possessing
a like number of young men could as
few of them be found patronizing
saloons. But they have kept still while
tongues wagged, waiting for the day
to come when the institution which
gave excuse for the slanderous tales
should be abolished. That day came
last Wednesday.
Might Have Come Earlier.
AS President Thomas Huston Mac.
bride pointed out the other day, Iowa
could have put the saloons out of Iowa
City at will
"The conditions in Iowa City have
been just those which laws of the
state Of Iowa provided President
Macbride said. ut has been within
the power Of the legislature at any
session to put such restrictions on this
traffic as to prevent the existing of
saloons in Iowa City, but the public
sentiment as expressed in the legisla-
ture has never before set up such re-
strictions.
During the time the prohibitory
law was in effect 1t was enforced here
as thoroughly as anywhere else. Since
that time the saloons have existed
strictly under the terms of the mulct
law"
Robert Rienow, advisor Of university
men, is convinced that the saloons
have played no important part in the
Lire Of the student body, but is glad to
see their temptations removed.
Modern Students Clean.
Naturally, all men interested in the
welfare of our students welcome the
closing Of the saloons with undis-
guised delight" Mr.. Rienow says.
Nevertheless, close personal con.
tact with the students in the UNIVERSE.
ty of Iowa during the past two years,
meeting them in their rooms and fra
ternity homes, has convinced me that
the modern college student is para
gon of virtue in this matter as com.
pared with old timer who frequently
makes modern criticism.
"The tendency in the standard and
moral tone Of our. colle~e men Is up,
ward. The most valuable result in the
elimination of the saloon in any com.
munity will be the taking away Of that
constant. ever present temptation
leading to indulgence that would nev.
er be thought Of were it not so con-
stantly before him; for comparatively
few people will 60 to great length to
procure the liquor that they can get
along without. This will be, of course,
a great boon to Iowa City, but no more
SO than to every other city that is free
from the baneful influence Of the sa
loon"