Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-22

Des Mones, FEB. pa rumor has
become currant that defects nave been
found in the mule, repeal bill is caus-
ing a great deal of worry to the women
who have engineered the passage of
the bill. If il is true then the lesisla-
ture is in for another week or two Of
wet and dry Mysteries.
The fact that the bill was not en-
rolled several days ago started he ru-
NOR The bin vas being held back
for some mysterious reason. 1t could
have been passed thru The tlnai stages
and up 10 the governor by saturday
noon If everything was all right. Bat
the enrolling clerk did not nave the
bill
senator Clarkson took the bin 10 the
governor and they were in consultation
1or an hour Saturday considering some
phases of the matter. What il vas
nobody seemed to know Then there
we're hurried conferences between var
3oQs members OF the senate The out
side dry leaders were not let into the
secrets and we're all IN the dark. They
commenced to ask questions and liz
dulge in surrlises.
Error in Judgment.
In many of the conferences held the
chief topic was that OF the time when
the repeal Should cake effect The out
side dry leaders, who had handed the
mater. felt that 4 mistake Vas made
IN putting it of SIX months, and thai
since it had been decreed taat the sa-
loon must go II ought 70 60 the ars- OF
July next or sooner. If possible Those
-.
bill did so just as q guess and never
thought about the fac. that they We're
going 70 throw immense numbers Of
persons out Of employment n the dead
Of winter After their attention had
been called 70 it they recognized that
a date in summer. Ike July !. 1915. or
even a year later would have been
better The informal discussion mas all
turned on when the order for execution
of the saloon shall take effect.
Il appears that the vets were SO
wholly unprepared for the pyassage Of
the repeal bill they took practically
no hand al all in framing up the b-ll.
They had nobody before any commit &c
they didn't make any protests or rep
reservations whatever; now they are
being heard from uot Only in protest
against The whole proceeding but as to
the time.
Issue in Campaign.
One Of the senators stated yester-
lay. however .hat the controversy over
the time issue proceeds much less from
persons directly Interested in the LIQUOR
traffic than from persons who are sin
cerely for prohibition. II is argued
that If the order for saloon closing
goes into effect in the middle Of win
ter, the worst possible time for such
an earthquake in industrial affairs ii
viii cause great friction; but also the
time is all too short FOR The proper re-
adjustment especially as TO breweries
and large properties which viii become
of no value. Jan. l. 1915, viii be rrac-
tically just al the beginning Of a state
campaign, involving the election Of all
the members Of the house and more
than half the senators. the governor
and attorney general and hundreds OF
county officers having To do with en-
forceu1ent To precipitase matters Al
that time VIII inevitably force The
liquor issue into politics not as lead
ing issue but as the sole issue. Ever
the most ardent Of the dry leaders hes
itate to 90 into that kind Of anne
ar this time. Some of them 20 SO fal
as TO say that in their opinion the sit
uation as 1t opens before them may
mean the one Of all constitutional pro
hibiiion. It would he pretty hard (
elect a senate under present district
ing, that would be dry, when that il
the sole issue in every district
Vets Besiege Governor.
The vets have had the field al u
themselves in the matter Of burying
the governor under kilograms. The
drys have not gone into that game
Most Of the kilograms simply reques
veto Of the bin. But some of then
have urged modification Of the bill
and this Is the phase of the question
that is most troublesome. The pres
sure has come chiefly from the horde,
counties If the state and many very
prominent men, whose loyalty TO the
state will not be questioned whose
judgment Is worthy Of consideration
are advising the governor and the leg
islative leaders TO at least change th'
date for the going into effect.
If the rurnor Is correct that defectl
nave been found in the bill which vii
necessitate a repassage it Will be com
paratively easy to nave the bill
amended before 1t ever reaches tn
governor
Another phase Of the situation ap
peared Saturday also. IN that tn
house set a precedent Of going to tn
state treasury to compensate person
for loss of property legally destroyed
and confiscated-the passage of the bill
to pay $4,000 for livestock the de
struction Of which was made necessar,
In pursuance Of law. II may be sc
down as certain the house will also ge
q chance to vote on a bin to take from
the state treasury to compensate 70
property losses sustained by reason o
the repeal law. The argument will b
that the state should treat the brewe
as well as the livestock feeder, an
there will be some embarrassment il
getting over the bridge.
In the meantime a number OF bill
are being prepared to strengthen tn
hands Of those who will have to b
responsible for enforcement Of the pro
hibitory law. 1t is recognized that
there is to be enforcement all over tn
state 1t must be under state Leadership
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
There Ia need Of reform in the mat
ter of election contests before the leg
.:ssiissttarTss. The he suggestion hus been mad