Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-09
Looker-On In Iona

L0oker-On In Iona
Clear Lake, March "a hotel pro-
prietor asks that in this column atten-
ton is called to che fact that w. F.
Rick, chief clerk at the Slavery Hotel
| in this city, is backing movement
which will introduce before the legisla-
ture of Iowa a law which will make
1t misdemeanor, punishable with a
/ fine Of not to exceed $500, or imprison-
ment in the county ajil NOT to exceed
| six months, or both, for any person,
{ with intent to defraud, ID make and
! deliver any check or draft upon any
! bank wherein he has not sufficient
funds for the payment Of the same.
| The bill is drawn up much in the
same form as one which has been in
! troduced in the Colorado legislature. 1t
has been presented TO the solons of this
state and is recorded S senate file $50
! and house file 1913.
The hotel man gives rs bit of per-
sonal experience, that an attorney from
ali adjoining town-not here--came to
his hotel, got dinner and supper, then
said attorney discovered he had for
gotten his pocket book" and wrote him
out a check on his home bank. Re-
turned stamped no funds"
L say to him, put me off if you'er
able, I've got first class ticket and
can smoke here if want to-" Said was
ladies' car, and L says to him l don't
have to ride in the smoking car, cause
I've a first class ticket" Did he put
you OFF," asked an admitting youth Of
IA. Not much" was the reply, The
cileweG the rag awhile and went oil
and left me. Guess I can smoke in a
| passenger car if pay full fare" The
orator was fresh from the rural dis
tricts, about 81 years of age and had a
| large audience In one end of the pool
roonh. Who wouldn't be a passenger
! conductor?
| On one of our branch passenger
! trains the smoking car is also part Of
the baggage car. There's Il water tank
in the smoker. Noticing the baggage
man getting off at one of the station
and fill a milk can with water from
/ the depot well and then take it into
! his part of the car this scribe got in
quisitive. isn't n 5 water in the
tank good drinking Xatec?" ooh yes,
the water is all right, but I've been on
this run over year and l don't be-
! lieve that tank has been emptied dur
| ing that time. Every morning that
Swede with the dirty hands comes in
with pail Of ice and handles all of
the ice when it is put in the tank. Oh
yes the water is good" Meanwhile
the travelling public daily and hourly
drinks this good water"
In central Iowa on the first day of
March. the wagon roads were virtually
impossible. Farmers could not haul
off their products or get fuel or pro-
visions from town. Schools in the
country were closed in several places
and farmers failed to get mail, be-
cause mail carriers could not make
their trips. The small towns were
like Sunday, only more so. A few far
mers came to town horseback or in
light buggies. Livery men would not
let OUT their teams and travelling
men failed to make time. In at least
one case a doctor refused to go into
the country because Of bad roads. Ana
during this time when business was
virtually at standstill, because of
bad roads, our wise legislators in Des
Moines were making and listening to
speeches, to repeal our good roads leg
islation now on the statute books.
Not here, but up this way the writer
| met a former member Of our republi-
can state central committee. He views
with alarm" the recent repeal Of the
mulct law. Says it's going to give
two years Of whiskey agitation before
we vote on constitutional prohibition.
Thinks it may defeat both the woman
suffrage and prohibition amendment.
Rather expects to see a democratic
governor elected. He remembers the
condition of affairs in Dubuque under
prohibition law. There is feeling OF
respect now for the mulct law, with
| the fines, the injunctions, hours OF
closing, the saloon to 1000 population,
etc. All this is swept away and we go
| back for two years to statutory prohi-
bition. He thinks the democrats ]. e.,
the VETS Slipped one over" on the
republicans by joining in and killing
the mulct law Thinks we'll have end
less law suits for two years, the lack
Of enforcement Of statutory prohibit
ton, will be used as an object lesson
| against constitutional prohibition. II
.re atternrt enforcement by state con-
/ stables we'll stir up enough feeling to
defeat the republican party. This ex-
state committeeman lives in a dry
! county and personally is temperance
man. Says he was in Des Moines be-
fore the repeal of the mulct law, talked
| with the editors Of some OF the repub-
| lican dailies, who were opposed to tn
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