Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-05-18
LIQUOR IS Big
PRIMARY ISSUE
Cosson Leads in Temperance
and Law Enforcement
VETS SUPPORTING HARDING
Enemies of Constitutional Amendment
Get Behind Lieutenant Governor
Effort Made to Turn Wet Democrats
to Republican Ranks in Primary
Road Issue Made Bugaboo.


Des Moines, Ia.-(SpeciaD: The
contest for the nomination of governor
on the republican ticket is causing
much concern not only to the tenn
perance people of the state but also
to the republican leaders. The tenn
perance forces feel that if Meredith is
nominated by the democrats and Cos
son by the republicans the temperance
issue will be settled and the campaign
will be waged largely along national
lines.
Republican leaders are pointing out
that the attitude of the democratic
party on the liquor question since the
election Of. Horace Boies has prevented
the election of a democratic governor
since that time.
The Party Danger
With Meredith coming out on a dry
platform they fear that there is great
danger of the republican party passing
into the control of the liquor forces of
the state. Reports come from all over
Iowa that an organized and systematic
effort of great proportions is being
carried out to vote wet democrats in
the republican primary
1t is we'll known that the liquor in
lterests are backing Mr.. Harding and
the temperance forces are backing At
torney General Cosson. While there
are other dry candidates, Cosson is
| looked upon as the man that can save
the cause of temperance and good gov
eminent He has a much wider ac-
|quaintance and stands out pre-eminent
over any man in the state in the mat
| ter of law enforcement.
Governor Controls Agents
1t is known that the governor has
the appointment and control of the
special agents and the law enforce
ment during the early stages of pro-
hibition is the one important thing to
make prohibition success.
The fight is settling down to con-
test between the temperance and
liquor forces of the state with the
liquor forces of all parties backing
Lieutenant Governor Harding and the
Temperance people putting their faith
in George Cosson.
The Road Question
An effort was made to prejudice the
farmers on the road question against
Cosson, but his statements that he was
opposed to forcing paved roads upon
the farmers quickly put an end tc
these false charges. Cosson recog-
nizes that conditions are different in
different parts of the state and that nc
hard and fast rule can be fixed fol
each community. He believes in Civ
ing each community the privilege o.
spending it's own revenues in the mos
advantageous way consistent with 10
cal conditions and the necessities O
the case.
Farmers Are Aroused
The increased activity of the liquo
forces and the constant changing o
party aftiliation by wet democrats il
order to vote in republican primar.
has aroused the farmers to the i'm
lportance of the situation and many o
them who were counted for Hardin;
are now lining up behind CossoG.
The farmer is anxious to have a
good a road as he can afford withou
| the cost becoming burdensome, blu
he wants the road to lead him to TIL
market. to his town, and the schoo
and not to the door of saloon
The republican party has Away
been the party of temperance, moral
lily, progress and economy. The re
publican leaders feel that it would b
suicide for the PARTY to now chang
its attitude on the temperance ques
/ ton and become the party of tn
liquor forces and adopt a do-nothin
policy.
II is recognizing that there shout
be nc doubt either as to the republica
candidate upon the temperance ques
tion or any moral issue. AS this
becoming more and more recognized
Blossoms strength is rapidly increas
ing.
The Importance of nominating Cos
son was outlined by an editorial in tn
Johnson County Independent whic
lappeared Thursday. MAY a. The indie