Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-09-29
"eY THEIR FRUITS We SHALL
KNOW THEM"

marty In the state Of Iowa. He Is at
tempting to make the liquor question
the dominant issue at this time. In
doing that he is calling attention
direct to the record on the liquor prob
lem OF the democratic and republican
parties in Iowa. Everyone knows that
the prohibition law is in force in Iowa;
that It is going to remain for all time
IN force In Iowa and therefore is not
an issue in this campaign, and that II
it was a sincere issue. the democratic
leaders in the state would not be in
favor Of its adoption.
The alleged eleventh hour CONVEX
lion, that is now assumed, calls az
Nntion to the party records.
TO credit the democratic party in
Iowa with the desire or intention to
legislate along temperance lines, or
10 strictly enforce the present tenn
perance statutes, is to disregard en-
tirely the record Of that party In Iowa
Politics in Iowa are peculiar to the
extent that both the great parties have
long been on record as regards their
attitude on the liquor question. For
nearly half a century the republican
party has been the party Of temper
ance. For the same length of time, the
democratic party has termed itself
liberal which to the rest Of the state
meant it was wet"
Tn, republican party in 1884 wrote
the rst prohibition measures into the
la. OF Iowa. The democratic OPPOSE
ton seized upon this and made an
issue Of 1t. The republican party ac-
cepted the challenge, and became the
medium through which Iowa first curb
ed and then ousted the saloon. The
democratic party became the party
through which the vet interests op-
posed Temperance measures.
\ The republican state platform, year
liter year, put the party on record as
favorable to temperance and the sup
preston OF the liquor trafic. Repub-
lican legislatures. session after SEES
sion. added to the legal restrictions on
the sale of liquor.
The democratic party year after
year, proclaimed it's belief In 4 liberal
attitude on the liquor question. 1t was
the champion Of local option and other
measures designed to let the liquor In
terests enjoy privileges in defiance OF
the will Of the majority.
This difference in the two parties
has existed for years and Is manifestly
due to an honest difference Of opinion
Of the voters constituting those par
Us.
When Gov. Boies, democrat. defeat.
ed Capt. Hutchinson, republican, the re-
publican party in Iowa stood for the
enforcement of the prohibition law and
the democratic party stood for the an
nulment of that law. Two years later,
Gov. Boies. on the same issue. defeat.
ed Wheeler, the candidate Of the re.
publican party. The republican party
was defeated because it stood for put.
Sing the legalized saloon out Of Iowa.
hut it did not change its principles to
cstch votes and in the next election
1t advocated and preached against the
liquor business and is still against 1t.
For forty years the democratic party
Of Iowa has worked for the liquor
business, and now after the republi-
cans have put the liquor interests out
of the state, add the job is practically
finished, Mr.. Meredith jumps out in
the middle of the spotlight and runs
around in q circle. shouting that he
is for prohibition.
or course, the only reason he is do
ing 30 ia because he thinks it may
help him just at this time. He is in
q bad way. politically.
when the devil is sick.
The devil q saint would be.
When the devil is we'll.
A devil Of q saint Is he"
A republican legislature at the last
session (the thirty-sixth) two years
ago, with Lieut.. Gov. Harding presid- |
ing over the senate. established pro
hibition In the state OF Iowa by
AtD Eliminating every saloon in
1ssby repeating the mulct law.
10 And to prevent future legisla-
lures tampering with the subject. pass-
ed the resolution for an amendment OF
the state constitution so az 10 provide
permanent constitutional prohibition.
The question, therefore, now before
The public is not whether they have to