Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-02
WHAI IHE I.R CHAD IN MIND"

L ne thdISnaIHO"n lIUleS- NepuDii'dh
prints under the heading of topics of
the times" this peculiar editorial:
There is a difference. however, in
taking an occasional drink in private
company and insisting that the smell
of the stuff shall be in the nose of
every boy that walks the streets. and
that the man who refuses to pay for
groceries shall have full opportunity
to spend his wages for booze" We
suppose it is, and yet We would like to
have the Times Republican elucidate.
Who has it in mind. and why does it
defend the occasional drink? "-Ninton
Eagle.
The editorial is not peculiar unless
life and the conditions that surround
life are peculiar" The difference ex-
lists, as every person knows, none bet
ter than the editor Of the Eagle. There
are plenty of excellent men who take
an occasional drink" many men of
good ideals and honesty of purpose who
take more than an occasional drink. We
all know such individuals. who are
lovable and trustworthy as friends and
neighbors and dependable in public
affairs and on moral questions affect
ing the public. They are not of those
who profit thru vicious conditions, are
| not hooked up with the liquor traffic"
and immoral conditions in politics or
as advocates and defenders, and it IS
not defense of the occasional drink
to differcntiate between them and those
who are.
The difference between the man who
takes an occasional drink" but who
would not offer it to a neighbor boy
or young man and the other man
who would set the death traps of
legalized or illegitimate saloons in the
path OF youth and OF men who cannot
control their appelites, ought to be
evident. The difference between the
politician who appeals for support to
the liquor interests and that one who
repudiates an ev.l is surely plain
enough as concerns public morals and
human welfare.
To be frank with the Eagle. the T.-R.'
had in mind the legislative record Of
the Eagles canddate for governor Mr..
w. L. Harding, as set forth in black
and white on the records of the legis-
Iature. 1t had in mind his opposition
to restrictive liquor legislation. his
failure TO support legislation against
vice and immortality, the earnest and
active support he received from the
liquor interests for lieutenant governor,
and the confidence that every wet and
wide-open voter is displaying in his
present candidacy for governor. The
liquor men and the wide openers ac-
cept Mr.. Harding as their candidate
on his record and thru the assurances
Of their political leaders that Harding
is our candidate" and as turkey
buzzard is likely to make more mis-
takes than those wide-openers, their
judgment Is not to be questioned. When
the question IS between liquor inter-
ests and all that the term Liquor in
terests' includes, from brewery to
bootlegger, and the occasional drink
IN private company" the latter ques-
ton shrinks. 1t is public polity as
against an individual lapse OF liberty
as we may view IL.
Now that is what the T.-R. had in
mind" 1t has had the same policy IN
mind and in action for many years. or
later months the vinton Eagle has
apparently been Of the same mind as
the T.-R on the liquor question and
prohibition Of the traffic. So its ques-
ton to the T.-R. and the astonishing
difference between the Eagles convic-
tons and the record Of its candidate
suggests in reply. What has the Eagle
in mind?'