Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-18
ARE They SIMPLY CONDOLENCES

The Burlington Hawkeye, favorable
TO prohibition, is complaining of the
near beer saloons in that town. The
Burlington Gazette, long a saloon ad-
Vocate and which has probably not
changed its friendship, fo-esees friend
~ relations with liquor thru success
Of the Harding candidacy. Other
papers note the sudden multiplication
of the near beer saloon. The Waterloo
Times Tribune, pro saloon and wet
enough 10 wiring, in the petition con-
tests in its own town has this TO say
Of the near beer saloons there and
elsewhere in Iowa
1t is no secret that the near beer
saloon selling legitimate stock can no,
be financial success. Then the Ques-
ton arises: Why are men engaged in
! this businesS?" 1t must be that they
are determined on q policy of watch
full waiting" or are already serving
something other than the legitimate
article. Evidence is not wanting that
II some Of the river cities, especially
liquors are now running mere or less
openly The front doors Of some Of
them are closed: in other places the
stranger gets near beer and the all
right" person gets the real stuff Pub
lie sentiment seems TO allow this. A
small fine is drawn at Dubuque, just
about what would amount to one
months license under a local option
law. A great many places are raided
by state agents at Davenport, and the
results have ye, to be ascertained
AS the issue is drawn and as the
situation stands out, Harding has a
right to expect that, if elected. he mas
won on the question of substituting the
real stuff for the phoney in the soft
drinks" places. The dealers certainly
see the issue that way. and will ex-
pect to supply their customers. who
are with them on the issue, with some
thing not quite so soft within the space
Of few months.
A very noticeable thing is that these
allegedly near beer saloons took root
all over the state and sprang up like
the biblical gourd coincident with Mr.
Harding's candidacy and have contin-
ued to multiply and increase with the
strength Of his campaign. Is it merely
| coincidence?
Mr. Harding had all the wet element
| behind him. One Of the wettest and
most consistent wide openers in Mar
shalltown said the other day that he
had spent his own money freely for
! Mr.. Harding. II there was a sincere
| wet wideopener who didn't boost the
| Harding candidacy in the primary the
museum managers might profit were
he pointed out; for he would be a
| curiosity worth anybodys dime. Was
! that mere coincidence?
| Mr. Harding boldly stated, where it
was advisable to so state, that he was
against interference with local condi-
tons by the state. Where it seemed
| politically profitable Mr.. Harding was
for local self government to a fareyou-
well, which was another way Of saying
that the blind pig ought to be an in
stitution where the local officials
| should see fit to suspend the statutes
in the interest Of thirst or for the
| favor Of those who relieve thirst for
a consideration. Putting two and two
| together, the local freedom proposition
and the near beer saloon, do they look
| like condolences or like twins?
Mr.. Harding, the politician, quoted
from some statesman that "the least
government is the best government
The words take on a politicians mean
ing in the mouth Of Harding. They
were accepted by the vets as meaning
local option. Mr.. Harding's Legislative
record Is for local option. The saloon
man is now for local option. So is the
saloon patron and the interests that
profit by the open saloon, where the
open saloon is possible. and by the IL.
legitimate traffic where 1t is not The
only spot where the saloon can exist
I is in local option states. Mr.. Harding
would abolish all commissions. h