The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-20
Heed the Lesson.

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa voted
On the prohibitory amendment Mon
day and the result was SO close that
the drys still are throwing conniption
fits, and well they may because they
have been taught lesson in practical
politics they should not forget and
which will do them good.
The liquor question is very much a
live question in Iowa today; the re-
suit of the Monday election proves
this contention, and if those who OPP
pose demon rum do not mind their
"Ps" and "Q's" they are going to wake
UP some fine morning to find wet
Legislature in the saddle at Des Moines
and the mulct law will again become
an issue and 1t may win out. The re-
suit of Mondays election is an indica-
ton how the wind is blowing and the
men behind the liquor issue are poll
ticians and those behind the dry move
ment are not.
Let's get down to brass tacks and
call each other names and make the
shoe pinch where it should pinch.
Understand at the outset this news
paper is not wet 1t is opposed to
the return of the saloon to Iowa, and
for that reason it presumes to criti-
cize its friends and point out to them
the errors they have made in this cleo
ton.
In the first place. the prohibition
forces had no organization behind
them, and no political fight ever was
won without compact organization.
You've got to fight the devil with fire,
and to fight the liquor business you
must have an organization as forcefuf
oc ic rol, II 90
and go 1t one better. Anticipate every
move and beat the devil to 1t, if you
expect to win.
We have no quarrel with the good
men and women who conducted the re-
cent campaign. They probably did the
best they knew how, but they showed
poor form as politicians and the wet
crowd runs rings around them. Bone
head after bonehead play was pulled
and old time politicians who scented
q fight sat back and laughed as they
watched the battle The airplane
stunt, which did not materialize, must
have made Tom Plat and Matt Quay
turn over in their graves. Had it ma
terialized it would have been bad
enough. sbut when it failed the drys be-
came the laughing stock of the state.
and Justly so, because instead of play
ing practical politics and meeting the
enemy on common ground, they
sought to, and did. make their issue a
joke and that is one of the reasons
why they lost their fight.
Now, just word of warming: It
has been demonstrated to you drys
that the liquor issue is not dead is
sue in Iowa, nor is it likely to become
such an issue for many years to come,
Therefore if you expect to meet and
defeat the enemy you must select a
common ground and fight it out as
politicians.
The enemy has served sufficient
warning that he is yet strong. The
election OF a new legislature is not far
away. 1t may be a wet one. If you
are out to win get into the game of
practical politics: play it like practical
politicians and your chances are in
| fnitely better to win than they are by
/ playing circus stunts. They may
iamusef the people but they get you NO
votes.
| Witness the last presidential cleo.
| ton: The millfGnaires' special attract
ed a lot of attention to Hughes. but
| he was defeated at the polls. 4.