Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-10-10
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE VOT-
Frs OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.

point of twenty years of temperance
Legislation. On October fifteenth,
we shall vote on the question of con-
stitutional prohibition. There is no
great public issue which has exercis-
ed a more vicious and demoralizing
influence upon our politics than has
the liquor question. We have chosen
officials, not for their qualifications
as men, but because of their attitude
on this question.
A meeting of those interested in
the passing of the constitutional
amendment was held at DEBORAH on
Wednesday, September 26, for the
purpose of perfecting an organization
to aid in passing the amendment. The
following officers were elected:
President-Reverend S. A. Scarvie
First Vice Pres.-Rev. Nj. Willett.
Second Vice Pres.-Senator L. M.
Enger.
Third Vice Presx-L. T. Fosse.
Fourth Vice Pres.-Warren Hoyt.
Fifth Vice Pres.-T. A. Jayne.
Sixth Vice Pres.-Rev. Healey.
Seventh Vice Pres.-Representa
tive H. P. Nicholson.
Eighth Vice Pres.-Rev. T. o.
Tolo.
Treasurer-Richard Schrubbe.
i Secretary E. Thompson
1t was decided to secure a commit
tee of three in each township of the
county to emphasize the necessity OF
going to the polls on Monday, Oct. 5.
Monday, Oct. l, another meeting was
held at which arrangements were
m ado for cciny tho IN
the interests of the amendment. We
hope that every friend of the TEN
perance cause will give these canvas
sers all possible aid and support
The issue is before us clean cut
! shall Iowa be wet, or dry? Our citi
Gems have gone on record time ant
again as opposed to the liquor traffic
and there will be no backward steI
nOw.r This Is the first time since 1882
that we have had an opportunity fol
a direct expression of opinion on this
question from the individual voters
There are 40 candidates now to con
fuse the issue; it is-WET, or DRY?
The eyes of the entire country are
fastened on us residents of Iowa al
the present time. Should the Amend
4 ment fail to carry, the liquor forces
will take new heart, for they will hal
the result as reputation Of all the
Temperance legislation il Iowa fol
twenty years.
Let us take the liquor problem ou'
of politics, and solve it once for all
Let us relieve our legislators of thi!
burdensome and disagreeable task o
spending time and energy on liquor
llnoicIotin, of aaoh cnCcinn Roman
berthe question has not been set
tied until the Amendment has beer
adopted Until then, any legislator,
could undo the work Of twenty years
We must clinch the issue! A defeat o
the Amendment now, after twent.
years of progressive legislation
when modern conditions in business
in the field of skilled labor, IL thu
professional world demand keen
acute, and clear minds as never be
fore when there is worldwide sen
timent in favor of temperance which
is unique in history, in the welter o.
a great world war which is strainint
our every energy, would be unthink
able.
If liquor be bad thing in thu
strain and stress of war, it certainl!
is not needed il times of peace. The
most damning indictment the liquor
traffic has ever received has been 1T
reputation during the present war
What the acid test Of war conditions
has decided does not make for effici
iency stands condemned. Even thu
saloon-keeper does not wish bar
tender who drinks. We stand at new
point of departure. Behind us ar,
many years of constructive legisla
ton directed toward the abolition o
the liquor traffic; ahead of us is Ma
tional Prohibition. The states which
are soon to vote on this question are
interested spectators. Let us not fal
ter at this juIcture, nor leave II t.
the other fellow" Remember-th'
lDRY Voter who stays at home OF
Oct. Is registers a vote for the we
Interests.
SIGNED: S. A. Scarvie, M. Willett
l.. NJ. Enger, l.. It. Fosse, Warner
Hoyt, r. A. JAYNE. Rev. Healey, II. p
Nicholson, T. O. Tolo, r. Schrubbe
r. E. Thompson, Officers of the Win
neshiek county organization for pas
sing the prohibitory amendment.
402W