Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-02
NOTE ..yEsD OCTOBER is.

II Is indicative of the weakness Of
the liuour interests in their opposition
to prohibition that in the Iowa cam
paign they are using the same old tao
tics and the same old appeals to
prejudice which on so many occasions
have brought them only defeat.
In an effort to swing the vote OF the
farmers into the wet column, for In
stance, they are arguing even now
that saloon center Is more attractive
as trading point than is dry
county seat. The same plea has been
used for years in an effort to control
the votes OF merchants, but it is spoil
ed for that purpose in Iowa now as q
result Of the trial of prohibition which
has shown. merchants its folly.
But the literature which liqour inter
ests are circulating among the Iowa
farmers employees the same old, hack
neyed appeal, which at once insults
the farmer and challenges his common
sense.
1t is based ON the evident belief that
the majority Of the Agriculturists in
Iowa are addicted to the use of liqour,
q supposition that is entirely wrong. A
few years ago, when saloons existed
in almost every Iowa City. it was un.
usual to find a farmer inside one OF
them. The crowds of bibulous individ.
Luals who foregathered along the ma.
hogany barbados were made up for
the most part Of wage workers who
could but Ill afford to exchange time
and money for liquor and the artificial
conviviality of the bar room.
SnnnI1aH
the backbone Of the saloon keepers
prosperity, are working regularly now
that Iowa is without saloons. They
are spending no. money for lfQour but
they are able instead, to pay their
bills and support their families in
moderate comfort despite the increas-
ed prices of necessities. They do not
miss the saloons. Indeed, they wonder
at the weakness of spirit they display
ed when they wasted 50 much of their
time and their money at the bar.
These men, whose money enabled
the saloon keeper to buy real estate,
automobiles and numerous eluxurles,
do not want to see Iowa wet again.
Who does?
A few conscienceless landlords who
were able to collect high rents for
desirable bar locations; a. lie"
former saloon keepers who are
eking out a rather precarious exist
ence now as bootleggers; a Few 3D.
stinate booze fighters who insist even
now on continuing to support the IL
licit licour trafic; a group of whole
salers, distillers and brewers in states
outside Of Iowa who would like to see
this state wet again SO they might sell
barrels of their product for every pint
they sell now.
The money which is paying for the
campaign against the constitutional.
amendment is coming from the liqour
interests in wet states. Some OF the
literature is printed outside of Iowa
and brought into the state for distri'
button. But the votes will be cast by
Iowans only.
The overwhelming majority OF Iowa
voters desires to put an end to the
liquor problem in the state for sooo
and all. That majority will be re.
corded in favor of the constitutional
amendment II the men who compose
it feel sunicient interest to go to the
polls.
The campaign on the part of the ex-
ponents of prohibition is merely an
effort to get out the vote. The senti'
ment is ready made; no arguments are
necessary as to the propriety OF the
measure that is up for adoption. 1t be-
comes the duty of every good citizen
to visit the polls and cast his ballot
"Yes,', to Offset the efforts of the
liqour interests to rule the state IRON
outside its borders.