Evening star., 1932-03-13
IOWA TURNS WET,
STRAW VOTE SHOWS
Repeal and More Liberal
Handling of Liquor Prob
lens Advocated.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DES MONIES, Iowa. March IL
(N.AN.A)-Iowans, usually dry and Re-
publican, opposed the present prohi-
bition laws in the final results of a
straw vote announced by the Des
Mines Register and Tribune in a copy
righted story.
approximately 81 per cent Ct the
votes cast on each of three questions
favored change and more liberal ham
ding Of the liquor problem. More than
10000 persons, total equal to IA per
cent of the last general election vote,
took part in the straw balloting.
Wets who pointed to the production
Of corn, dry or liquid measure, and the
quantity of near beer plus alcohol con-
sumed in the State, have frequently ac-
cused Iowans Of not voting their hab-
its.
Vets Claim Victory.
In this case the vets claim the VIC
tory on the basis of the straw vote
figures. The totals showed 40,255, or
56.5 per cent of the votes on that ques-
tion favoring change in the present
prohibition laws. The number oppos-
ing change was 81 ,O09. leaving a ma
jority of 9,246.
Repeal Of the prohibition amend
ment and legalizing of Government
manufacture and sale was favored by
3S,061, or 576 per cent of the votes
on the question, and opposed by 28,419.
The margin for repeal was 9,642.
Legalizing of light wines and beer
wS Endorsed in 36,927, or 57.2 per cent
of the votes. and opposed in 27,588
giving a majority of 9,339
Drys had claimed the last victory in
vrNur rrrt,n
1928. This has been disputed because
Of other factors entering into the selec-
ton, such as the fact of Iowa being
the State of Hoovers birth. The last
direct vote on the question was taken
in 1917-before woman's suffrage was
adopted-when a State constitutional
prohibition amendment was defeated
by the narrow margin of 932 votes. The
Legislature put Iowa in the dry col
umn by statute. despite the popular
vote and the State was without sa-
looms when national prohibition was
enacted.
An analysis of the straw vote as to
its source showed women favoring the
present prohibition laws by 536 per
cent of their ballots. The war Of the
sexes on the prohibition question was
apparent in figures which showed that
62.6 per cent of the men voters opposed
the Volstead statutes.
Cities Firmly for Repeal.
Cities were firmly on the side Of
modification or repeal. Sixty-flve per
cent OF the city vote was against the
present system. The towns Of less than
5000 population formed battle
ground which the drys won on two
questions by slight maiorities and the
repealists won on the other, also by a
narrow margin.
The farm vote was equally close but
opposed prohibition and favored the
substitute plans. The percentage of
the farm vote for a change ranged from
52.2 to 5l.6 on the three questions.
The ballots were evenly spread over
the State on population ratio. Sixty
two per cent were from men and 38
from women.
Iowa has one wet and Democratic
Congressman. The rest of the States
official register is dry and Republican,
as generally has been the case. The
election of B. M. Jacobsen of Clinton to
Congress on a wet platform created a
decided stir in the State in 1890
Iowa's early prohibition history was
varied. A loose prohibition law was in
force until 1880 when the Republicans
| decided to tighten it. A Democratic
State administration was elected as a
reaction. Alarmed by this unusual
political development, the Republicans
/ put into effect a local option plan which
| continued until the 1917 election and
State prohibition. The option plan was
on a county basis.
The State has traditional connec-
ton with corn, but actual drinking
habits tend more toward reformed in
| dustrial alcohol inserted in the top OF
bottle Of near beer. From the method
of mixing by clamping a thumb over
the mouth Of the bottle and tipping il
a new word, "shovelthumbs," has been
applied to Iowa drinkers since pro-
hibition.