Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1889 — IOWA PROHIBITIONISTS ALARMED. [ARTICLE]

IOWA PROHIBITIONISTS ALARMED.

Strenuous Efforts to Be Made to Prevent the Repeal of the Clark Law. [Des Moines dispatch to Chicago Times.] The question of the repeal of the prohibition law is the principal topic of discussion in lowa now that people are beginning to stop talking about the recent great victory of the Democrats. The majority of Republicans seem to think it will be repealed and are much rejoiced at the prospect. They construe the result of the election as a verdict against what the Republican platform declared was “the settled policy of lowa,” just as the result on the constitutional amendment seven years ago was construed by the' Prohibitionists as the settled will of the people, and everybody who was not willing to accept it as such was cMHared by them to be the enemy of popular government. Now the shoe is on the other foot. .The Prohibitionists are not willing to take their own medicine. They don’t propose to accept the result of the election as a popular declaration in favor of license, and will bring every influence within their power to prevent the repeal of the Clark law. The Senate is close and contains at least three liberal Republicans who will vote with the Democrats. The Lieutenant Governor being a Democrat, will make up the committees in the interest of repeal, and it will be no trouble to get a license or local option bill through that body. The fight must be made in the House, and with that end in view Representative Dobson, of Buena Vista, one of the most radical members in the last House, is already in the field for Speaker. Dobson’s election would prove a great stumbling block to repeal, and the Prohibition forces will no doubt concentrate upon him for Speaker. The people of lowa are now particularly glad they defeated Hutchison. Since election day he has become their slanderer. He says they were bought by money, and that the money came from the liquor interest. This is far from the truth. The Democratic State Committee did not spend to exceed SI,OOO all told in this campaign. It had about three times that sum for use, which was collected from the several county chairmen in the State. The remainder of two-thirds or more is left over. Why it was not used is a mystery, as there was an excellent opportunity for a legitimate and effective use of

this sum in supplying the voters of the State with good printed matter, an abunxlance of which was furnished in the columns of the leading papers of the Democratic faith. Some good effects of the avalanche are already seen in this city. A New York capitalist who had some lots in the market here at $15,000, with no buyers in sight, writes his agent to withdraw the same, saying that he is a buyer and not a seller now. Another gentleman, who is putting up a business block, has been offered SSOO more rent per annum for the same than his best offer amounted to before election. Conrad Youngerman, a wealthy citizen who has done no building since the prohibitory law was enacted, says if it is repealed this winter he will next year erect the handsomest block in Des Moines. An air of confidence in the future, which has been lacking for years, now seems to pervade all classes of business. This is one of the happiest effects of the landslide.