Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1903 — Something Doing In Benton County. [ARTICLE]

Something Doing In Benton County.

Raub Rambler: There has been a lively time in Fowler all week, the liveliest within oar memory, bat the greatest demonstration occured Wednesday morning. Wm, Ice, a saloon beeper, made application for license, at Otterbein. A remonstrance was filed against him and he subpoenaed 166 of the remonetratore to appear at Fowler and certifv to signing the remonstrance. Well, they came, and they came in a procession half a mile or more long; headed by the Otterbein band of 23 pieoes. They oarried the American flag—the emblem of liberty—whioh they are fighting so nobly to uphold from being trampled beneath the feet of King Alcohol. A large banner with the words. “We signed it and we are going to stay with it, Ji and s ‘Yes, we are willing to go to Fowler” on it, was carried into the auditor’s office.

At 10 o’olock the commissioners’ oourt was crowded and half were standing on the outside. When the oourt was opened no Ice was present. The deputy sheriff called him and he could not be found. The commissioners were just about to enter the lioense refused, when a little man came winding his way down through the crowd. Th& cry was, "Make way for Ice.” With unsteady hand he stood at the commissioners’ table and in accents faltering he said he would lie down and be good. He was presented with a remonstrance card to sign which he pushed back saying he would sign it tomorrow. And then the cheers that rang in the court room! License was refused three men in Bolivar township and we understand that there are. no saloons there there now. We have seen many large crowds in the court house, but neve r be fore did we see such a large crowd on whose breath there was not the taint of liquor. They were men whose minds were clear and men who oame with a purpose. In the orowd were young men and men of hoary hair, some of whom had fought for their country in many other conflicts,