The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-04-06
The Topeka Lottery.

thousands VIII try their luck in this manner,
knowing the chances they must run, and that
some must be disappointed, there is not mnch
need to worry about it. No person is compelled
to buy tickets, aud we have not heard that this
Topeka concern is trying to force its tickets up
on anybody. Noticeably the hue and cry against
it Kept up by papers in which the enterprise
id Not advertise, but more particularly TWO or
three papers, under circumstances which make
tn cir disinterested motives and regard for the
public welfare look decidedly suspicious
First is the Kansas Farmer, with which, regard
for the welfare of the farming interest is always
made subservient to ''fat takes" for itself 1t
appears, from pretty good evidence Inat the
publisher of the Farmer offered to advertise thus
"swindle,r and thus aid in robbing Its readers,
in consideration of the sum of $500. He also told
friend, conidentially, that one OF the managers
of the Association had been to see him about
advertising, and that he had soaked 1t to them"
Bat the managers refused TO be 'soaked" by him,
and straightway he set about bowling against
the swindle. He procured the Introduction of
bill into the Legislature, prohibiting not only
all lottery enterprises, but making it misde-
meanor for any newspaper to advertise them, or
for any person in the State to buy or sell tickets.
Then he lobbied in the Legislature to secure the
passage of the BILL But many of the members
called upon the managers, and examined into
their scheme, until they became satisfied that
the incorruptible publisher of the Farmer was
attempting to use the Legislature to black mail
the Association, Tho result was, the>bill failed
to pass. Now the Farmer has fallen back upon
bowling, and is wildly calling upon the County
Commissioners the grand jury, and all the Off
GERS of the law, to put stop to the lottery that
refused to be soaked" to the tune of SiOO by the
Kansas Farmer.
The Kansas City Times takes up the cry of the
Fd rmer; but as it is notorious that nothing but
"blood" can pacify the Times, everybody knows
what is the matter with it, and duly appreciates
its solicitude to prevent the pubic being swim
died.
The latest champion to the rescue of an imper-
lied public, is the Topeka Blade. But lately,
this paper was loud in its praises of the Library
Aid Association, and could not speak in suff-
ciently high terms of it. 1t stated that the
terprise received the support and countenance
Of the best citizens of Topeka, and that by its
aid the ladies and gentlemen of Topeka were
building up a magnificent public library. An
editorial in the Blade to this effect was deemed
so fattering, that the Association caused its in
sertion in other papers, as an advertisement 1t
will be found in our local columns, where it has
stood for several weeks. But the Blade, in a
single day, changed front, and endeavored to
eclipse the Kansas Farmer in denunciatiOn of the
lottery-asserting that all the respectable citi-
zens of Topeka are opposed TO it; and that the
names of State officers and leading citizens have
been used in endorsing it, without their consent.
This sudden conversion is transparent. +. p.
Baker, proprietor of the Commonwealth, who is
said to be one of the incorporators of the Library
Aid Association, purchased the Topeka Daily
Erening Times, the rival of the Blade, and is now
publishing it. The Aid Association also has its
printing done at the Commonwealth Office. The mo-
ment the Times changed hands, the Blade announc-
ed that henceforth there was war between them.
This war takes the shape of dsinterested abors in
behalf of the great public, in the way of expos
ures of the lottery swindle.
We find among the managers of this Library
Aid Association, the names of number of the
leading professional and business men of Topeka
one of them, Treasurer of the City; it has the
sanction of the Library Association, and is en-
dorsed by most of the State Officers. Yet we are
told that the names of all those persons are used
without their consent If this so, why is it that
not single State officer, not a single member of
the Library Association, not single prominent
citizen, has come out over his own signature and
denounced it, or given notice that his name was
used without authorityi Are they afraid to tell
the public that swindle is being perpetrated,
and that their endorsement is forgedf Are all
the hest citizens of Topeka bought up by this
lotteryi The idea is preposterous. The only
evidence of it is found in the columns of one or
two newspapers, under circumstances that SAVIOR
strongly of attempts at black mail.
When any number of those leading citizens
come out over their own signatures and denounce
the scheme, there will be some evidence to go
upon; but until they do, it is fair to presume
that they regard it as being as fair as any game
of chance or luck can be. Two alleged facts that
are urged against it are, that the paper devoted
to the interests Of the scheme is not circ uated
in Topeka, and that the drawing has already |
been postponed. As it is connected with a pub |
lie enterprise at home, with which all the citi- |
zens are acquainted, there seems to be no special
necessity to circulate papers there which are in
tended for the information of persons elsewhere.
And as far as postponements are concerned, there
never has been drawing of the kind but what |
has been postponed. In fact, this is generally ex-
pected, in the very nature of things, especially |
in times of scarcity of money, like the present.
The only way to get returns from all the agents,
is to set a day for the drawing; then only can it
be ascertained what proportion of the tickets are
sold, and the managers can form some idea what
time to fix upon for an actual drawing.
We trust reader will take the foregoing as
an exhortstion to purchase lottery ticket
against bis own Judgment, but simply as ex-
posure of the animus Of certain parties who for
spite or from selfish designs, are endeavoriug to
'aise a rookery over an enterprise that is perhaps
IS fair as any other one of the kind that was
'ver organized.
~ Some of the Philadelphia newspaper men,
n ho think ha manila of pbiladalnhia IN |