The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-06-23
The Drouth in Kansas.

Legislature, went into effect in Kansas
"the Maine of the West" A correspon
dent of the Boston Herald, who arrived
at Topeka, Kansas, May I'd says
The night of Saturday, April 30, there were
probably more drunken persons to the acre in
Kansas than in any other part Of the country
Old Senus held high carnival. Every body seemed
to think it was his last chance, and the streets OF
this quiet town never before saw such sight
The most sober going yielded to the spirit of the
hour, and even exemplary young men, who never
had touched liquor got full as ticks. When mid
night came, the saloons were literally cleaned out
Everybody had laid in private stock of liquors
and the sales throughout the day were enormous
So everybody was supplied for the Immediate flu
ture, and the cellars were stored throughout the
state as they never had been before. Therefore
the change was looked forward to serenely. But
somebody remarked tersely: "There'll be nell TO
pay when the jugs give out y
The Herald's correspondent testities
that the law was rgidly enforced. At
the railway station, where a glass of beer
was formerly to be had, the only drinks
obtainable were water, milk, tea and cof-
fee, and 'the stranger unless he brought
a bottle with him was compelled to go
with thirst unquenched." The Kansans
did not appear to be up to the schemes
for evading such laws which have pre-
vailed elsewhere, nor disposed to resort
to them. They have always been law
abiding people, and even many Of the
bitterest opponents Of prohibition are
reported as saying that all they had to
do was to grin and bear it for two years
until the Legislature meets again. Then
an effort will be made to repeal the law
Kansas has certainly surpassed all her
sister States in getting up rigorous law.
"kansas is a sample state" said a Topeka
man as he atfiectionately contemplated a
tumbler full of old rye, drawn from his
private jug, "and if it is possible to show
a red hot sample of prohibition that will
beat anything yet attempted, she is lust
going to do it, you may bet your life on
it !" On the first day after the law went
into force man bought bottle of bit
ters at Il Topeka drug store and got in
gloriously drunk on the same. 1t was
sold in the absence of the proprietor by
one of the boys, but that made no differ
ence, and the former, a rigid prohibition
ist and advocate of the new law, was ar
rested and fined 800, the slightest fine
allowed. The law allowed the druggist
to sell nothing containing alcohol except
by prescription Of a physician, who must
first swear formidable oath not to pre-
scribe unlawfully. AS great quantities OF
Indispensable medicines are prepared with
alcohol, they are under the ban of the
law. Even cologne water and other per
tumcry are forbidden, and Jamaica gin
ger is tabooed Alcohol could not be OBJ
tanned for use in spirit lamp. The law
allows the sale Of alcohol for mechanical
purposes, but only by prescription, and
there is nobody with authority to pre-
scribe for such purposes. \ man was
actually arrested at Emporia for selling
Il spirit level. 4 man on his way to
Kansas City, driving from Kansas had a
valuable horse taken with the collie when
near Wyandotte. a Kansas suburb of the
western Missouri metropolis. Whskey
was prescribed us a remedy, but none
could be had in Wyandotte. A messen-
III t,.L L. 1,,,t
haste, but before he returned the horse
was dead. The owner threatens to sue
the state government for his loss. A pro-
vision of the bill which caps the climax is
one OF the ''tortifying sections which pro-
Vides for whoever uses Intoxicating liu-
uors penalty as great as for its sale.
In an interview with GOV. st. John, the
Herald correspondent remarked: "You
are trying a bold experiment" The Gov
ernor replied; ats no experiment it is
a settled fact. There is no going back
for us. We have burnt our bridges be
hind us, and hosted the black flag
against the liquor traffic We shall carry
the fight into the other states. Nebraska
and Iowa will come next, then we shall
turn our attention to states beyond, I'M
til at last we reach even old Massachu-
sets.
We have seen no reports of the work
ing of the Kansas prohibitory law later
than the middle of last month. 1t would
be interesting to know what happened
when the jugs gave out. We're they re-
filed