Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-12
Prohibition In Ksnsss.

how" So murmuring ~doggedly, Save
the piecesp they carefully sweep them
up into a basket and proceed to recon
struct them on the theory OF some re-
newed lunacy.
Just now the Kansas prohibitionists
are mad clean through, and are threat
ening riot, ~bloodshed and all sorts oil
dreadful things If the law is not enforc-
ed. Meanwhile the opponents OF the
law are lying hack and laughing at their
rage. And the yirtuous, sober-mlnded
citizen, who says that it was IAN IN
judicious piece OF business, but now
that it is a law it should be respected"
steps into the next bar, and orders
a glass OF "sea foam," as they call the
beverage of King GsmbrInus, under the
new regime, casually remarking that
Kansas has a dry, hot climate, and n
must do something for his thirst.
Many towns have depended upon the
money received from licenses for the
payment OF a large part Of their current
municipal expenses, and are now put
to considerable straits. Finding that
the law was not to be observed, the city
council of Topeka passed an ordinance
for the licensing OF parties for the sale
OF soda, mineral water and other
drinks" This insures the sellers against
trouble from the municipal police, and
the prosecutions must, therefore, come
from the prohibltionists, who, as else
where, are apt to let their enthusiasm
for "the cause" slacken after the fresh
ness OF their early ardor has passed
away. Similar steps to Topeka's have
been taken by Leavenworth and other
towns. In Dodge City the situation Is
significantly expressed by the raising
of a subscription OF $1,000 "for the wild
ow Of the first man who informs on a
liquor seller"
The fact is, the law is not backed up
by public sentiment, and has shared the
tate OF all laws that have no popular
support. Prosecutions fail under the
law because juries that will convict are
difficult to find, notwithstanding the
law provides that no man shall serve as
Juror who does not believe in It's en-
iorcement. The temperance people, IN
carrying on the contest, have acted up
to the Jesuitlcal motto that the END
justlfies the means, and, therefore, EN-
plsyed very questionable methods. In
Lawrence and Topeka they have hired
Young men to act as spies, who had
previously borne good characters, but,
becoming debauched by the associations
they were obliged to keep, their reputa.
tions were utterly ruined. In Topeka a
society formed to enforce the law en-
ployed an innocent young fellow from
country to go. around and make pur-
chases of the liquor sellers, to get evi-
dence for cases against them. The boy,
who had never known the taste OF
liquor, was obliged to drink the intoxi
cants he bought. He thus contracted
a craving for alcoholic stimulants and
has become a drunkard. Who made the
drunkard in this case! "The infamous
rum seller?" We wonder how the total
abstinence fanatics like the presence OF
these skeletons in their closets.
The good citizens OF Kansas havethus,
in the name Of temperance, been set by
their ears and got into such a state OF
wrangling bitterness as they never were
in before. Beside introducing an ele-
mPnt of hypocrisy that heretofore has
hardly existed in s commonwealth that
has been characterized By the open.
hearted frankness of the frontier, the
law has had a most calamitous effect In
bringing to an utter standstill the move
ment OF foreign immigration into Kan
sas, a result that was forseen and lore.
told by level-headed men who had pro-
tested in vain against its passage. From
Germany, especially, immigrants are
coming to America by hundreds OF
thousands, but not a driblet OF the
stream enters Kansas, when. had 1t not
been for the unexampled folly OF such
legislation, there might have been add
ed many thousands of we'll TODD farm
ers to the agricultural population. The
prohibitionIsts say that that 10 moi the
class of population wanted in Kansas,
but no one believes in the sincerity Of
such silly yaporiCg5. No State a al
ford TO discourage Il class of Immigrants
that forms much Of the best part of the
groundwork of the great central tier IL
states whose agricultural productive
ness is the wonder OF the world.
The railroad companies have baen to
great trouble and expense TO advertise
the resources of Kansas abroad, n in
duce the settlement OF foreign imml-
grants along their lines. They have
hitherto met with a high degree oil sue
cess, and have thus added immensely to
the wealth of the State. But now, when
they were about to enjoy the finest fruit
of their labors, they find them suddenly
brought to naught, while other States
and other railroad corporations gather
the harvest they have sown. Their dis
gust at the turn OF affairs have taken is
naturally in ense. Mr.. g. u Schmidt,
the foreign agent Of the land depart
ment Of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe railroad, has written a letter to the
Topeka Commonwealth, setting forth
the reeult OF the fanatical legislation in
terms that ought to open the eyes OF
MANY who have been wilfully blinded.
Abiding to assertions that have been
made that 1.-The effect Of the law is bene-
fetal, that thousands of foreigners have
located on the Santa Fe road since its
enforcement, and that unusually large
Numbers 1T M~enrolites have arrived
.ipce then" Mr.. Schmidt says: This Is
true onI, % far that act ially many have
started from Europe or kansas, but
they d. not turn up. They are advised
TO the railroaH company by emigration
agents abroad; their names appear on
the passenger lists of the steamers;
many even have paid their fare through
TO interior points in Kansas, but they
are induced to 20 elsewhere. The
agents become disguised, and throw up
the sponge. They refuse to work for a
State upon which their work is thrown
away The whole extensive system OF
European agencies fer Kansasthreatens
to 90 to pieces at a time when 1t might
bear ITS richest fruit. This is notfancy,
but facts, as / myself have observed
them. A moderate law, q high license
system, would have been welcomed by
ali good people, and would have proven
successful and beneficial, but prohibi:
ton, in its present form, is q worse
scourge than drought and grasshoppsrs.
Shall He continue this 'pretence' OF high
morality at the expense OF the material
development OF the Slater"
There are plenty of instances to illus