Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-06-23
The "jug Trains"
HOW THE THIRSTY KANsAN GETS HIi
LIQUOR UNDER THE NEW TEN
PERANCE LAW.
Correspondence of the InteI-Ocear

Correspondence of the InteI-ocear.)
Topeka, KAN, May 3O.-Th
o famous "temperaace law" Of Kan
: sas has been on trial now jus
thirty days-much too short a pc
riod upon which to form judg
ment as to its efficiency in the caus'
of reform which brought il about
and still some items of information
as TO its practical workings in th'
first month may be CT interest
Yesterday I asked the clerk of the
hotel if it were possible IN a case
of some urgency, but not of sick.
ness exactly, to get a bottle Or {
glass of beer. The clerk obligingly
replied that che thought it might
be accomplished that while he 80
bcourse" did lot know of any
place in Kansas where liquor was
sold, still he thought there must be
some such place, as he knew that
liquor was used, etc. !; that ''possi
bly," the porter of the hotel might
give me more detailed informa-
ton, and calling that official he
said
"Jim. Mr.. is a friend OF
mine and wants a bottle of beer
now if you can help him out, do
So"
Jim grinned broadly as he took
me aside and said: 'sNo trouble
bout dat, boss. Beer is pretty
hard to git, but [ can git you all
de brandy and wine you WANT
"Why is beer so much harder to
get!'
Dunno, 'spose mebbe dars so
much box and bottle to little
liker faint so easy tossbring it, ell !;
but [ kin git some beer by going
down to Santa Fe depot, or You
kin 90 down dar and ask fur min
eral water and you'll think it tastes
mighty near like beer"
There are three or four places on
Kansas avenue 0he main. street Of
Topeka) where beer, wine, and
whiskey is sold all the time, and
openly. The demands of reporto-
rial duty and the reasonableness of
one informing himself as to the
truth of statement he is to make.
will be my excuse for saying that |
know this to be fact. When l
say "openly sold" the statement
should be qualified by this fact,
that g stranger cannot so into one
of these places and get a drink, but
if he is known, or goes with one
who is known to be ''solid' and
"square" on the question, he may
get as many drinks and get drunk
with the same facility that he could
in April or any tine before the
temperance law went into force.
The law-breakers have beer
prosecuted a number Of times
Sometimes they have been fined
but most often now they get off
The other day an old saloon namec
Boutelle, who still runs his saloon
was prosecuted for selling whisky
i Witness swore that they callec
for whisky, paid for it, drank it
and that it was whiskey, but Bou
telle was acquitted because tn
Prosecuting Attorney could no
prove that the bartender was Bon
telle's agent. It is true, further,
think, that for the last fifteen day
, the openness with which liquor
SOLD OJ the drink has increased.
For ten days tho way to a drin
was winding one through bac
alleys, and could only be taken b,
hind locked doors, but now with
four doors, on either side of tt
Tefft House, if you are known
, be "all right" or 60 with some OF
= who is, you may walk in the fro
door from the crowded street al
get what you want.
IL This is fair statement as to Il
condition of things at Topeka.
A. learn from others, and by the new
,S' papers, that it is about the sar
Ut in Wichita, Leavenworth, Atcl
net net son, Fort Scott. and many 9th
ant towns. 1t would not be fair, hoy
ever, to condemn the law or pl
1sE dict the failure of the wort
- movement so bravely begun
!, Kansas from the trial of 0
month. The law has certain
,. hampered the sale of liquor o,
the bar, but has not stopped
Whether it. has decreased
amount of whiskey sold or the G
Il tent of drunkenness, is doubtful,
"Jug trains," are run from F
Scott to Kansas City. in Nilsson
- every Sunday, fare $1.75 reu
81 trip, and will soon be put on
81 tween here and Kansas City,
, which thirsty citizens may go
Dlr tho citv once aaI,h uook ond