Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-11-11
LETTER FROM GOV. st. JOHN.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, Oct. II, 1881.
Mr.. w. III. ADAMS:

Mr.. w. H. ADAMS:
My Dear Sir I'm answer TO your letter
of the 30th ult., have the honor to stale
that in addition to what has already been
published in relation to the success of pro-
hibition in Kansas it is gratifying TO me,
from official statistics In my possession, To
be able to report that the population in
our penitentiary still continues TO decrease,
having fallen off from 725, last December,
to 62l ON the LIST inst. So long as we were
under the old system of licensing dram
shops, the population in our penitentiary
continued to increase. We are having no
trouble in enforcing the law except in Atch-
ison, Leavenworlh, Topeka, Lawrence and
Dodge City, bnt even in these places pro-
hibilion has had good effect. The city
of Leavenworth during the last four
months Of license had 102 cases OF drunk
enness in the police court against IS cases
during the first four months under prohi-
bition. Topeka during the same period
had 159 cases under the license system
against 90 cases during the first four months
Of prohibition, while Lawrence had OF all
grades, PA cases during the last five months
OF license against l03 during the first five
months of prohibition. Fl. Scott has not
had the one-tenth part OF drunkenness
| since prDnlDtltOU tOOk tiicCt thdt FIeNdiieu
there under the old license system. Par
sons, with 5000 population, had AZ cases
Of drunkenness in the police courts during
the last five mouths OF the license sys
tenn against 10 cases during the first
FIVE months under prohibition. Win.
ield with about 5000 population, had
81 convict ions for drunkenness in the police
court during the last five months oil the
license system, against three the first five
months of prohibition. Newton, with
about 5000 population, has not had case
of drunkenness in the police ceurt since
the proliibilory law took effect the first ol
Lust May, and the district cOnrt that CON
vened there last week, for the first time in
the history Of the county had not singl,
criminal case upcn the docket.
| have before me written statement
signed by every city officer of the city o
Olathe and endorsed by all the ministers
and large majority OF the business men
to the effect that there has been no saloon
in that city since the first day OF January
1878; that the financial condition OF th
city has greatly improved, the steets an,
sidewalks are in u better condition, nnt
instead of prohibition killing the city, tina
trade has greatly increased until to-day /
il better than ever before; that the city j
enjoying healthy growth and the peopl
, were never 30 prosperous this city con
tains over $500 population, has no police
men, and rarely ever has II case in polio
! court il is further averred that any pror
osition to return to the old system OF licens
) ing dram.shops would be defeated by
vote Of two 10 one at least. The sam
kind OF reports come from the c.iy oi Ol
, tnwn, which contains between TOUR md iiv
thousand population.
Q simply mention these facts to iilnstrai
= the benefits that any community may dc
Y rive from prohibition of the traffic in IL
e toxicaiing liquors. What Is said OF III
foregoing towns il equally true of hun
. dred other towns in the State OF KanSa
. With the exception Of the cities iirst aboy
q mentioned, we are having no trouble
3 convicling parties guilty OF violation I
r the law, aud il is only question oil tin
when these cities will he brought 10 II ren
r izalion that they cannot deianlly tramp
:. the constitution and laws Of n state un'l,
, foot. Prohibition in Kansas, as wh"l
4 is success, and the rum power knows
y hence the great struggle that is beir
e made to defent il. You need have no iei
Of the result, Kansas is right, and whs
: right she never takes steps backward.
Very truly yours,
'. JOHN p. ST. JOHN.