The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-07-21
Topeka AND PROHIBITION.

the plan auOpteu Dy IOpeka 10 nght the
prohibition law, and that in practice in
Leavenworth. The Capital city has just
held mass-meeting TO discuss the mat
ter of opposition to the prohibition law.
The Commonwealth reports three or four
thousand people present. Col. Holiday
presided, and made a speech. The OBJ
jectiOns he made to the law were, fret,
that large revenue was cut off in all
cities; second, the prohibition law
stopped immigration to the state; third
that the law 'set the people by the ears
in every locality" His speech was loud
ly applauded.
Ex-Governor Robinson next made one
of his characteristic speeches. 1t was
largely personal, US the Governors
speeches frequently are. He paid his
compliments TO ]. K. Hudson and Gov
ernor st. John. We quote specimens
from his address:
The speaker had been around consid-
cradle, and had kept his eyes open. He
had lived in two eastern states where
they had prohibition laws. They were
a dead letter in less than twelve months.
| In the great temperance state of Maine,
for years, liquors of all kinds had been
sold openly, and the debauchery and
drunkenness there was worse than any
place else. He read from the New
York Evangelist to verify his statements.
Neal Dow, the speaker said, would
come out here and say that the law was
a success, but he had BOWS letter in
his pocket denying that such was the
case. The speaker was of the opinion
that Gov. st. John has no principle In
this thing. He thought that he believed
| in accordance with his inaugural of
last year; namely: that every communi-
/ ty should be allowed to enforce the law
TO suit itself When st. John said that
prohibition prohibited, he lied, because
every town in the state that ever sold liq-
uor before the first of May is sell
ing more now. Lawrence now has
plenty of saloons, and if st. John said
different, he lied. All that he cares for
the law is to get q legislature to elect
him United States Senator. You do not
know the resorts of whisky men, and
can never drive them out. They have
more lives than a cat. The speaker had
tried it once to his satisfaction. The
whisky men work for their business,
while the temperance people work
against their business"
1
"Why cannot the law be enforced (!
One-half Of the people partake of beer
and wine in moderation, as the other
half take a cup of tea or coffee, aud be-
lieve that it does them good and no
harm. Consequently the law can not
be enforced. As long as there is a de-
mand for these drinks, that demand will
be supplied in some manner One-half
OF the community do not consider q
violation of the law a crime.
He believed the old license system
much better for temperance than the
present law. Already people all over the
country are beginning to disregard the
law. Other speeches were made, and
the following resolutions were passed:
WHEREAS, The prohibitory amendment
and consequent legislation have proven
to be most detrimental 10 the best inter-
est OF Kansas,
WHEREAS, immigration, not only for
eign but native as well, has been there
by stopped, and the healthy growth of
our State checked when prospects were
brightest;
WHEREAS, Our municipal corporations
are threatened with empty treasures. re-
quiring taxation either on property or
on occupation;
WHEREAS, The expenses of courts have
been greatly increased, instead of being
diminished, as was claimed by friends
of prohibition;
WHEREAS, We believe that the further
attempt to enforce this law will be detri-
mental to the moral as well as the mate
rial welfare of our people;
| WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated
that the law cannot possibly be enforced
In a community so largely divided on
the question as the city of Topeka. now
therefore, be Il resolved and declared
F1rst-That we heartily endorse the
sensible course of the Mayor and Citv
Council of Topeka in their endeavor to
save their constituency from ruinous
taxation.
| Second-That we demand the repeal of
the Ubiquitous law so that Kansas may
again secure her proper share of immi.
grafton, and that peace, good order, and
prosperity may return to our state
Third-That we demand the enforce
ment OF law by fair and constitutional
means only.
Fourth-That we deplore bull-dozing
in law as well as In politics, and de-
clare Il to be an infamous practice un-
worthy OF n lawyer and an officer to
threaten newspapers while trials are
pending before juries. the prosecution
1 Vi WITNESSES VINO rcluSe 70 NiOi0te I1e1f
conscience at the dictation OF fanatics.
/ Fihh-That we recommend q little
moderation and temperance in all things
10 our prohibition friends.
This meeting presents q new feature
in the fight to enforce the prohibition
law, and the most serious one yet met
with, and that Is, that the Whiskyites.
aided and Allotted by such men as Charles
Robinson, Col. Holiday and others, and
such papers IS the Commonwealth, have
determined to Disregard the law, and
make il dead letter. just As the old fa-
gitivo slave law was disregarded, and Its
enforcement defeated In the north. To
, such an extent has the whisky inter.
: est debanched the public conscience that
such an attempt TO disregard Law Is made
possible, especially in the larger cities.
! II II n a