The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-05-04
THE NEW s.
ST. JOHN AT oswEGo
Celebration of the First Anniversary of
the Taking Effect of the Pro-

OF the First Anniversary of
the Taking Effect of the Pro-
hIbitOry Law.
OswEGo, Kan :, May 2--The celebra-
ton at this place yesterday of the first
anniversary of the taking effect of the
state prOhibitory law was without doubt
the grandest gathering in the interest of
temperance and prohibition the state of
Kansas has ever seen. Not alone did
Labette county contribute her quota hut
the surrounding counties as well, ss,si
is estimated that when the meetin .
called to order at 2 p. m, at the ..r
grounds, there were al least 600 per ems
present. The large amphitheatre, which
seats 1000 people, was crowded, while
there were fully 1000 upon the outside.
THE GOVERNORS ARRISL.
Upon the arrival of Governor st.
John he was met at the depot by q dele
cation composed of about two hundred
citizens, headed by band. and escorted
to the hotel, where, after refreshments,
a reception was participated in by not
only the leading citizens of this but the
surrounding towns as we'll. The recep-
ton was in the nature of an informal
one and afforded many an opportunity
of me citing the governor who had never
had the pleasure before. The occasion
was a thoroughly enjoyable one and
one that will have many pleasant
memories.
| THE MEETING.
At about twelve o'clock, noon a
driving rain set in and kept up un-
interruptedly until night, yet notwith.
standing this, the people assembled
at the appointed time and re-
manned throughout the governors ad.
dress, which is spoken OF by. all who
heard it as one of the finest efforts ever
listened TO by an audience. The orator
had everything To spur him on; the Oc.
casion and the assemblage were every
thing that could be desired. The beat.
ing rain had no effect upon his auditors
who, for an hour and half, stood there
patiently, eagerly. listening for every
word which fell from the speakers lips
At the conclusion of the address the
vast crowd gathered closely around the
grand stand to shake hands with the
chief executive, and many were the
words of hearty encouragement show
cred upon him for the part he was
taking and had taken in the good work
Not less than 5000 people passed
through the large amphitheatre and
gave him personal greeting. PrOhibi
ton is a success in this part of the state
and everybody is for st. John.
| WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID.
The governor began his address will
a review of the workings and effect o.
prohibition in the state, and remarked
that if prohibition did not have Il ten
} dency to prohibit in Kansas, it would
be the other fellows-the saloon-keepers
bummers and whiskyltes-who would
be celebrating the anniversary instead
of the temperance people. But the fact:
in the case happen to be that the whis
kyites are not celebrating this anIfver
sary to any great extent. They feel tina
their power is broken, and that the ris
ing up of the people against them ha!
been of avail. He then pDceeded Il
give figures from the books of the col.
lector of internal revenue for thu
state, the showing being most favora
BILE one. He also made a statement
. which the facts in the case bear out, tina
the people Ofthe state had paid their taxe'
better last year than for many years
though the crops had been worse thar
for ten years past. This was one of thu
fruits of prohibition, and no one would
dare say it was not a most encouraging
sign.
THOSE WHO CAME AND WENT.
AS at many other places Throughout
the stale the governor asked those who
knew of any families leaving Labette o.
any other county in the southern part o
Kansas on account of the passage ant
taking effect of the prohibitOry law t
hold up their hands. Not hand came
up. He then asked if there were any
who had come into the state because o
the prohihitory law and fully two hun
dred responded, one stalwart yeoman a
the outskirts of the crowd calling out
"This hand represents a dozen, govern
{ or, and don't you FORGET it."