Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-04

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be gave q sketch of the workings Of ths
prohibition Law in Topeka and Shsvues
county.
r. B. WEIGH followed with . spesch also
upon the working Of prohibition in SHAW.
nee county, and gave . history Of The
whisky trials in the District court.
A. B. Jetmore then followed and said
Topeka is in better condition then ever
before. There has never been Judge in
this county who ha, done bis duty 90 strict.
ly as the present one. There was q time
when John Martin was thought by the
whisky nen to be their best friend; but they
ha We found to their SORROW that he exc
Gates the law without regard to anything be-
sides the Law. The time is coming when
the saloons in Topeka will be
clssed. Since the efsrt to enforce
the law there has been a visible change
A few more conventions like this and
strong effars on our part and there will be
convictions all along the lire. do not be-
lieve it will be twelve months before every
saloon in Topeka will be closed.
James Troutman was called for and made
speech to the convention in which he
said that the record Of the District court
makes a good sho wing fer prohibition. He
gave history Of the whisky trials, both in
the District court and the police courts of
Shawnee county, snd stated that at the
coming October session Of court Justice
would assuredly b melted out to
number of the violators of the law.
He further said: The era of the "sea-
foam" and "cold-tea" man has passed.
The day Of hung juries has also passed.
Convictions will certainly follow. If the
Supreme court affirm, the cases now pend
ing the saloons will close.
Rev. Mr.. Markham arse and mentioned
a conversation which he had with saloon
keeper a short time since. in which the
saloon-keeper said if the temperance people
kept up this agitation he proposed to go
OUT Oh DusiCese.
President Campbell: The city of
Topeka would no. have single
saloon in operation were it not
for the city officials. The city govern
ment is breastwork behind which
the saloon men and their friends entrench
What is true Of Topeka is
true Of every city in Kansas where saloons
are in operation. Tarn the cities of this
State into an honest endorsement of the law
snd we have solved the most diff ult prob
lem in our way. l say to every saloon keep
er we are going to keep up this ight. 1t
is not spssnodic effort bat we are going
10 continue it." The speaker then explained
the que marrdnto proceedings pending in the
Supreme court against joseph Wilson, may
or Of Topeka, and said: "If We gain this
care it will settle the business in every city
in the Safe; but if we should lose it, do not
oe discouraged. The loss of 4 single law
suit will not defeat u.s. They thought the
defeat of our Governor would settle the
question, but it did net.
Topeka is exceedingly fortunate.
1t has a prosecuting attorney who
will enforce the Law. and it has Judge be-
fore whom it can take all cases with conf.
ience.
want to say to the city of Topeka, yea
have been depending on the State Temper
ance Union; but you should organize, elect
your own leaders. and move upon the en-
envy.
Hon. A. H. vanee's Speech.
County Attorney Vance was called up
on and said in substance that he sd often
the difficulties Of his position to
Topeka audiences, but would again, for
The information Of the people of the State,
say that for long time be stood alone in
his eff ,rts to enforce the law. He tried the
irst case in the State under he prohibit
Dry law, and failed to convict. But he
went on with prosecutions, and at one
term OF court YVES six weeks trying seven
cases, that sho1ld have been tried in as
many days. The court room was full of
bummers, whisky sympsthizers and
Dangers Cd, while the temperance people
we're coRspicuously absent. All external
lid and encouragement were apparently
sgainst him, to say nothing OF the eecret
schemes to defeat his cases. He had tried
four murder cases, and never in his nine
years experience AZ county attorney had
he tried cases that were so bitterly contest
ed as these whisky cases. Qles,ionsiwere
raised With apparent srayItv and vel a.
mently contended for, for hours, that 10
any other case would have been disposed
of instantly as trifling nonsense. This was
done to wear ont the prosecutions and dis
the Temperance people. Wit
nesses were permitted to lie upon the
stand day after day, and the crowd Of
bummers constantly in attendance afford
ed them powerful stimulus.
Under such influences jurors were un-
mindful Of the solemnity Of their obliga-
tions and the result was . failure 70 Coz
vict, But he perseversd, and after Q
years hard work and continuous prosecu-
tons, the power Of the opposition was
weakened.
Cases were about to be instituted to i'm
peach Mayor Wilson, when he proposed
to issue his proclamation closing the -
looms, if We would abandon those cases.
The Temperance people were lulled to
sleep by this specious promise; consented,
the proclamation was issued, ssloous clos
ed, agitation ceased, public feeling
.hotnI and sh> S~.t &h;r- - k-.- 49,