Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-03-06
BY THE w. G. T. U.
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS.
The Result OF Thirty Months of its Opera
ffOn.


BY JAMES A. TROUTMAN.
On December 4th I mailed series CT
questions to every county attorney,
county superintendent and police Judge
in the state for the purpose of learning
the effect and present status of prohibi-
ton. Replies have been received from
over onc-third of the 600 letters sent
out. constituting full report from
siXty-siy of the eighty-one organized
counties of the state, including all the
populous counties. These replies demon
strate: 1. That it has materially de-
creased the number of saloons. 2. That
an unusually large per cent of theprose-
cutlons under the law have resulted in
convictions. 3. That the principle of
prohibition is growing stronger.
1t must be remembered that these
figures come from the officers of the
state, without reference to their views
on prohibition, and are therefore not
subject to the imputation of being the
product OF fanaticism. In our letter
we stated that we wanted the facts,
whether favorable or unfavorable to
prohibition. We believe the facts were
given and that the figures presented
are as authentic rs can possibly be OBJ
tanned
In these sixty-siX counties there were
1OS saloons prior to May l, 1881, the day
that the prohibitory law took effect.
There are now in the same territory,
3l3 saloons-l6O, or over half Of which
are in Leavenworth, leaving but 153
saloons in the siXty-six counties, not in
Guiding Leavenworth. Prohibition, in
less than two years has closed 395
saloons.
During this time the population has
increased IL per cent. If our saloons
had kept pace with the population we
would now have 1872 saloons, SO that in
reality prohibition has prohibited 479
saloons in the territory named.
Prior to May l, 1881, there were
saloons in every one of these sixty-six
counties. To-day the 3l3 saloons in ex-
istcnce are confined to twenty-five coun-
ties, over half the number being in
single county. Prohibition has there
fore absolutely driven the saloons out
of Al counties, in which they existed un-
der license.
"You can't convict the saloon keep
ers has been so often repeated that
many regard it as an automatic truth.
In the early stages of prosecutions it
was difficult to convict. But the re-
ports Of the officers who hive charge of
this class Of cases show that, as gen.
eral proposition, it is far from the truth.
In the district courts Of these counties
there have been AGO cases tried, result
ing in 3o1 convictions, Al acquitals,
and so hung juries, or Z convictions out
of every 8 cases tried.
In justice couts there have bee 572
cases tried, with 37S convictions, rs
acquitals, and SO hung juries, or con-
victions in three-fourths of all cases
tried. In these cases the fines imposed
amounted to $95,2OO. In addition to
these fines there have been 81 saloon
keepers imprisoned for various periods
of time aggregating 1877 months and 10
days, or IL years, S months and 10 days.
There has been larger proportion OF
convictions in whisky cases than in any
other class Of cases tried, as reference
to the criminal docket of any court in
the state will prove. There are now
pending in the district courts of the
state 2lS cases, showing a vigorous de-
termination to complete the work so
well begun.
In 81 of these counties the reports all
agree that the principle of prohibition
is growing stronger with the people.
In Z it is reported weaker, while it re-
mains the same in s. This of course is
mere matter Of Judgment. If prohi-
bition can accomplish these results in
| twenty months, who can say that the
experiment has failed, or how long it
will be until the unyielding sentiment
of loyalty will crush out the 313 strag-
Cling saloons now running?
REHABILITATION.
Saloons prior to May I, 1851, 7O8
Saloons now, 313
Decrease, 305
Counties covered by report, 66
Counties having no saloons. Al
Counties in which there are saloons, 25
Cases tried in district courts AGO
Convictions IN {" 351
Acquittals in (" Z" AZ
Hung juries I" 62
Proportion of convictions in dis
trict courts, TO
Cases now pending in dist. courts, 2lS
Cases tried in justice courts, 5l2
Convictions in I" {" 1913
Acquitals in I" rs
Hung juries in " SO
Proportion of convictions in justice
courts, 3f
Total number of cases tried, 972
Total number of convictions 729
Aggregate of fines imposed, S95,2OO
Defendants imprisoned, 81
Total time of Imprisonment, IL
years, months and 19 days.
Counties in which prohibition is
growing stronger, 81
Counties in which prohibition is
growing weaker,
Counties in which prohibition re-
mains unchanged, 8