St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-10-09
ST. cyuhmsburp (alrdonian.
Prohibition in Kansas.

Prohibition in Kansas.
On the 4th of December, as secre-
tary of the State Temperance union,
mailed a series of questions to every
county attorney, comfy suPerintend-
ent, and police judge in the state, for
the purpose of learning the effect and
present status of prohibition. Replies
have been received from over one
third of the six hundred letters sent
out, constituting a full report from
sixty-six of the eighty-one organized
counties of the state, including all the
populous counties. These REPLIES de-
monstrate three facts favorable to pro-
hibitiou: First, That it has materi-
ally decreased the number of saloons.
Second, That an unusually large per
cent. of the prosecutions under the
law have resulted in convictions.
Third, That the principle of prohibit
ton is growing stronger.
1t must be borne in mind that these
figures come from the officers of the
state without reference to their view :
upon prohibition, and are therefore
subject to the imputation Of being the
product of fanaticsm. 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 pre-
scented are as authentic as can possibly
he obtained.
In these sixty-six counties there
were 705 saloons prior to May |, 1881,
the date that the prohibitory law took
effect. There are now, in the same
territory, 3l3 saloons, 100, or over halt
of which are in Lcavenworth, leaving
but I63 saloons in the siXty-siX cOun-
ties, not including Leavenworth. Pro-
hhitiOn, in less than two years, has
closed 395 saloons. During this time
the population has increased II pei
cent. If our saloons had kept pace
with the population, we would now
have 792 saloons so that in reality
prohibition has prohibited 479 saloons
in the territory named.
Prior to May |, 1881, there were sa.
looms in every one of these SlXty-sIN
counties. To-day the BIB saloons il
existence are confined To twenty-five
counties. over half the number being
in single county. Prohibition has
therefore absolutely driven the 81
looms ont of forty-one counties il
which they existed under license.
''You can't convict the saloon keep
ers" has been so often repeated tina
many regard it as an automatic truth
In the early stages of prosecution l
was difficult to convict. But the re
of this class of cases show that us
general proposition, it is far from thu
truth. In the district courts of thes'
counties there have been 400 case
tried, resulting in 35l convictions, 4
acquittals and 90 hung iuries, or sever
convictions ont of every nine case
tried.
In Justice courts there have been 81
cases tried, with 37S convictions, .
acquittals and 80 hung jnries or con
victions in hree-fourths of all case
tried. In these cases the fines i'm
posed amount to 800, 200. In addition
to these fines. there have been II sal
loon-keepers imprisoned for variou
periods of time, aggrcgating 10
months and 10 days, or / years,
months and 10 days.
There has been a larger proportion
of convictions in liquor cases than il
any other class of cases tried, as refer
euce to the criminal docket of an.
court in the state will prove. Their
are now pending in the district court
of the state 2lS cases, showing Wig
orous determination to complete til
work 50 well begun.
In tifty-one of these counties the re
ports all agree that the principle q
prohibition is growing stronger wit
the people; i'll seven it is reporte
weaker, while it remains the same i
eight This, of course, is mere mat
ter of Judgment. If prohibition ca
accomplish these results in twcnt
months, who can say the cXperimen
has failed, or, how long it will be unit
the unyielding sentiment of loyait
will crush out the 3l3 struggling sa
looms still running. - james a. Trout
man, Topeka.