Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-18
SOME OF ST, JOHNS RECORD.

The prohibitionists are sincere. There is no question about that. And they want a sincere prohibitionist for 3 leader in the present campaign. Have they got such a man? Hon. Henderson Ritchie, of Kansas, says not. He relates that the prohibitory amendment had passed the State senate Of Kansas, and when it came to a third reading in the house but small hope was entertained that the necessary two-thirds majority could be secured, but as the roll cali proceeded the ayes were so many more than was expected that the friends of the measure took courage
 A 'tcall of the house. was ordered, and while the sergeant t-at-arms was hunting up the ab- sentees everybody was at work and the most intense excitement prevailed. Five or six members were known to be non-committaI; they believed the principle right, but doubt ed it's expediency from a party standpoint The measure lacked but three or four votes Governor St. John was on the floor of the house. He was appealed to again and again to use his influence with members he was known to have influence with, but he stood still as a stone, never said a word nor did a thing It was alleged at the time that the reason of his failure to do anything to assist in getting the measure through the house was that in the canvass of 1878 he promised the liquor dealers in Leavenworth not to recommend or otherwise favor any temperance legislation while he was gov ernor.
 Mr Ritchie points out some more acts of the governor not consistent with his present pretences. He says: St. John gave an appointment to a man in this (Morris) county who has sold more mean whisky than any in the county in the last ten years The temper ance people raised such 8 storm about it the governor had to ask his resignation. He claimed that he did not know the character of the man when he commissioned him lieutenant colonel on his personal staff. There is reason for doubting the truthfulness of this disclaimer. But give him the benefit of his disclaimer, mark what follows: Seven months after he gave the same man majors commission, and through recommendation of his adiutant general this whisky-selling pet of Governor St. John got on the staff of the major general of the Kansas militia. This last appointment was made in 1882, after Governor St. John had been fully advised of the character of the man; the man had within few months before pleaded guilty not less than five or six times of violating the prohibitory liquor laws This man never was Republican, never pretended to be. He was and is Democrat, but he and another Democrat had for years manipulated the Republican prima ries so as to send a delegation to their own liking from the precinct where they lived to the county conventions. That precinct had nine delegates, and in close contest could control the county convention. This man did interest himself very greatly both in 1880 and 1882 to send St. John delegation to the State convention, and this was the only pos sible reason for giving appointments to this Democratic whisky seller by the prohibition governor of Kansas.
 From the above it appears that St. John is much more of politician than prohibi- tionist. This is not the kind of a man the prohibitionists want to vote for.