Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-25
PRouTRTTfoN IN YANsAs

NO NV iCtu W bt ~ HuCu dldkulGu
about it as the republicans.
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS.
We are in receipt Of a circular letter
from the secretary of the Kansas State
Temperance Union, enclosing a state
ment showing the result OF prohibition
in this state. The secretary also asks
the attitude Of the political parties in
this county towards prohibition, and
the position taken by the press Of the
county; and he also wants to see copies
Of the local papers containing some edi-
tOrial expressions upon prohibition.
Being of an accommodating disposition
we will endeayor to give this searcher
after truth the information he desires.
First, the attitude of the political
parties: The democrats here. like they
are everywhere, are opposed to sumptu-
airy legislation, and therefore opposed
10 the prohibition doctrine; but being
ut all times law abiding party. il is in
favor Of the strict enforcement of all
laws on the statute books. Belle, ing
that the prohibition law is not popular.
and that il is not in accordance with
the wishes Of a majority Of the voters Of
Kansas, and that il is the cause Of ofiic-
ials and individuals becoming liars. law
breakers, spies. deceivers and Sneaks,
the democratic party favors a result
mission of the question to the people.
and believes that they Will vote 20 re-
peal the amendment. The republican
party in this county pretend to favor
prohibition, and at their county conyen-
ton last summer required Of their can
didates solemn pledges that they would
enforce the prohibition law. The can
didates who were elected have perhaps
never thought Of their pledges since.
They stand 10y and court popularity
with the multitude; advocating prshi-
bitiOn when among prohihitiorists. and
talking agains, il and abusing the law
when among the anti-prohibitionists.
An Illustration; \ republican candl-
date for an important Office was ap-
preached before election by a man who
wanted To open saloon here. and asked
If elected if he, the candidate. would be
hard on the whiskey men. He gave tie
enquirer 10 understand that if elected
he would not trouble himself to work
up cases against violation Uf the piohi-
bitiOn laws. (See burst VS.. Prohib. , 2.
p xN.l He was elected, and for won
der, kept his word and is not working
up cases. In short the democrats want
the law repealed that the state. counties
and cities may enact legislation to con-
troll the liquor traffic; while the repub-
licans want the law to remain as IL is.
that they may trade and speculate on il.
Second, the position Of the press Of
The county on this question. The INDEX.
recognized as the leading paper of the
county, has at all times expressed the
belief that the law cannot be enforced
and should be repealed and a high H.
cense law substituted for it. Ii has
never lost an opportunity To show vi
the great amount of fraud and decep.
ton the prohibition law causes, and il
has unmasked the questionable prac.
tees of the republican leaders i'm this
county on several occasions. The Other
paper published here, the Cresset. while
pretending to be "goody-good," never.
miSS-a-SundaY-sch kind Of q
paper, IL is old and wicked. we'll ND in
the ways OF sin. IL pretends to favor
the prohibition question, but is under
stood To be doing so for policy only. II
also favors protective tariff, but il.
editor is known to have expressed him
self as fIee-trader. So Mr.. Secretary
you can mark the Cresset zero on thi,
question, as all others Of Importance.
Third. he wants 10 see copies Of tn,
papers containing an editorial expires
sion on prohibition. We gladly mai
him a copy Of the INDEX. The Crosse,
never has an expression Of its own Cd
iniOn, So IL is useless to hunt up a cop,
Of that paper. Should il ever get of
anything of interest on this question
We viii send a copy 10 the X. s. L. L.
The circular in question is a curiosity
Il pretends 10 show that the prohibition
law is enforced i'm this state. when il i
known by every person Of inteIligenc,
that the nearly opposite is the truth
aud that nearly as much whiskey anC
beer Is being consumed IN this state &c
day as was ever before IN history. Tn,
United States internal revenue officer!
have issued more licenses; the whole
sale men say they are sending NOR
packages here the records Of the pOlicl
courts show more drunkenness; an,
everything goes 10 show that there i
less temperance now than before u,
amendment was adopted in 1851.
To show how ridiculous the figure
prepared by this prohibition societ,
sound, we extract from the report a few
passages. These statements may q
well enough for circulation in the east
ern states, where the people are prepar
ed TO believe any story that comes from
Kansas. IS thsy have always done; bu