The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-05
VIGOROUS RESOLUTIONS.
The State Temperance Union Lays Down
Its Platform of Principles.

The State Temperance Union Lays Down
Its Platform of Principles.
At the last days session of the State
Temperance Union at Topeka, the follow-
ing resolutions were adopted:
We congratulate the people of the State or
Kansas upon the progress made toward .
complete enforcement of the frohlp-tSry
years of trial, we: find the following results
of the operation of the law:
The wholesale liquor trade within the StaIe
has almost ceased.
The sale of liquor as a beverage has Deen
immensely diminished
The open dramshop is almost entirely
gone
The secret places in which liquor is sold in
violation of law have been greatly reduced
in number. ana the general sobriety ana
wonderful prosperity OF our people are mat
tiers of universal comment by strangers VINO
come within our gates.
Realizing. therefore. the great benefits OF
Constitutional Prohibition in Kansas, we de-.
mand of all political parties that II snall Oe
retained as the settled policy OF Government
in this State.
There IS but one way to enforce Constitu-
tonal Prob bitIOn, and that is to make vlg-
orOuS application of the law for its enforce
ment. We do not demand extraordinary
remedies but we have right to expect that
the officers of the law shall apply the RENE
dies provided by law for the suppression or
the Illegal liquor traffic. Yet these remedies
will not be applied unless the people require
OF their officers that this duty be performed,
and we call upon the people for greater ac-
tivity in this behalf.
RCS0lred. That we re-affirm our conviction
that the ProhibitOry Liquor law, being the
deliberate expression of the will of the peo-
pie, enacted by them in Self-defenSe, should
be vigorously executed by all courts and Of
tcers IN the State charged with the enforce
ment of law, ana that in such enforcement
the courts and officers should have the
prompt and active cooperation of all law
abiding citizens, independently of personal
opinion or partisan connection.
RCSOlred, That the issue in this State is SIM
ply law as against lawleSsnesS, the SOver-
eighty of the people as against the sOYer-
eighty of the liquor power, and that we
cheerfully accept the issue thus made. con-
hdent that the intelligence, courage ana VIZ
tue of our citizens are able to maintain the
interests and to defend the rights of a mil
lion and quarter of people insolently as
sa led by the HQuor-sellerS and their conled-
crates.
Resolved. That in our opinion. after an ex-
perience of six months, the present liquor
law is in many important particulars an I'M
provementS upon the original law. but as it
is still imperfect on some points, the EXecu-
tive Committee is hereby instructed to see
that the needed amendments are carefully
prepared and presented to the Legislature
for consideration at the approaching seS-
sion.
Resolved, That, whereas that portion of the
liquor law granting to druggists the privil-
ege of the sale of liquor for allowed pur-
poses was framed at the express request of
druggists themselves, and was deS gned to
protect honorable men in the legal proSecu-
ton of their bus ness; and
WHEREAS, 1t is notorious that under cover
of the law some druggists are selling liquor
as IL beverage, and some dishonest persons
have opened up SO-called drug stores for the
purpose of selling liquor as u beverage; we
call upon all law-abiding and honorable drug.
gists to aid in relieving their business from
the stigma placed upon it by unprincipled
men, and to assist the officers in the detec-
ton and punishment of violations of the
law by real or pretended dealers in drugs,
and we brand the men who intict untold
damage on the community, and trample upon
its laws. by selling liquor as a beverage in
drug stores, as outlaws, no more worthy of
the respect and patronage of the community
than other OutlawS-and we hereby hold
honorable people.
ResOlrcd, That the existing law points out
the mode and provides the means for the
suppression of the sale of liquor Us a beyer-
age by druggists. as well as III saloons. and
that, since the remedies are in the hands of
the people, we urge upon all citizens the
necessity of the most vigiant and fearless
prosecution of viOlators of the law, and
specially of those who are using II legit mate
business as a cloak to conceal their pursuit
of traffic always wicked and infamous and
now made criminal-a traffic equally con-
demned by the conscience of all good men,
by the decree of the law of the land, and by
the best judgment of Almighty God.
ReSOlred, That Il City Government which di
rectly or indirectly licenses the sale of
liquors within its limits and derives revenues
therefrom. is in willful and defiant rebellion
OF the State; that the cites of Leavenworth,
AtchiSOn and Dodge notably occupy this
position and that we demand special acton
with reference to the attitude of these cities
toward the constitution and laws of the
State. so as to put q speedy end to this de-
moraliZing situation, and that, while we note
with qualification that the law officer OF the
State is apply ing the remedies to the saloon
EnnnnrG these FahRII lIrl1S
specifically ask that the remedies of the law
be applied to the City Governments. and that
the illegal source of revenue be east of.
ResOIUcd. That we demand of all political
parties that they support the constitution
and laws of the State upon the subject OF
prohibition as well on all other subjects, and
we affirm that we will not vote nor act,
either directly or indirectly, with any party
which by its party machinery does not favor
the vigorous enforcement of the ProhibitOry
liquor law.
ResOIrod. The Republican party in Kansas
has rendered invaluable service TO the cause
of Prohibition, and II is entitled to the con.
fdence and support of the Prohibitionists o!
the State. so long Is it maintains its present
pos ton on that question.
ECSOlrsd. That in the name of the temper
ance people of Kansas, this Union heartily
thanks all officials of every grade and party,
who have honestly tried TO enforce the Pro-
hib;tOry law.
ResOlred. That officials of every grade and
party who have failed to discharge their
duty to the best of their ability, deserve Sc
we're censure, and should be gwen to under
stand by their constituents that persistence
in that course Will cause them TO be treated
as unfaithful servants.
RCSOlCcd, IN the Judgment of this cOnven-
ton. that in proportion TO the population of
the State now and then, there is not more
than One-tenth of the amount of intOXicat- !
ing liquor used as a beverage that was used
for taat purpose before the adoption of the .
policy.
ResOIred, That we request the Legislature,
at its coming session. to pass a law. giving .
the people of each organized county Grand .
Jury at least once year.
RcSOlUcd. That the congratulations of this /
convention be extended to the workers in I
the various States in the cause of Prohibi- .
ton, and we hereby assure them of our con- .
rinued sympathy and cooperation in this /
audable work.
Sin and Misery.