The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-05
TEMPERANCE TALK.

TEMPERANCE TALK.
Meeting of the State Temperance Union at
Topeka-Attorney General Bradford
Prohibition.
TOPEKA. KAN, October 2S.-The State
Temperance Union met in this city last
evening at seven O'Clock, with large num-
Der or delegates present The State Organ
izers, Albert Griffin for the northern half
and Phillip KrOhn for the southern half Of
State, read their reports.
The following correspondence between
Governor Martin and Attorney General
Bradford was given to the public. 1t ex-
plains itself:
STATE OF KANSAS EXECUTIVE DEPT,
TOPEKA. October 5, 1855. !
hon. s. b. Bradford, Attorney General.
My DEAR SIR: In view of the many con-
tictng statements concerning the admins
tration of justice IN this State. would il not
be well for you TO ascertain. by inquiry
through official channels. what the real facts
are, touching, especially, the enforcement of
the Prohibitory law of 1885. Respectfully,
JOHN A MARTIN.
In his letter to the Governor, the Attor-
ney General says:
From all the information have been able
to obtain, il appears TO me that the Prohib-
itpEN INV i no longer an cAptri nlent. DuI on
the contrary. is being enforced as success
fully as the law against horse stealing, muir
der, arson or other crimes known to our
statute.
The communications seem TO indicate that
a greater per cent. of persons are convicted
for violating the PrOhibitOry law than for
the violation of any other law. 1t appears
that seventy-nine per cent. of the trials had
have resulted in convictions. If we add 10
tn the injunct:Ons that have been granted,
which are equivalent to conviction, the per-
nan ntaf -
At this pOinC, can not refrain from saying
few words in defense of the public prose
cutorS of the State As a rule. / find them
able. earnest and industrious officers; there
are some exceptions. but the percentage is
not great.
Since the passage of the amendatory act Of
1SS5, making it the duty of the Attorney
General to appear and prosecute wherever
the County Attorney shall fail or refuse to
prosecute, this office has been deluged with
correspondence, largely making complaints
agSipSt prosecuting officers, and demanding
my immediate attention in their particular
locality. In few instances / have acted
upon the suggestions made by these unoffi-
cial ind viduals. and have almost invariably
been confronted with mistake 1t has not
unfrequently occurred that County Attor-
ney has been charged with derelicton OF
his duty, when upon personal investigation
j found him to be most efficient officer.
The individual complaining, instead of GO
ing to the County Attorney like man. ard
reporting his grievance, giving the name of
the ind vidual offending, the description of
the place, and the names of the witnesses
by whom he could prove the offense. would
write long letter to this Office, making seri-
Gus charges aGSinst the officers, and even
ia to give rne any such information as
would justify me IN making any investiga-
tiol whatever. have received a cOnsidera-
ble number of letters without signatures,
written in disguised hand, proving cOncu-
sively that the letters were not written for
the good of the cause, but for the accom-
plishment of persona. ends.
| have received letters
my ears state of facts which, if true, would
show very diSgraceful condition of affairs;
but at the conclusion would be a postscript,
wherein the writer would say that he was in
business or in profession. and if it came to
the knowledge of the individuals of whom
he had complained that he had given any in
formation ii would injure him in his business
or in his profession, and beg that his name
be withheld, showing a cowardly disposition
that merits the contempt of every good citi-
zen.
Neither the County Attorney nor the
Attorney General can reasonably be ex-
pected to play the part of the detective
in order to bring persons to trial for the
violation OF any criminal statute. The name
of the defendants, and the names of the wit
neSses by whom the Offense can be proven,
are absolutely necessary ingredients to have
before the commencement of q case.
1t is the duty OF the officer to exert himself
in ferTeting out the offenders of the law. and
it is clearly the duty of the citizens. eSpe-
cially those who feel aggrieved because of
by bringing to him the necessary informa-
ton. if known to them.
Much cred is due to the County Attorneys
and Clerks of Courts for their prOmptnesS
and valuable suggestions offered in replying
to the circular.
In conclusion, allow me to say: Kansas
has a population of about l,250.000 peo-
pie; it has eighty-f1ve organized cOun-
ties; in siXty-two of these counties only
SIS convictions have been had for the viO-
latOn of the various criminal laws of the
State since January I, 1885. That 235 of that
number are convictions for the violation of
the Prohibitory Law. Fifty-two of the eighty
five counties in the State report that they
have no saloons. Eight of the other cOun-
ties report that the law is only partially en-
forced. Two counties say the law is not en-
forced. and we may infer that very little has
been done to enforce it. To the last two
counties will add the counties of Atchison,
Ford and LeavenwOrth, where the law is
openly and notOriously violated, making
report from SiXty-three counties in the
State. About seventy-nne per cent. of all
the cases brought for the violation Of the
PrOhibitOry law result in the conviction of
the defendant, which shows a very healthy
condition of public sentiment upon that
question. The sea foam" "cOld tea"
stomach invigOrator." and other artful
doi9es on the part of witnesses TO eyade the
truth, are seldom resorted to any more. The
prOgreSSs will soon be hing of the past.
Yours very respectfully,
5. b. BRADFORD, Attorney General.