The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-07-23
Does Prohibition Prohibit?
If Enforced 1t Does, IfNOt Enforced II Docs
Not.
GARNETT, ANDERSON Co., KAN.
.July 13. 1885.

GARNETT, ANDERSON Co, KAN.
July 13, 1885.
Davis Mackley, ESQ.,:
Dear SIR Yours of the 10th inst. re-
ceived. You ask, "Does Prohibition pro-
hibit?" and "What is my opinion from
personal observation?"
My opinion is, that practically, and
almost universally, Prohibition prohibits
in the State of Kansas. That while there
are in some of the larger cities, as Topeka.
Atchison and LeavenwOrth, persons who
defy the law, backed by that class of
bummers usually found in cities, yet even
there there is an occasional round up and
conviction had under the law which is
making them more cautious in their at
tempts to violate it. Much depends upon
the officers, whether the law is properly
enforced So far as l know the Judges of
the District Courts, except Judge Crozier,
of Leavenworth, know no difference be
tween the Prohibition laws and any other
laws in the Statute, and they say very
properly, that while these laws are in
force and declared constitutional by our
Supreme Court, they must be enforced,
and when a conviction is had, there is
Judgment and sentence without mercy.
Judge Martin, of Atchison, struck one
last week with fine of $500 and 2l0 days
imprisonment. There is no mawklsh SEN
timent about interfering with mans
'beesness" or his personal liberty as to
what he shall sell or what he shall drink,
but when he is caught, he gets badly hurt
and concludes that Prohibition prohibits
and he quits We had one man here, who
thought he was too smart to be caught,
sold liquor in his house by a clerk, then
built shanty in the alley off his preml-
ses and put his clerk in it. Complaint
was made before me as Police Judge, and
| only fined him 800 on 7counts chat
was ali there was) and $I75 attorneys
fee, and costs in proportion, declared his
house nuisance and ordered it closed
and sent him to Jail until the Judgment
was complied with. He quit, he did, and
now | do not hear of any one secretly VI
olating the law incur town. do not
pretend to say that liquor is not secretly
shipped in and drank by those who will
have it at any expense or trouble, but the
great majority of the people do not touch
it, and while they would occasionally
drink, if it could be easily had, will not go
to the druggist and make "a false applica-
ZION for the sake of dram. The boys
cannet get it, except through an older per-
son, and liquor is too great totacotTy to
scatter around promiscuously and those
that get it drink it. Our old topers go
home Saturday night sober. Drunk men
are scarce, and those you see are smart
young men who work all the week to get
money enough to get drunk Saturday
night and Sunday. Our laws are strict,
druggists are very particular, and where
the county and city officers are right, Pro
hibition prohibits. The Express Compa-
MES will not knowingly ship in liquor,
except for those that have a permit to sell
for certain purposes, and all other liquor
is smuggled in, in various ways. Our
laws are salutary in their effect, and Fro
hibition has come to stay and our people
are well pleased with the enforcement of
the law. Under the last law the County
Attorney has more power than Grand
Jury, and when the laws are found to be
lame they will be amended and strength
ened. The Republican party has stood by
the Amendment to the Constitution and
has made the laws to enforce it, and is
pledged for their enforcement, and within
the party we will do all that is necessary
to be done. We need no third party here
ON that issue. There will be no letting
up by the Republicans on that issue. We
have a Prohibition party in this county,
but it is small, polling less than 100 votes
for st. John and it is not increasing, and
1 know of no reason why it should in
crease. The Democrats were strong for
st. John up to the morning of the cleo
tion, but their votes did not pan out in
that direction and never will. But / will
not tell you anything about the Demo-
Gratis, you know them well. and so do l.
They are very uncertain quantity in
everything except when wanted to vote
the Democratic ticket, and then you can
count on them for "Jeff Davis, Cleveland,
Honesty and Reform" l am for Foraker
first, last and all the time, and wish was
there to help elect him. and he ought to
be elected. Yours very truly,
j. J. HOFFMAN.