Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-12-01
CRINKSi


place the name of every one who bon
estly favors temperance. for we recog-
nize the Importance OF temperance In
all things, and we will ever plead for
sobriety. Nor would we charge all pro-
hIbitionists with being cranks. for there
are thousands of honest people who re-
gard prohibition as Il part Of their reli-
giJn; wLO conscientiOusly believe that
the liquor traffic can be suppressed. and
that by statutory enactment the world
can be made purer and better. But
there are prohibition franks, and crank
refOrmers. A body Of these. under the
name of district conference. was in
session at Garden City last week. They
passed series of whereases and resolu-
lions that are a curiosity, coming from
men who are supposed To be endowed
with common sense and reason. The
first resolution in the series they adopt
eel and forwarded to the attorney-gene-
raj, in the belief, we suppose, that he
was the law-making authority cf the
state, will do for sample. 1t is as
follows:
Resoircd. frst-That the state legisla-
tuTe enact a. law creating a commission
of three men and two women, 10 con-
stitute state board for the proper reg
ulatiOn of tie entire liquor traffic of
the state of Kansas. The state officers
elect To be advisory members of said
board. The salaries Of the said board
TO be fixed by the legislature. and paid
ont of the profits of the sales. Said
blard shall Ice required to give bond III
the sum of S5,OO0 for the proper conduct
OF said duur sales.
Would not that be u wild enactment
To have committee of three long
haired neil and two shOrt-haired and
barren women appointed TO control and
regulate the entire liquor traffic of the
state of Kansas Imagine such an out
ut travelling around over Kansas, IN
specting the saloon drug stores and
whisky joints, aided, of course, by local
cOmmItteesl
But the Garden City conference went
further. Their second resolution pro-
vided that 1.-THE state board shall pro-
vide blanks as test of the good char
acter Of all applicants. and upon the APP
plication of the signature of two-thirds
Of the residents, male and female, over
the age of II years, of any city, town or
community, said board may appoint a
local agent, who shall not be engaged
in any other business, for the proper
sale of liquors."
Another fine scheme! Appoint one
mar in Il town to deal out the liquid
damnation, and pay him out Of the
profits of the sales. In Medicine Led e
this Office would he worth ten Thousand
dollars n year. 1t would pay better
than national bank.
The whole proposition is impractical
BILE, and could not have emanated from
the brain Of any well balanced man oil
woman.
1t is ten times worse than \. b
! Campbell's scheme. Campbell is of the
prohibition firm of Campbell x Var
Bennett-sometimes known as 9TH,
\ Fat Man ~ The Snake" lie would
have the law amended by the next leg
islature so as TO provide for, first, {
/ grand jury in every county in Kansas
sitting not less than twice wear. Sec
ond, the abolition of the five cent fet
now received by the probate judge
Third, The applicant for liquors for the
excepted purposes TO be compelled L
swear To his statements, false swearing
To be- punished by imprisonment in tn,
peuitentiary not less than two years
Fourth. The division of the state int
four inspection districts, with state
inspector. appointed by the governor
| for each. III he finds a man selling
liquor without permit from the pro
bate judge, he shall have power to TAX,
possession Of the liquors, aud arrest the
keeper at once, and follow him to con
victiOn.
All these suggestions sound queel
just now, so soon after the governor Of
our great state has declared prohibi
tfon success; so soon after the "set
tied policy" Of the state has been re
| ferred to on a tho Isand platforms il
| Kansas. If the law was not a failur,
four years ago, why were so many lie
told about il? If it was failure during
the campaign of 1856, why did not tn,
! republicans say so?
The truth IS that prohibition is fail
ure in Kansas, and every honest MAJ
will say so. 1t does not decrease tn,
sale of liquor; it does not prevent drunk
enness; it does not prevent crime. Blu
it does build up lot of long-faced
sanctimoniOus hypocrites, who, under
the guise OF druggists, commit perjury
daily.