Smyrna times., 1888-10-31

IMPRESSION dS lOIlDGu llOL4 Jul OWh
quiet model town, but have availed
myself Of every opportunity by obser-
vation and careful inquiry, and have
delayed for six months that | might so
far as possible inform myself and give
a correct answer to the query, does
prohibition prohibit?"
As for Peabody, (Our own town,
there is not an open saloon nor one OF
which the authorities have knowledge
or can obtain information, in our whole
corporation representing with its out
lying territory 5000 people. Not even
at our drug stores and upon q physi-
clans prescription can intOxicants be
obtained.
The same state of things exists in al
most all the towns and cities of the
State; indeed in all the towns and
with the exception of three or four to
be noted hereafter all the cities Of the
State.
This universal application of the law
however, does not apply to the sale o
liquor by drug stores; although this i
very carefully restricted and closely
watched. The saloon Is OutldUed, ant
the GENDER Of intoGicdRts is skuLkin!
criminal everywhere throughout the state
The law is enforced and respected
and the great mass of the citizens o
the state as highly regard its sanctity
and would as soon think of cOnnivini
at its transgression as Of the Law
against theft. When man opens
"ioint" as the secret places are called
wherein Wichita, Topeka and Leaven
worth the initiated may clandestinel
obtain his drinks, the community as
rule is ready to secure evidence to pre-
ceed against the offender and urge tn
prosecution to a successful termins
ton.
The effects of such a law so execute
are very evident in the sights an
sounds Of every town and village, &
well as in the moral and economic n
suits in the state at large. Our tow
"lock up" does not harbor one inmat
in 90 days, there are no brawls nj
street fights, and the sight of drunke
man on the street is as rare as that of
bear. The order and quiet of ii
street is simply wonderful; and, wha
ever may be the connection, the fa
remains-there is not a tithe of ii
smoking nor one-twentieth of the pr
family so Extensively prevalent on Il
streets Of towns in the East not so pr
tected. No billiard halls nor riotO
crowds in saloons or behind groul
glass windows, and less swearing al
vile language than your writer ev
heard in the same length of tir
among the same number of people an
. where. When the boys are :'Out" of
evening, there is no fear at the paren
heart that they may be enticed in
the saloon, and taught the habit
drinking.
This latter description is of cOur
as matter of personal observation
Peabody only but the most care
examination and thorough informant
attainablc, proves that it applies to
Kansas towns of from 1000 to 5000
habitants, and is but little aside fir
the exact truth everywhere in
state, except in the three or four cit
already named.
r. Jails lie vacant, the poor houses i
pit number of counties have not a sin
ily inmate, and in several others have
d. a single boarder; while the number
of criminal prosecutions in every Cour
est the state is reduced almost to null
You have no doubt read the publ
ed testimony of the Governor of
state who publicly declared over
ds, own signature, and reiterated
ng same in an address; that while or
me nally opposed to the PrOhibitOry Il
f he was now convinced that it was
- fully enforced as any other law vi
the statute book and that under
| operation Kansas had as a result
| tanned to a position of prosperity, Ol
| and morality, that challenged comp
i son with any other state in the Uni
THE OTHER SIDE.
ID And now for the other side. III
'. are some transgressiOns of the !
st there are some grog shops, and dl
4 kenness is not entirely banished
Sc the state. There are some men,
to zens of the state who stoutly dec
oS oS that " prohibition does not prohil
.ly that there is more whiskey drunk
~ day in than ever before"
re- who earnestly declare for license
ST Though few still there are some of
"a. class. But why these individuals
ro- so in earnest is not easy to discover
ns l1- their appearance and declared pro
AL tiles and appetites clearly evid
T. that if more whisky is sold in -
me- than ever before" that such a sta
things precisely suits them, so the
tener is led to wonder lDhy they {
the Prohibitory law and desire its
peal.
Attorney General (for the s
Bradford says in published repor
this subject, that Internal Rev
leh Collector Acres informed him, tha
,iae a the year, 1113 Internal Revenue ST.
are lfor the sale Of liquors) had been is
ore in the State, but adds that since
The beginning Of the fiscal year over a
ks these had gone out of use from
conviction and punishment OF
liquor sellers, leaving only 700 fol
whole state.
In the city of EmpOria there
It eight drug stores having "permit
the sell liquor, "only upon presCript
and in three months there have
q sold for medicinal and mecha
purposes" (for the books of regist
sales are open to public inspection
~ gallons OF liquors, Whlle IN the
Of Usage county the drug stores
lso4 So4 some 5000 sales.
,ooI In Wichita recently, one salt
sent was fined $20,80O for violation {
you. law, and now the prosecuting Att
us brings suit against the criminals
! erty for $5, 200 for prosecuting the
- and since the criminal is liable to
IS and charges he is likely to be m
d di- for this amount also. In Leaven
5 all and Topeka, there are places
Son to the authorities where liquo
sold, and the officers of the law
them only when driven to acti
an aroused public sentiment. AT
General Bradford has been re
stirred up by denunciation or aV
N Pat ed by fear to a more vigorous 81
ment Of the law, but in two man
hence here as in license states, for p
ana at and partisan purposes, violation
on Ont, law is winked at; and the pc
free Of imposed only when the autl
lred. dare no longer refuse.
Z /, ,,s., teiel. 10 many Of the towns, thanks