Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-02-09

way OF Wilburn and Meade Center to
FL Paso. The survey for this line
has also been made, and bonds were vot-
Cd "a year past but were not earned. We
understand that the company have de-
termined to build this line during this
year. and have completed their plans ac-
cordingly.
These are some OF the things we may
expect for Dodge City this year. We
VIII certainly have rapid and substan-
tial Development, and our future impor-
lance as a city is already insured.
Prohibition has no healthy existence
except =, the sunshine of large Republi-
can majorities. 1t cannot grow in the
fogs and mists of Democratic strong
holds 4 Z Z In the
present attitude of the prohibition agita-
ton, il is an essentially local question, to
be disposed Of in each state. 1t is not
wise to insist upon putting any prohibi-
tory expression in the platform of the
next presidential campaign. The first and
great object of the next national cam
payne is to restore the government to
Republican control This done, the other
question can be properly disposed of, as
the onward march Of public opinion will
justify. The delegates from the strong
Republican states. where prohibition has
a permanent abiding place, must not at
tempt to force those from the doubtful
states to adopt it, when the conditions
are not favorable to its growth and de-
development. Major Ben. Simpson, in
Topeka Capital.
No doubt the foregoing sentiments will
meet the approval of many of the mama
gers of the Republican party, and that it
will be the policy Of that party. But we
would be glad to see the next Republican
National convention brave and wise
enough to come squarely out now upon
this leading national issue, and are con-
fident the party would gain more votes
than it would loose, even in the doubtful
states CoWardice in champiOning the
right, even though it was not the popular
side of the question, has never been
characteristic of the Republican party.
There viii be small glory in adopting the
principles of the temperance people after
that party has become strong enough to
work out alone the reform it has under
taken.
The action of Mayor Tarbox in is
suing his proclamation, warning all dis
respectable characters of the fate which
is in store for them, was timely, and
meets the hearty appreciation Of all
good citizens. The effort which Kan
sas City is making to rid itself Of foot
pads, gamblers and thieves will natur-
ally result in a large number Of this
class turning their faces westward in
search Of new locations in which to pur-
suite their nefarious callings, and it is
more than likely some of them will stop
off at Dodge. If they do, the city
should be made too hot to hold them;
and the same class Of people who claim
Dodge City as home, is far too num-
erous. They too, might as we'll be
made to understand that their room is
better than their company. Not only
this, but respectable business men who
have been on friendly terms with the
gamblers and thieves who
have polluted and disgraced this city
with their presence, should open their
eyes to the necessity of turning their
backs upon them. AS long as these
disrespectable men land women too) re-
ceiye friendly nod, a pleasant "good
morning, and hearty hand shake
from people who call themselves re-
spectacle good citizens, they may we'll
think they can defy the law. Dodge
City cannot afford to rest longer under
the stigma (however unjust it may beg
of beng called hard town. In fact
it is not. Those who live here know
it is as orderly as any western city OF its
size: but it is also true that we have a
class of citizens whom we can well af-
ford 10 spare. The time has come
when those who are not with us must
be counted as against us. The line
must be drawn between the clean and
the unclean, and men who claim to be
respectable, and wish to be considered
SO, must array themselves squarely
and Enthusiastically on the side of law,
order and good morals. They, above
all others must show the law breakers
that the tine is ripe for them to give
place to better citizens. 1t lies in the
power of just this class of business
men to make Mayor Tarbox's procIama-
ton success without any effort on
the part of the officers of the city. As
soon as the rutfains and prostitutes dis
cover that the men who, while claiming
to be respectable, still extended them
\