Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-22
HOW 1T WORKS IN KANSAS.

The General Attorney Of the Missouri Pa
ciflc r. r. Co. Writes an Interesting Let
ter on Prohibition = Points for Both
sides-His Experience Changes Him'toa
High License View.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
am in receipt of many letters from Pennsyl-
vania inclosing clipping from THE DIS
PATCH giving what purports to be an interview
with me relative to the effects of prohibition In
this State. remember of having an interview
with gentleman from Philadelphia on this
subject, but did not at the time suppose that it
was for publication, and regret that the entire
interview was not published by THE lis
PATCH.
1t is true that was one of the original advo-
Gates of the Constitutional amendment, and
since its adoption have closely observed its eff
fects, but If my opinion is to have any weight
wish to state 1t precisely and fully, rather than
to have the interview accepted as fully stat
ing it.
Constitutional prohibition has closed up the
open saloon in Kansas. The open saloon Is a
thing of the past. This has largely resulted in
throwing around the young man protection
from daily temptation. 1t has a tendency to
make the use of intoxicants, as beverage, dis
graceful, and it may truly be said that there is
not so much of it used in the State, as there
was under the old dram shop license law" but
concerned, regret to say that in my opinion
the law is failure.
In the smaller towns, in the rural districts,
the law is enforced as well as any other law
upon our statute books. In the larger cities,
however, it is not. 1t is safe to say that in all
the cities in the State, with one or two excep-
tions, having population of 5000 or over, the
sale of intoxicants is either "winked" at, or Sc
cretly encouraged by those whose duty it is to
enforce the law. While the sale under such
circumstances is surrounded with great many
hazards, yet the business is carried on without
the municipalities receiving any revenue from
it, at the same time being subjected to many of
the evils resulting therefr0m.
1t is true that a large number OF men who
were engaged in the wholesale liquor business,
Mo-, from which point they ship liquor 60 their
former customers in this State, such sales not
being subject to the operation of the Kansas
law, on the ground that it is Interstate COM
merce, and cannot be regulated, or prohibited
by State legislation. OF course when the "cus-
toner" to whom it is shipped sells it, he vio-
lates the law of Kansas, but he seems willingto
take the chances %, as large quantities are
Kansas City, Mo-, is made kind Of dIstribut-
ing point and has been largely benefited by the
prohibitory law of this State.
From strictly moral point of view, have
no doubt but that prohibition has accomplished
muchi good, and if the law was rigidly en-
forced much greater good would result but it
is not enforced as it should, or as it could be,
and we have many of the evils of intemperance
without receiving the revenue from the busi-
ness which we would receive. if permitted to
be prosecuted under a well devised and strictly
enforced license system.
If D0t aorrant tn eav that fha vaIua of real
estate in this and other cities has deprecated
as result of prohibition.
Kansas, as State, and its cities have never
enjoyed such an era of prosperity as during the
last five years. The city of Atchison has in
creased IN population, and many improvements
have been made of a lasting and valuable
character Many miles of its streets have been
paved and her people are prosperous, happy
and contented, and the same may be said of
other cities in the State, but this state of affairs
does not prohibit in these cities. The increase
in population in the State is owing to the won
derful resources of the State. There is no other
State in the Union that affords such grand op-
portunities for reaping rich rewards from hon.
est industry, and large returns from the invest
ment of capital. This has necessarily attracted
hither large immigration and the State is
rapidly filling up. There is seldom failure
in business in our cities, and as q general rule,
those who locate in them and give proper at
tention to their business succeed beyond their
most Sangu1ne expectations.
The man who fails in business here, If en-
gagged in legitimate business, does not deserve
and will not achieve success elsewhere.
That there are many places in this and other
cities where intoxicants are sold is true, but
that is the fault of those charged with the en-
forcement of the law, and not with the law
itself.
Since the adoption of the amendment, in
some form or other, it has been made polit-
ical issue in every State and municipal election.
1t has developed an army of political dema-
gogues and shysters throughout the State, who,
upon the stump and in legislative halls picture
in glowing terms the beauties of prohibition,
and before the sound of their voices has died
away may be found at some convenien,
"jo1nt," drugstore" or social club room
makiug themselves solid with those they have
SO recently denounced.
advocated the adoption of the amendment,
believing that the laws passed in pursuance
thereof would be enforced. am now in favor
of their enforcement but at the same time l
am in favor of the repeal CT the amendment.
My convictions upon the subject Of temper
ance have not changed. expect to do all in
my power in the future, as have done in the
past ten years. to promote the cause of temper
ance and sobriety, yet am satisfied that pro-
hibition, unless we can have national prohibi-
tion, is a hollow mockery.
If we are to have any of the many evils re-
sulting from the sale Of intoxicants. think
that those who produce such evils should be
brought out from the cellars and alleys and
hidden places and compelled to bear some of
the burdens of municipal government. Hence
believe that proper license law Is better for
the State and will accomplish more good in the
cause of temperance than a prohibitory law
not enforced until such time as we can have
national prohibition.
Kansas is in a peculiar condition. It has a
Republican majority of $4,000. and think that
10000 of that number have an ambition to sue
ceed ingalls, and Plumb in the United States
Senate, and in order to accomplish this they
talk prohibition on the stump until they are
hoarse, and clear their throats with beer and
whisky sold in violation of law.
When the motto of our State, "Ad Astra Per
Aspera," was selected by Senator Ingalls,, he
certainly had prophetic vision. We have had
droughts. grasshoppers and cyclones. but the
greatest difficulty we have had to contend with
in order to reach the stars has been the polit-
ical Prohibitionist and anti-railroad dema-
gogue. Sincerely yours,
BP. wAGGENER.
ATcHIsoN, KAN, May 10, 1888.
lin order to help estimate the reliability of
Mr.. Waggener's views and deductions 1t is IN
place to mention that he is general attorney
for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company
ED.1