Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-17

hsyv neen scrrtsnised un1ef oar lava ~ nsny
| Of these are inviting and reeety1nE deposlss o
small sums from persons On nmited mean.
ories, II the sseour1fy- saorded depositon -
absolute, WIN be generally reooGnf1eo fsoF
erly managed. and surrounded WIN Ref1ecs
safeguards, they encourage industry. tnrIS eno
ecopomy.s Hnt the security Afforded fner 90
positors should be unquestioned- The Logs
lature should provide for their orgnnlsessons
management and supervision. ana snooio sur
round them with such safeguards = WIN Mass
| it impossible for any depositor to lose single
cent OF his or her hard earned and stoWy 80
cumu1ated capital
Governor Martin desires severe penalties To-
parties exacting usurious interest, and says tno
mortgage laws need revision and radical In
| ipFovement He then follows with denunciar
ton of trusts and combinations. to graphic
with which stringent and fAr-reaching laws
should be enacted. A revision Of the laws pro-
viding for notaries public is wanted. over 500
persons at present holding such positions in
the State
.-s--7llss ALIEN LAND HOLDINGS
/ The people. at the late election. adopted the
following amendment to section Ia, of the blu Of
rights OF the Constitution:
sSection 17.-No distinction shall ever be
made between citizens of the State OF Kansas
and the citizens of other States and Territories
of the United States, In reference to the pur-
chase, enjoyment or descent OF property The
right OF aliens 60 the purchase, enjoyment OK
descent of property may be regulated by law
The well understood purpose OF this amend
ment was to permit the enactment OF laws pro-
hibiting the accumulation OF vast tanoeo
tates by allie, s. Such accumulations are oetn.
mental TO the interests of the State. and should
be made impossible Comprehensive anu
stringent laws. embodying the spirit OF the
amendment above recited. should be enacted
at the present session OF the Legislature
again call the attention of the Legislature
to the fact that our present registration Law
invites and encourages, rather than prevents
and Furnishes. illegal voting. All good citizens
Of all political opinion recognize the necessity
Of stringent laws to secure purity, honesty and
correctness in the exercise of the elective fran
chise. A free ballot and an honest count
wrongs no one. Every legal voter should be-
protected in the full enjoyment Of his rights
at the ballot box, and, at the same time. no one
should be allowed to cast a vote who has not all
the qualifications of legal voter. A just,
wise, and adequate registry law will secure
these results, and the Legislature should. at
its present session. provide such aaaw.
TEMPERANCE LAWS.
There is no longer any issue or controversy In
Kansas concerning the results and benefcence
of our temperance laws. Except in a few larger
cities, all hostility to them has disappeared.
For six years. at four exciting general elections,
the questions involved in the abolition of the
saloon disturbing and prominent issues.
subject was rarely mentioned by partisan
speakers or newspapers. Public opinion, II is
plainly apparent, has undergone q marked
change. and there are now very few citizens OF
Kansas who would be willing to return to the
old order of things.
The change of sentiment on this question is
well grounded and natural No observing and
intelligent citizen has failed to note the benefi
emit results already attained Fully nine
tenths OF the drinking and drunkenness preva-
lent in Kansas eight years ago have been abol-
ished: and affirm. with earnestness and en-
phasis. that this State is to-day the most tenn
perate, orderly, sober community OF people in
the civilized world. The abolition of the sa-
loon has not only promoted the personal hap
piness and general prosperity of our citizens,
but 1t has enormously diminished crime; has
filled thousands of homes where vice and want
and Indebtedness once prevailed with peace,
plenty and contentment; and has materially
increased the trade and business of those
engaged in the sale of useful and wholesome
articles Of merchandise. Notwithstanding the
fact that the population OF the State is steadily
increasing the number of criminals confined
in penitentiary is steadily decreasing.
Many of our iails empty, and all show q
marked falling OF in the number OF prisoners
confined The dockets of our courts are
longer burdened with long lists of criminal
cases. In the capital district containing q
population OF nearly 20, OOO not a single crimi-
nal case was on the docket when the present
term began. The business of the police courts
| of our larger cities has dwindled to one-fourth
second and third class the occupation Of police
authorities is practically gone. These sug
gestive and convincing facts appeal alike
the reason and the conscience of the people.
They have reconciled those who doubted tho
success and silenced those who opposed the
policy OF prohibiting the liquor traffic.
The laws now on our statue books. touching
this question, need few. il any, amendments.
| Fairly and honestly enforced they make it
practically impossible for any person to sell
| toxicating liquors, as beverage, in any Kansas
| town or city. What is needed, therefore. is not
| more rigorous laws, but systematic and
| sincere enforcement of the laws we have. The
| one addition would suggest is a. law pro-
viding for the swift and certain removal and
punishment OF county attorneys, sherins and
other local judicial officers, who fail neglect
TO discharge their official duties as directed by
| law The Attorney General should be empow-
cred to commence, either in the district or Su-
preme courts, proceedings in custer against
any county attorney, sherin or other local
pc ace officer, who neglects or refuses to DO his
duty in enforcing the laws prohibiting the sale
| of intoxicating liquors: and proof that joints
or other places where intoxicating LIQUORS are
| illegally sold, have been permitted to exist
within the jurisdiction of such officers. should
be made just and sufficient ground for their re-
| moval from office. With such a law to stimu-
| late them. local officers would do their whole
duty, and wherever and whenever they do this,
the illegal traffic in intoxicating liquors and
| will be suppressed.
Your attention is directed. in this connection.
to the very full and comprehensive report Of
| the Acknowledgement whose knowledge OF the
| working and results Of our temperance laws is
| drawn from practical experience. and whose
| zeal, energy and courage in enforcing all laws
has been conspicuously illustrated during his
official terms.
FORT RILEY MILITARY RESERVATION
The Secreta OF War has by letter, re-
/ quested that an act be passed cedfng to the
| United States jurisdiction over the territory
| included within the limits of the Fort Riley
military reservation. The State coded such
| jurisdiction years ago over the military ressr-
| vations at Forts Leavenworth and Hays The