Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-31
REDFACESANDDRINK.
Tne Former Regarded by Kansas
Officers as Sufficient
PROOF OF INDUCING TOO MUCH
Hardships of Tipplers Under the Rigorous
Prohibitory law
BEFORE THE LATE COURT DECISION

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DrsPArcB.l
TOPEKA, May 29.-How will the Supreme
Court decision affect Kansas? is a question
that is and will be asked many thousands of
times by non-residents of the State. How
do the people of Kansas like the decision?
is another that will be formed by as many
tongues. The answer to the first question
is that liquors will be sold as freely in this
State as in any in the Union. Secondly,
portion of the inhabitants of this city don't
like 1t, and another portion are even now
smiling" over the decision.
Saturday evening your correspondent was
walking down Kansas avenue when he no.
ticed crowd standing on both sides of the
street near No. Alt. He likewise stood
about to see what the trouble might be. 1t
was not long before he felt that the very air
was charged with the words "original pack
age" The crowd spoke the words with
bated breath, as if fearing that the city
police force would swoop down on them
If they were spoken aloud. Ladies
and children passed. hurriedly, causing one
to imagine that he saw their faces blanch.
Occasionally one of the crowd more bold
than the others would start down flight of
steps into the basement of the above num-
Der, but before doing so he would pull his
hat down over his eyes as far as possible.
In short time his head and then his body
would emerge from the cellar, and he would
start off with nervous haste.
1t seem that the citizens cannot realize
that they are not breaking the law when
they enter this place-the first saloon that
has dared to open its doors to the long-de-
MED public since the liquor decision.
NOT A GILDED BARRooM.
After halt dozen starts, as many times
turning back, the correspondent went down
street a few blocks and started up ON the
same side where the original package store
stood, and before any of the crowd were
aware of his intention he was in the cellar.
It is not just clear how he got there, but he
remembers having fallen down the last half
dozen steps in his haste, and feeling very
much embarrassed. The 'largest mirror in
the world" and dazzling display OF bottles
did not meet his eyes, but comparatively
empty room. In the center stood a long, low
table, covered with newspapers, back of
which stood the bartender, not dressed in
Hotel Anderson style, but with hat on and
coat off.
Seven men stood at the table or bar,
each and every one pleading at the same
time for "a quart of beer" but they were
informed by the bartender, who at the same
time pointed to about ten cases of that fluid
which stood in the rear OF him, that there
was all that was left and as it was in cases
could not be sold by the quart as it had
been earlier in the day. They left after
casting longing, lingering and loving
glances at the casks.
This saloon is the only one that has thus
far been opened in the State, but it is stated
that dozens will be opened in the following
week. At present another, also in base
ment on Madison street, is being put in
readiness to receive the crowds that are e1-
pected, and to deal out liquor to- those who
want it and to "dump crusaders in well,"
as the wife of the proprietor stated.
PURCHASING SUPPLIES.
Ever since 1881, when the prohibitory law
went into effect, there has been a compare
lively large trade carried ON between this |
,ity and other Kansas towns and Kansas |
City This was done with the aid of the |
various express companies. A party wish |
ng to purchase liquor would forward his
money by express at any time in the day,
lad ordered. Liquor can also be obtained
It drug stores, in cases of sickness (?) by
he party signing an affidavit that he is in |
iced of it. AS consequence few intoxi-
ated men are seen on the streets. They are
considered great curiosity until they are
AIKEN out of sight by the police and lodged
n the city prison.
Several days ago your correspondent saw
couple of hundred people collected about
n intoxicated man who had committed the
innocent ofense of falling down in the
Doorway of a restaurant. 1t was at noon,
nd the crowds eating their dinners left the
able to witness the objectionable act of
he monster. The comments on the occur
ence were numerous.
On another occasion the writer heard a
onversation between a Methodist minister
nd q member of his church. The church
,ember opened the talk with, "I saw an
riginal package down on the avenue
bout two hours ago. 1t was leaning against
gas lamp and its face looked like one of
hose red CLANS" After further talk on
he same subject, he said: 81 notified the
olice where they would find an original
ackage and I suppose he is now safe be-
ind the bars" 1t will be noticed that the
lbject was still fresh in his memory after
no hours.
RIGOROUS LAW.
The writer could hardly credit the latter
ortion of the narrative until, little later
, the day, he repeated the story to a proml-
ent attorney and asked him if he supposed
ne man was actually languishine in Jail for
ne innocent oftense OF having aired face and
aning against lamp post
why, you are not surprised at that, arc
ou? That is one of our prohibitory laws.
, is one of thd mildest. Do you knew, sir.
lat the District Attorney has been given
le unbounded power, to take any citizen,
this commonwealth, into his back office {
hom he supposes has any knowledge of a {
pint and demand answers to any s
1estion that he sees fit to ask, even If the
lestion has no bearing on the case what.
1er. and this power is frequently used for
,rscnal affairs. Ii the party questioned
fuses to answer any question, even if 1t A
'es not relate to the liquor business, be can
sent to Jail BY the District Attorney. Is
an outrage. as are various other under :.
e guise of securing prohibition laws and i
!, don't ask me any more questions. The /
ws on the subject are so extreme as to be b
ious, and in other States would not be t
omitted to.
About one month ago the writer was c
anding at the corner of Fourth street and j
ansas avenue, when a number of the city n
lice force were marching up the street Il
om the Central station, to 90 on duty, r.
hen he was accosted by German, who v
id: "There goes one of the fellows who +
llled me in for being drunk. 1 wasn't o
ising disturbance either. They kept Il
: in prison, down here, two weeks, be- ii
use would not tell them where got my "
er." S,
Last week the temperance people of the t'
ate held their annual convention in the II