Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-10-23
AN EXTRA SESSION.
Chairman Chase, Of The Peoples Party,
A Prohibitionist.

A Prohibitionist.
A special dispatch to the Kansas
City Times of the 21st, reads as follows:
Topeka, Kan, Oct. zo.-A sensation
was caused in political circles here
today by the following demand being
made upon Governor Humphrey for the
immediate converting of special ses-
sion of the legislature to re-enact the
state prohibitory law:
To His Excellency, Lyman U. Humphrey, Governor:
Dear Sir: Owing to the late decisions
of Judges Foster and philips we are
again confronted with original package
houses. Under these circumstances,
as chairman of the state central COM
mittee of the peoples party, represent
ing a law abiding people, / would
respectfully request you, as the chief
executive of the great state OF Kansas
to Immediately convene the legislature
in special session for the purpose OF
enacting such laws as may be neces-
sa-y for the enforcement of the provi-
sions of the constitution.
S. w. CHASE,
Chairman Peoples Party State Cen
trail Committee.
Chairman Chase issued manifesto
to the voters of Kansas in which he says
that the last desperate card has been
played by the enemies of the peoples
party, and the organs of the old repub-
lican party are bowling for help; that
they have followed the candidates OF
the peoples party with the most
Infamous ISLANDERS and lies, insulted and
maligned the speakers and members OF
the party and now have resorted to
final and desperate measure-they have
broken down the prohibitory law, open
ing up the state to the original package
houses and are now yelling to temper
ance men to come to their aid. He
charges the governor and the attorney
general with dishonesty or imbecility IN
not having convened the legislature
Immediately after the passage of the
Wilson bill when good lawyers all knew
that the prohibitory law was not effect
i've until re-enacted.
In an interview with Mr.. Chase he
was asked: 'Do yon think the farmers
would enforce special session? Would
they be willing to bear the expenses Of,
say $25, 900 or $50 900, which special
session would involve?" To which he
replied:
eyes, l think they would. The
farmers are largely prohibitionists and
they would not let the small matter of
expense affect them in voting for their
convictions"
While we agree with MIR. Chase in his
opinion that Humphrey and Kellogg
are insincere and politically dishonest,
we are surprised to see the chairman of
the peoples party state central COM
mittee come out now and crow that he
and his party are in favor of the pro-
hibitory law we have been cursed with
for so long. If Mr.. Chase and party
were sincere in their claims that the
question of prohibition or resubmission
were of no vital importance this fall
what need was there for him to demand
of Humphrey an extra session of the
legislature, at cost of $4,000 or
$50 900 to the tax payers of Kansas, for
the sole purpose of re-enacting the pro-
hibitory law?
Readers, there is "a niger in de
woodpile" somewhere, and the quicker
you come to an understanding of the
situation the better you will be able to
act for the good of yourself and your
state.
''The whiskey men are jubilant in
Kansas, and out of it. The state is
being flooded again with original and
unoriginal packages. Great Bend
enjoys the luxury already of seven or
eight open saloons. We hope to see
every vacant house in this city occupied
at the end of this week by whisky deal
ers, let it be sold by the drink
The above is the comment made by
Bro. Townsley in the News of the 21st.
Besides being exceedingly silly and
unpolitic, it is untrue, in that it states
that "Great Bend already has seven OF
eight saloons" If you do "hope to see
every vacant house IN the city occupied
by whiskey dealers and all that, con-
slider that such statements of your fond
hopes are hardly consistent with your
professional prohibition sentiments of
the past. If you can't be little bit
reasonable and consistent, be as
reasonable and consistent as you can.
Help us to get this vexed question to
vote of the people and then abide by
their decision.