Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-22

STATE TEMPERANCE UNION.
peAn-Piaeform ~ Prfnc1paesAHow tne
supreme Court Decides - vfewed-
TOPEKA, Kan, May 1L-The State
Temperance Union. in session in this
city, yesterday adopted resolutions con-
graduating the people of the State up
on the successful enforcement OF tne
Prohibitory law, and the report Of the
committee, which was adopted. further
declared:
Referring specially to the recent decision
OF the supreme Court of the United Scafee I'm
the Iowa liquor case, We say tbat We
promptly bow to the authority Of the law OK
the land Without hesitation We accept and
obey the law as Interpreted by the courts
Let there be no mistake nor misunderstand-
ing on this point Whether decisions by
courts accord with our opinions or not, we
maintain our old position-unswervinga al
legiance to the law of the land Wecon-
denim and abhor every grade of anarchy
and we insist that the American idez Of gov
eminent is liberty under Law, liberty accord
ing to law.
While there may be a difference of opinion.
as to the scope and meaning of said decision.
we think that if Is generally agreed that its
effect may be to open in Kansas, under the
authority Of United States permits, the sale
OF liquor in the original packages To what
extent. if any, we may be able to reach and
control this sale by our State laws IL qnes-
ton to be hereafter determined by the prop
er authorities In the meantime we stand
immovably by our Kansas Prob bitory laws
and we hereby serve notice on all parties in
Interest that. in all legitimate ways we shall
seek the vigorous enforcement of our own
lava
After reciting the fact that sovereignty
Is in the people and that that sover-
eighty shall SO express itself concerning
the liquor traffic through legally estab-
Hshed modes that the interests of the
people shall be maintained, the report
continues:
Resolved, That We urge the Kansas dele
CATION in Congress to use all the means in
their power to induce that body at once to
declare an emergency and to take such ac-
ton as shall prevent the Inter State Com
merce act from all Interference with the sale
and traffic in intoxicating liquor in any State
contrary to the laws of said state and we cali
their attention to the fact that such legisla-
tion is handed not only in justice to states
that have Prohfbitory laws, but equally in
justice to those that favor the so called reg
ulation or license of the liquor e. afic- This
resolution also urges Congress to forbid the
sale of revenue stamps to CT, izens of States
until such citizens shall conform 10 the law
Of the States, and it congratuiates the United
States Senate on its recent decision, and that
we urge upon the House of Representatives
the duty of passing the law forbidding the
sale of alcoholic liquors in army canteens,
and that We also urge upon Congress the ap-'
pointment of the Alcoholic Liquor Commits
sion already reported in the House.
Resolved, That we deeply appreciate the
Endorsement given to Prohibition by that
large and intelligent body, the teachers in
the schools in the State. and we earnestly
invite all farmers, mechanics. laboring men.
and all others, organized or singly, to Join
with us in determined efforts to prevent the
reopening of a traffic which increases taxes.
fills iails and prisons, squanders the wages
Of honest labor and builds up among the
most oppressive monopoly that ever cursed
any community.
Resolved, That we renew and emphasize
our arraignment of the saloons and the
liquor traffic. "The saloon STILES progress,
fosters pauperism, brutalizes husbands and
fathers, breaks women's hearts, puts rags on
the workingman's back, disease in his body
and shame and despair in his heart" As
John Wesley, 100 years ago, branded the
African slave trade as the "Isum of all villain
ies,'' so we solemnly indict, as the sum of all
villainies in this country the liquor traf4c
which is now at; empting, with satanic audoc-
ity, to add to its own crimes the infamy %
striking down and tramping under foot, in
this State and in ooher tates, the laws which
the people for their own protection have
framed. and which have been declared con-
stitutional by the Supreme Court of the
United States The proposed efforts of Mis-
souri, liquor dealers to establish "original
package houses in Kansas under cover of
the Supreme Court decision is but another
effort TO establish saloons which have been
driven from our borders by the higher civil
ond shameful invasion by Missouri ruffian-
ism and we pledge ourselves to resist these
efforts to the full limit of the law.
Resolved, That we oppose the calling Of an
extra session of the Legislature for the pure
pose of resubmtting the Prohibitory amend
ment. We do SO for the reasons-that such
extra session would make a needless addi-
ton to our taxes, already sufficiently heavy;
that the reopening of saloons, even IL il
could be effected. would be disastrous to
the prosperity of the 81 ate; that we have the
best grounds for believing that the attempt
to reopen the saloons would be over
wheimingly defeated, and that while many
who at first opposed prohibition are now its
friends, the most vociferous Advocates of re-
submission are those who voted against pro-
hib ton, and that we can not reasonably be
required to resubmt at the demand of a
faction which ha- not yet submitted TO the
will of tue majority.
Resolved. That, coming as we do from all
portions of the State and representing as we
do great variety of industries and callings,
we brand misleading and false the state
ment circulated by resubrnission SITS that the
business interests of the : tate have been in
jured by Prohibition The fact is that We
are simply sharing tie commercial and
financial depression which unfortunately
prevails in all parts of the country. The
charg that hard times in Kansas are attrib-
utable to the clE sing of the saloons is not
only calumnv without a shad W of truth,
but it comes with specially bad grace from
those who in the same breath assert that
sas. We distrust the integrity Of those who
seek to carry out their selfish schemes by
shameless misrepresentation of the people
and the business of the State in which they
live.
Resolved, That in this extraordinary elmer
gency urge all ounty officers and munic-
ipal officers to ncr-ased fidelity and courage
in the enforcement of our laws closing the
saloons, and we exhort all good citizens
heartily to support the officers in their work
We also urge our citizens OF all parties
throughout the State to vigilance and actfv-
ty in electing to the Legislature only trust
worthy men pledged to resist resubmi ssion.
and all the schemes for reopen ing saloons
Resolved, That we believe that the dissent
ing opinion Eied in the Iowa liquor case by
Justice Gray of Massachusetts. Justice Haf-
Ian of Kentucky and Justice Brewer CT KAN
sas presents the doctrine that will ultimately
be recognized as constitutional and safe, as
sorting as they do the Federal authority,
guarding the rights of the several States and
making the safety of the people the supreme
law.
Resolved That treat with denial and
derision the suggestion that the Supreme
Court decision is fatal to prohibition in this
state. Under God the people by their own
act have driven the saloon from the borders
Of Kansas. No human power can secure its
return.