The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-04
RESUBMISSION.

This question is the all absorbing one
in the state of Kansas today, and will
remain so until again submitted to the
people, and by them settled one way or
| the other.
Our prohibition friends say that the
people have once settled the question,
and do not demand another vote upon it.
| We deny the statement that the question
has been settled by the people. When
we speak of the people or the Will of the
people, it is always understood that a
majority of the people, or the will of the
majority, is meant. Prohibition in Kan
sas was never adopted by a majority of
the people. 1t is a minority amendment
forced upon the majority.
When the amendment was submitted
in 1880, the vote for president was
| POI 200 The vote upon the amendment
was 175, oil; for the amendment, 1874.
Thus it was carried by less than 1000
votes of those voting upon it out of the
total vote cast at the election,
91.S14 were for the amendment
and 100. 1876 were not for It.
| This amendment was certainly not
put in the constitution by the people.
The population of the state was then
995. coo. Last June it was ,423,OUO.
Have the people in Kansas, today, any
rights that the prohibitionistS or the leg
islature are bound to respect: The pro-
hibitionists tell us that if again submit
ted it would be carried by a large ma
iOrity. Very well; that would settle It,
But, were they sure of that. they would
not oppose resubmission. The position
they take indicates their weakness and
lack of confidence in the people. 1t is OIL
ways safe to trust the people. Politicians
may fool some of them part of the time,
and even fool all of them some of the
time, but they cannot fool all of them all
of the time. \ part of the peo-
pie of Kansas have been so fooled
for the past ten years by orators of the
Barney Kelley stripe, that they
have been inclined to believe that prohi-
bition was a grand success. Their
eyes are being opened, and the
utter and complete failure of
the whole measure is more and more
apparent as each day goes 10y. But 1t Is
not our purpose, at this time, to discuss
the merits or dement's of prohibition.
The question now is, are there a suf-
ficent number of voters in Kansas today
demanding a vote upon this question to
entitle them to a hearing at the ballot
box: Is it a crime to make this demand:
Is it a crime for z man to be a Result
missionist: The ResubmiSSionist does
not ask for more whisky. He asks for
some restraint upon what we now have.
He simply asks that the people may
once more vote upon this question. How
can any Prhhibitionist, respecting the
rights OF his fellOwmen and willing to
grant them the same rights that he de-
mands for himself, refuse to grant this
privilege. 4 man who will refuse this
demand is unworthy of citizenship. and
not deserving the protection of the state.
He is not entitled to the confidence or
respect of the community in which he
may live. VIII the coming legislature
respect the rights of the people: We be-
lieve they will though we are informed
that the Alliance of Barton county has
passed resolutions instructing their rep
resentativeS not to grant the people this
prestige. Is it possible that this party.
born of the oppression Of the people, ana
for the purpose of removing the burdens
have stepped upon the Threshold of
power. making efforts to deny the peo-
pie rights that the party is supposed to
protect: We cannot give credence to
the above-named report. If true, II
must be the effort of g
few oyer-zealous prohibitionists who
are 50 removed from the
centers OF population. that they are not
yet aware of the COnSumated failure of
ten years Of alleged prohibition in Kan
sas. The state Will never have peace and
prosperity SO long as minority intrenCh-
ed in power, by years of intrigue and
secret manipulation refuse 10 Concede the
Just demands OF majority Of the people
The late election has been a lesson TO
the leaders of parties that they Will read
ilv Learn. and the teachings Of which
they Will feel bound 10 respect. The
leaders who do not heed the voice Of the
people will not long be leaders. and the
party that denies 10 the people their lust
and reasonable demands VIII meet with
an ignominious defeat. The coming leg
iSlature viii be in the hands of a new
party, whose policy we trust Is not fore
Swallowed by the resolutions referred To.
The enemies Of this party predict much
unwIse and III timed legislation.
We believe their predictions which are
their wishes VIII not be realized. We
believe wise counsel VIII prevail and the
new party viii reflect great credit upon
itself: be an honor 10 the state and re-
lieve the people from many burdens that
now Cypress them. i. ;.