Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-21
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS
SATISFACTORY RESULT OF THE LAWS
ENFORCEMENT.

Are Observation-Disclosures Of the State
Generally Against Them-some Of
the Results.
So many conflicting statement have
been made regarding the effect of tho
prohibition law in Kansas, as we'll
as its enforcement, that q personal
Of its workings has been
made by the New York Times repre-
in twenty counties. There
suit Of this tour, taken in connection
with the knowledge obtained from
Of the Legislature last VIM
ter, forces the belief, primarily, that
in Kansas IL permanent
fixture. Second, It Is reasonably en-
forced, and there Is not an open saloon
In the State outside Of four cities
Kansas City, Leavenworth, Atchison,
and Wichita-and there they are sep
arated from the streets by some other
business, ostensibly the real purpose
of tho proprietors Of the drinking
places.
In Wichita, which Is the nearest ap-
proach to a free-drinking place. q
stranger must put himself under the
guidance of a native" in order to
find q place where he can satisfy his
thirst. Occasionally the temperance
element brings such q pressure to
bear upon the Police Commissioners
that an arrest is made, when convic-
ton always follows. The penalty Is
fixed by law, and the fine goes to the
school fund Of the county. Public
sentiment in Wichita favors the drink
ing places, although that sentiment
has gone 80 far toward prohibition
that it will not tolerate an open SALOON
nor countenance q drinking place
that harbors a crowd.
In Leavenworth the liquor dealer
has had a much more thorny path to
travel. He has been frequently ar
rested and tried and convicted, and
tho school fund has had added thou
sands Of dollars. A few years ago
there was no attempt at concealment,
but now the saloons are run as
'joints." whore initiation must pre-
cede tho tickling Of the palate with
alcoholic fluids. This city derives q
portion Of its revenue from tho
monthly fines collected, as we'll as the
monthly fines levied on houses Of
bad character. These two sources Of
revenue are held to be necessary, but
there must be sustained q fiction Of
virtue on the part Of the city authori-
ties.
Atchison has been changing the
past few years, and, although saloons
are tolerated in back rooms and yield
up to the municipal demands, they are
neither 30 numerous nor 30 bold as q
few years ago. Gradually public sem
timent Is changing in that city and
the liquor dealers are finding their
lives full Of trouble and grief. As this
sentiment grows. the municipal reve-
nue. becomes less.
Kansas City, which is one of the
twins at the mouth Of the Kaw, has
made strenuous efforts to suppress
this traffic, and has succeeded far Bet
ter than in the cities above named.
The open saloon Is Of the days INST,
while the '1oints." though freq bnt,
are an expensive luxury for the wn-
ers. The revenue from this SOU. 20
this municipality is uncertain, as the
saloon keepers are subject to 30 much
annoyance by the county officials, and
each interruption costs from 500 up
ward, the fine going to swelk1the
school fund. Public sentimep has
changed materially during the3 past
two years until the PrOhibitofy-ik~ h
far better enforced In Kansas City than
is the law against larcency. The only
there is any revenue from the latter II
goes directly into the pockets Of the
policemen individually instead Of into
the City Treasury.
Topeka is the only large city In
which this law is absolutely enforced.
There is not saloon in the city, mol
is there a joint that is longer lived
than one or two weeks. The city has
derived no revenue from the saloons
for eight years. The finances Of thif
city are in better shape than in the
four cities before mentioned, as the
city expenses are provided for in an
occupation tai. Public sentiment
will tolerate neither saloon nor joint
and will not permit druggist tc
make any unusual number Of sales
during the current month.
6alina, Dodge City, Clay Centre
Sterling, Great Bend, Fort Scott
Pittsburg, and other cities of like
size have joints, which are not run FOL
municipal gain. Convictions in al
these places are frequent, and the
State Furnishes the offenders These
Joints are not run as drug stores, but
are purely "blind tigers" which one
must seek in company with guide
who has the confidence Of the liquor
dealer. Very frequently this guide Il
q leading citizen as he is always &
leading politician, and has established
confidence.
Liquor can be obtained in every
city In the State. The applicant must
however. sign an application and b.
sworn by the druggist, who is empow
cred to administer oaths. This opens
the way to a prosecution for perjury
II the name precedes o disease tina
cannot be well established. Their,
have been but few, il any prosecution!
for the latter offense. As the druggis
must at all times keep his application
book in public place. subject to in
spection. the sales are not numerous
nor are they large in quantity.
Senator Ingalls, stated. in letter re
Gently written to an Eastern paper
that breweries were running unre
strained in this State. The fact il
there has not been a brewery in oper
alton in Kansas for five years, and TO
more than double that time distil
lery has not been fired up. But fiv'
! cities derive revenues from saloon
out Of some sixty cities Of size deserv
ing mention, and in those the revenu,
is uncertain, nor is it nearly 80 larg'
as that derived from the houses o
bad character which accompany tn,
saloons.
The Peoples Party in it's camIaigl
last year refused to discuss prohibi
ton, declared that the laws regulated
that subject and 1t was not an issu,
before the people. The democrat
and resubmission republicans tool
heart and aided that party in electinf
members OF the Legislature. When
resolution was introduced In tn,
House looking to a resubmission o
the prohibitory amendment to tn