Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-12-01

than all previous governors COM
bined- Did Mr. Smith make a single
public declaration or pledge showing
his position or that of his party on
the question of prohibition during the
canvass, or that he or his party would
enforce prohibition? On the con-
trary his silence on the subject was
absolutely deafening 1t Is also as
serted that two years ago his (Lew-
elling's) party passed a resubmission
resolution through the lower house
OF the Legislature, but it was promptly
killed by a republican senate" In
the language of the president-elect
on memorable occasion, he would
better ''tell the truth" I do not
need to say anything in defense of
Governor-elect Lewelling or his
party, both have so recently demon
strated their ability, IN Kansas at
least, to take care of themselves. But
the above statement is the direct ep-
pOslte of the truth. Three result
mission propositions only were pre-
sented to the house of representa-
tives two years ago, one by Mr.. Doug
las, a republican representative from
Wichita; one by III. Hoover, a demo-
crat from Dodge City, and the other
by ALr. Seaton. republican from
Atchison (See House journal 1891,
pages 258, 275 and 726, and index
pages 1865 and 1860, all of which
were killed by the Populist house and
not by the republican senate. (See
pages 555, ia and 1867 The joint
resolution for a constitutional con-
ventIon was introduced in the house
by MIR. Showalter, republican from
Wellington (see page .20) and after
wards 1t was substituted by senate
JOINT resolution No. l, introduced and
passed by this same republican SEN
ate. See p. $685.. OF the twenty
two republican members of the house
who voted on this senate joint resolu-
ton, fifteen voted in favor and only
seven against. With the republican
senate almost solidly for this indirect
resubmission proposition, and fifteen
to seven republicans in the house
voting in favor of it, would indicate
that the q. o. P. had made a com
plete surrender to the whisky ele-
ment inside and outside it's ranks.
Every one IN Kansas knows this was
followed last spring by an open de-
mand on the part of many of the
would-be leaders of the republican
party that the platform this year
should be silent on the question of
prohibition. AS early as the 18th day
of March of this Year the Topeka
Capital in an editorial, printed these
solid chunks of truth:
'For years two thirds to three
fOurths of the nominees of the repub-
I llcan party, city, county and state,
have been men having little or no
sympathy with prohibition No test
on this question has been required by
the prohibitionists. They have sup
ported the ticket because they were
republicans, and have been satisfied
with plank IN the platform. Now
the ants want to leave out the plank
but need the same old $4,000 or Co.
600 prohibition republican vote. If
men who are trying to fix up the
states and platforms to mollify the
klckers who left the party will give
this subject one moments reflection
it will certainly be clear to them that
it IS good political sense to make a
platform that will satisfy those who
have been loyal to the party"
This must be good authority. If
so, the republican party in Kansas
party in Kansas has been for years
nominating candidates having little
or no sympathy with prohibition y
The prohibition law is not self-en-
forcing and officers not in sympathy
with the law will not enforce it. A
candidate for governor who knows, if
elected, he will be charged with the
enforcement of the law, and who
knows that the law is habitually and
openly violated, and does not pub
licly pledge the people that to the ex-
tent of his constitutional powers he
will enforce the law, has 'little or no
sympathy with prohibition"
In view of these facts it seems to
be the sheerest folly to claim that the
republican party is earnestly in favor
of enforcing prohibition IN Kansas.
Again, the total vote for Smith is
abont 10000; the Capital only
claims 10000 prohibition republicans
in the party in this state which would
leave 10000 members of the party