Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-01-16
MAYOR FRIBLEY DEFENDS THE

CITY.
EDITOR News: In your paper Of
January 0 Samuel III. Smith Ia re-
sponsiblo for the statement that COun-
~ Attorney w. j. Moore "had said"
that he was going TO commence pro-
ceedings against the mayor and city
council OF Baxter Springs to remore
them from Office for neglect Of duty in
enforcing the laws of the state against
the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors,
providing they did not turn over new
leaf. To say that / was surprised at
this statements putting it very mildly.
There is no town in Cherokee county
where the prohibitory laws are ell
forced SO well as they are in Baxter
Springs. AT the very time this article
appeared in the News 1 was rejoicing
over the fact that the gambling rooms
had been closed aud that there was no
place In the town where rumor said
inioxicanis were sold OH the sly.
Now I do not know why Mr.. Moore
should resort to newspaper article To
let the council and mayer Know what
his intentions were. If Mr.. Moore
will come down TO Baxter and inter-
view the business men and our best
and most law abiding citizens no will
probably discover that the officers of
the town are doing all that can reason
ably hc expected Of them in the way
of enforcing the laws, but IL Mr..
Moore chooses the council OF men who
live of of the misforiuncs of other
people, who never produce anything
or add one dollar to the trade and
business Of the town, men whose high
est ambition is to fluid fault, and try to
get even with somebody for some i'm
aginary wrong, narrow, selfish fellows,
who, to use Sam Jones expression,
"can look through u key hole with both
eyes op-n,"-just 50 long as Mr. Moore
depends on these men for information
he will be ignorant at the real situa-
iion here IN Baxter Springs.
With u strong public sentiment
against prohibition, the short distance
from Baxter Springs to the Missouri
state line, with bootleggers aud three
day jointists, with people going and
coming from the mining towns OF
Missouri, the morning express and a
midnight train, all coming from n
country where liquors arc sold and
drank makes the enforcement of the
prohibitOry law in Baxter Springs a
very difficult matter. With all these in
fluences 10 contend with can any cam
did, fair minded man say that our laws
are not enforced as well as they posi-.
bly, can be, under the circumstances
Now if these kickers and complain.
ers expect the mayor and the members
of the council to leave their business,
turn out and run down every old soak
er that comes from Joplin or COlum-
bus or any other place with his hide
full of whiskey, and every poor Indian
that drinks lemon extract, bootleg
prison horse, medicine or any other
vile compounds that make men drunk
they willfind themselves disappointed.
Stop living about the officers OF the
city and assist them'tO en- lorce the law.
Y0n will make friends by it, and you
will not feel ashamed to meet the MEN
you have tried to injurc.
The threat of Mr.. Moore will never
hear the light of investigation. If
Mr.. Moore or any of his friends here
in Baxter have any wrongs to avenge,
any old scores they want TO settle, any
gall they are dying TO spit out, don't
try to saddle ii on old Baxter by trying
to belitile its officers who are doing
what they can in the best way they
know how to enforce the law, give you
good government and to build up your
town. Get even with the fellow who
wronged you. but don't blame it on
the mayor and council.
J. j. FRIBLEY.