Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-20
Little's Surrender to Lawlessness

Attorney General Little has
written letter defining his position
in regard to the enforcement of the
prohibitory law. In some repects this
is remarkable document, had II
emanated from other than member Of
the "only Peoples party administra-
ton on EARTH" 1t might have created
some surprise; but coming as 1t does
from an administration whose chief
characteristic is disregard for all law,
it will scarcely create ripple on the
surface.
Mr.. Little has made complete and
unconditional surrender to the lawless
element of the State. He acknowlz
edges his inability and shows his disin-
clination to enforce the laws OF the
State. lie tells the rumsellers and the
keepers of dives that 30 far as this
Pop" administration is concerned
they can carry on their nefarious bust.
ness in Kansas with impunity and
without the least fear of molestation.
lie announces that hereafter he is
going to permit vice and crime TO run
at large"
AS an excuse for this startling posi-
ton taken by public prosecutor Of
the state, Mr.. Little assumes that it is
necessary to license crime and i'm
F0a In n taA 10
sufficient to enable the people to "pay
their taxes and run their city indebted
ness" lie announces that heretofore
in response to the petitions and
demands Of the lawabiding elements
Of the various communities Of the
of the State, he has assisted in closing
up the saloons and dives Of number
of the cities; but the saloon men and
the lawbreakers have flooded him with
petitions requesting him to permit
them TO carry on their wickedness for
good and valuable consideration, and
this appeal from the lawbreakers has
reached his heart and he has con.
cluded TO accede to their demands
rather than to the moral element Of
people.
Mr.. Little does not claim that he is
unable to enforce the law. The very
fact that the saloon element Of the
communities in which Mr.. Little has
operated found 1t necessary to besege
him for relief was conclusive evidence
to any intelligent man that their bust
ness was being materially interfered
with by the lawabiding people. II Nj.
Little's deputies throughout the State
were not interfering with the whisky
traffic, there would be no occasion
for remonstrauces against their ap
pointment. 1t is solely because these
deputies are closing up their places Of
business and destroyin their nefarious
traffic that these saloon men and their
customers are flooding the attorney
generals office with circumstances.
Mr.. Little's attempt to excuse his
disreputable position upon this question
on the ground that the cities need the
money derived from the licensing OF
crime and immortality il neither sincere
nor honest. Mr.. Little does not agree
to "permit vice and crime to run al
large" for any such purpose, lie
permits vice and crime to run al
large" because he wants the votes Of
the vicious and the criminals to helI
maintain himself and his gang Of
political tricksters in office, Thos'
who pay the taxes are not asking thu
assistance OF the saloon and div,
licenses to meet the demands Of thei
city government. The men who com,
before Mr.. Little with this plea ar,
those who pay no legitimate take
toward deiraying the expenses of tn,
city government. The people If Kan
sas are lawabiding people, and they ar,
willing to be taxed legitimately for al
public necessities. They ale not will
ing that vice and crime shall be per
mitted "to run at large" even II b!
so doing the taxes of the city should b.
decreased an eighth of one per cent.