The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-27
AMUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
The independent Voter the Hcpe
of che City,
SAY TWOOF LAST NIGHTS SPEAKERS,


The anfi-liquor crusaders were out in
force at the First Presbyterian church
last night Notwithstanding the extremely
hot weather.
Many Of the prayer meetings were dis
missed and the church people showed
their aDpreciatioa Of the work Of the
crusade committee by attending the
meeting
Rev 8. B. Anderson Of the First Pres
byterIan church opened the meeting
with prayer and Chairman S B Brad
ford Of the crusade executive commit
tee introduced Judge John Guth-
RE as chairman Of the evening
Judge Guthrie said: public sentiment
must demand the enforcement of any
law or it Will not be enforced and rnis IS
p4rEic llarly trus Of the pr0naDltory law
He reminded the au1Ience that there
was a time when Topeka had seventy
i've saloons and they were all closed IN
ten DAYS by officers who were not afraid
to do their duty when public sentiment
was back Of them
County Attorney H c. Stafford was the
first speaker introduced by Judge Guth-
RE md he was applauded as he stepped
to the pulpit, by the people who had
read in the STATE JOURNAL about the
move on the police o Ulcers aud credited
Dit. Stafford with being sincere in his de-
sire to enforce the law.
Mr. Stafford said: Your committee
which invited me to come before this
meeting requested that 1 should tell you
what l have been doing towards the en-
forcement of this law against the liquor
dealers. In times of war and trouble, IL
Is not best to tell your enemy what you
are going to do and tOnigh while | would
like 10 give you something about my
plans, 1 will have to tell you about what
we have done and be content with that.
/ want to say first in behalf Of the sher Il
and myself that we intend to do our duly
faithfully and fearlessly in every particu-
lar and If you will give a. your support
every j0inlist and illegal liquor dealer in
the city will be in the county jail in less
than thirty days
There are now under arrest. to be
tried at the September term OF court.
tv7enty-three persons for violation of the
prohibitory law. Fifteen OF these are in
Jail and eight others are out on bond
-Four suits are pending against owners Of
property where liquor has been sold, and
we hope TO get perpetual in1unctlons
against these placez In addition to this
we have today commenced action TO re-
move from their Offices TWO members of
the police force against whom we have
evidence for rece wing money in pro-
tecting the viOlatDr5 OF this law, and If
you Will give Us the same support you
gave our predecessors IN Office. this list
OF offenders will be largely Increased
before the opening of the September
term Of court
Now. in regard to the drug stores:
Judge Hdzen has Just mad5 a decision
to-the effect that the PROBATE Judge has
absolute discriminating power ID
granting liquor permits to druggists-
The probate Judge can issue and revoke
permits at his pleasure. This makes
liquor selling BY druggist privilege
and not right"
tian church, was then introduced. lie
said: I'VE are ia great danger Of allow
ing our partisanshIp to interfere with
our reforms If this reform Is to be kept
up, IL must be by the standard demanded
by the independent voter of the city no
must stand ready 10 commend or rebuke
the officials elected TO enforce these laws
against crime and vice.
4 have been very much impressed
with the movement inaugurated by the
independent voters at Wichita. which
you have all no doubt read about I
d0u't know whether l am in order or not
and it doesn't make any difference.
think the time is ripe for just such mu-
niclpal league ia our local politics. 1t is
all right to have loyalty to your party
leaders and follow them bIindly in ma
tiOnd affairs, but in local government
we must pick our men. Out of this
movement l hope there will grow q per-
manent party of independent voters, who
Will organize municipal league.
ANow, there IS something for Us to do
a. good citizens. As president Of the
Associated Charities 1 have some infor-
nation which il is not pleasant TO relate.
In a house on East sixth street there are
four little children, whom l found only
yesterday. Who have gone 10 bed four
times without their supper all on account
of one OF these Topeka drinking clubs"
City Attorney >. c. TIllotson said:
tYOur government can't be any better
than you are. aud 80 chances out of 100
it won't be as goOI Public sentiment
must demand the enforcement of the
laws and stand back of the officers or the
laws W ont be enforced There is some
thing III this land which ID higher tnAn
all law ami that j. public opinion" He
then urged the temperance people TO
back up the officers in their efforts to en-
force the law.
Lawyer H Q. Root was then intro
duced and said: 15Ome people believe
this prOhi bitory law is uni usl aud while
city who honest in this belief. That
Is one reason why this law j. so hard 10
enforce Then there Is the great profit
in the business and we must all admit
that politics cuts some figure, for the
politician always figures for the riff raff
voters III he ID near decent himself he
considers he has your support but he
must always figure for the liquor vote"
Mr.. 1iIlotsOn then spoke about the
difficulty Of cOnvicting vIolators Of this
law who appeal their case TO the district
court and SAID: "a certain club Was pull
ed some time ago a. you all know aud
the Judge decided that there was no case
against that club at that time and much
Of the violation of the law in the city
has since then been done over the shout
ders Of that club. The supreme court in
the Emp0ria case almost like the cele-
R1Z ~f~.n Il