The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-01-19
tn e. JOINTS.

P''e u'S VI - Ne OIiluSo 1AVAA e"0
city and takes occasion to give MIR.
Billings quite Il Iaud;.tory notice as a
juintist, and makes quite All argument
to show that Mr.. Billings WAS much
| better joiIitist than other jOintisls be-
cause lie confined his tlade to malt
liquors, and excluded habitual drunk
ards. lie says not one drop Of any
thing stronger than llup-tea Was ever
Sold in his place. The only way in
which we can account for this stale
meit is that the editor of the Mercury
got 50 III the habit of lying i'll his coll
trOver>y with lis that he can't help
Continuing tn do 50 on other subjects.
lie must Imagine his readers are very
easily guided ~ make such Il state
menL. Lie fact of the matter is That
Billings sold IL very good article IF
beer, excerpt at times Hhen the other
joints were scared out for st,lie, then
sir. Billings beer ueleriorated SOME
what. We can l understand why Mir.
Billings Was - better juinlIst than
K-,lhy," who r'In the joint opposite
Mr.. Billings during last summer until
lie Was scared ont u, the CITY autliOrI-
ties. ''Kedd," sold ii good article Uf
beer; he did not sell any wI,iskey, and
lie allowed no one I" get any drunken
in his PLACE :han lie could help; and
yet h lad to give away because the
town could IIut properly support more
than one good joint.
Ii Mr.. Billings did net sill whiskey
there was plenty If 1t in his place VI
business which Was easily got, i'll least
We have been So iblOi med by many
who claimed to know. On tie whole
We can't see Why Or how Mr.. Billings
MAS any b. tier than the average joint
i>t or ANY reasUiI why he should be
allowed 10 run in preference 10 any
one else. II the joints are necessary
evil, us claimed ny the Mercury, We
can't see why one uian should lie
allowed to mOnOpOlIZe the business.
Com edition is the lie Of trade, and
customers ale more likley to get better
treatment where there is nlure lhan
one establishment in Il town.
An err"neuIs impression is also con-
veyed by the article rs IT, tile powers
and duties ut the mayor and marshal
in The enforcement Of the pruliLitory
law. The prui,ibitOry law expressly
lnakes it tile duty of the mayor, mar
sin / and police officers Of tile cities
and towns 10 enforce tile law. Section
39l vi the Law reads:
lit shall be tile duly Of all sleriffS,
deputy slerlffs, constabieA, mayors,
marsials. police j.dyes, and police
officers of ANY CITY OF town, having
notice or knowiedge Of any violation
OF the provisions uf this act to mL.fy
the county attorney of The fact Of such
Violation, and tU furnish him Tie
naules Of ANY witnesses within his
knowledge by whom sucn Violation Cal,
"e proved. Ii amy slcn officers shall
fan 10 comply Win Tile provisions Ut
this seclIun lie shall, upon convictions,
ue hnei LII any sum Hot less IMAM VI,e
nt,nurru nor more than live hundred
dollars, and SUCH Conviction shall lie IL
forfeiture Uf lie office held 10y suci,
person, ETC."
This section lIas 10 application 10
tile members of the city council. TIuy
have no duties to perform uIIuer it,
and while they might pass an UGi-
nance prohibiting tile sale "f Liquor it
would lie unnecessary, IFS the hole
subject is covered fully by the stale
Law. Tie unemUers IF the council have
iIu more lUwer or duties in the prem
ises than amy other citizens. But tile
mayor, marshal and police officers are
obliged under the law To report any
Violations Cunning to their knowledge
10 the county attorney, and 10 furnish
INN the names of witnesses. ThelI,
and not until then is tbs county attOr-
m.y required tu act.
No expense need Le, or should he,
e.,tailed OH il city. The cadence Oh
Ls.ined by the mayor, marshal, sheriff,
vi Ul:ler officers, Is reported to the
county attorney and prosecutions ale
commenced by him under the state
law.
Just what diligence in ferreting Cut
and obtaining evidence Of violations vi
Inc prOhiUitury law is required of The
officers mentioned under this section
Eiay be Question:, but their duty is
very Clear Wien they do obtain knowl-
edge vi such violations.
The obstacles in the way of the en-
forcemen. of tile law arise principally
from the difficulty in securing such
positive Testimony Us will We sufficient
10 satisfy The minds uf All ordinary jur,
of the guilt Of the defendant. Me-
xho buy liquor of joinlisls are gener-
ally very unwilling witnesses and give
as little Testimony AS possible. and