Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-01-18

nullifes the prohibitory law is not the sentiment
of the dissolute, as those who denounce the
laws non-enforcement are so prone to assume.
IT is the sentiment of the men of property, and,
therefore. of influence in their communities
Emerson, with acute observation, declared that
what the owners wish to do, the whole power
of property will do either through the law or
else in defiance of it, 1t is not that the men
themselves wish to patronize saloons, tor not
few active opponents of prohibition are abb
stenlious but business men believe the liquor
traffic "helps business" taxpayers believe
licenses from saloons would Tighten the burden
of direct taxation the landlords believe saloons
would afford profitable and punctual tenants for
now tenantless rooms and buildings. Business
men and lawyers, visited by men of consequence
from other states where drinking is fashionable,
desire in the interest of business, to Hospitality
entertain their guests, and to this end establish
fashionable clubs where liquors are dispensed.
Many gentlemen who do not drink patronlze
these clubs, as elegant places for talking over
business affairs with out-of-town customers,
dealers, or clients and, of course, contribute
toward paying for the liquors brought in by ex-
press from without the state. Prominent 1nem-
bers and supporters of fashionable churches be-
long to such clubs Social entertainments are
given in the club parlors, are attended by gem
tle,nen and ladies of fashionable society and
because of social prestige, as well as its oppor-
tunities for good fellowship, membership is COW
eted by officers charged with the laws admins
tration, not even judges scorning the privilege.
"The public sentiment which stays the hands
of local officials is thus made up. At bottom it
is business money-making sentiment
It is not whisky, but money! usiness-wlth
which the war has now to be waged. Such
war can only be waged by taking all profit out
of the liquor traffic; and this can be done only
by having the government become the sole dis
penser of liquors, selling them at actual COST
"Prohibitory methods may be the best method
for the present, but recent experience indicates
that this law was not intended to operate upon
all classes alike. The thoughtless failure OF
YOUR executive to make this important dlstlnc-
ton has led to great deal of tribulation to po-
lice commissioners and the policemen they APP
pointed. In one city especially, while the pull
pit and the press were clanoring for strcter
enforcement of this law, the new chief OF police
soon after his appointment, searched the prem
ses of a certain club patronized by influential
gentlemen, and arrested some of the managers
and took them before the police judge in the
most ordinary manner. Immediately the city
was in commotion. The most ultra prohibition
newspaper in the city bitterly denounced the
police for interfering with gentlemen, for whom
the law was not intended and the clergymen
who had been most clamorous for stricter en-
forcement of the law now devoted themselves
to the vituperation of the misguided officials
who had presumed to try to keep whisky out OF
saints who sat in the pews, and paid to sit there
A district Judge decided that as only certain
percentage of the members used the club as a
saloon, the remaining, abstemious percentage
sanctifed the whole premises and extracted the
evil principle of illegality from the liquor dis
pensed there and that i'll not properly regard
ing this plain distinction between this club and
other clubs the police had acted Illegally The
police commissioners were consequently sued
for damages enough to furnish the state house
'oThe executive and attorney general were
quilty of another serious blunder OF similar
character. Not dreaming that the law meant
to punish ouly crap-shooters and poker-players,
the attorney general, encouraged by the execu-
tive, proceeded to Kansas City, Kas., and there
caused the arrest and commitment of certain
qentlement whose gambling was to that of the
ordinary gambler as the volume of the sugar
trust business is to that of village boot-black
gentlemen who were, in short, conducting lot
teries with large incomes and small outlay.
But this, too proved to be an outrage The out
raned citizens whose business had been thus in