The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-20
PLATES OF LIQUOR
tConcluded from First Page.l

people, similar banquet in celebration
of the election of Senator Baker.
True, the other state officers and the
legislature attended this one, but few of
them could anticipate its character as
Governor Morrill, could. For the num-
Der of guests the latter banquet was more
temperate. Only $500 were appropria-
ted for liquors, and they were served SO
late that the banquet closed and the hall
was cleared before any guests were be-
yond mere .exhilaration. The rsvelry
was continued elsewhere the rest of the
night the various resorts showing a hos
pitality and capacity adequate to the &C.
casion. Some guests witnessed the de-
| gree Of their enjoyment by their inabil-
ity to tell how they came to be put to bed
the last time or when their valua bles dis
| appeared
Why should the governor again grace
such an occasion and join in cele.
| brating the redemption of Kansas'' on
occasions that are her disgrace?
Did not they insult the people of Kansas
in him as their representative, treat his
dignity with contempt and bedraggle his
| official robe in the mire? And did he
not unite in the insult to the people and
the contempt for his high office. abdicate
the dignity of sterling manhood and sur
render to them his self-respect when he
participated in those unlawful banuuets?
With what right does he reproach the
"moralists" of Leavenworth, who were
Inundated and grieved through his
action, for not coming subsequently to
him with complaint, counsel or reQuest?"
And why should the "moralists" of other
cities expect more than we?
Like the Sale of InduIgences
There is difference between defiant
outlaw, running at large, aud one that
violates the law with the knowledge,
consent, and protection and supervision
OF the officers who are expected by sim
pie minded people to bring him to JUS
tice, but who are believed by other stu
dents of political economy to be better
employed in overseeing the criminals
plumber the people, that the people
may be enriched by division of the
spoil We have the latter.
The medieval popes were charged
with selling dispensations, for the com
mission of crime, that would secure
immunity from punishment by man
or God With similar presump-
ton, our chief executive issues commits
sions to our police commissioners with the
| knowledge and understanding that they
will use the office and authority they hold
| by his pleasure to sell for a consideration
indulgences to defy the will of the peo-
pie, violate the law of the land end
trample under foot the sacred constitu-
ton of the state, providing them not only
immunity from punishment but official
protection.
One of the most ancient, common and
efficient methods of reducing crime is to
rerder it Improbable. A public admin
istFatiOn that facilitates or increases the
profits of crime must be vicious. The sa-
loon policy of such cities as Atchison,
Leavenworth and Wichita is b eartless
and mercenary. Take the second one for
| d. InL. ono or
per month goes into circulation in Leav =
enworth from the old and young soldiers
that are quartered near. They have few
! legitimate expenses.
Properly, the old men should send
their pensions to their families and the
young men should save their wages till
their term of enlistment expired and
their small capital would give them a
start as valuable citizens. But Leaven-
worth covets these pensions and wages.
As they are not to be obtained in legiti-
mate trade our saloons and disorderly
houses are maintained to draw this
money into the city by debauching the
veterans and the young men. With
the aid of this patronage we
sustain about two hundred saloons and
several hundred disorderly women. Our
merchants get the trade of the saloon
keepers and women and those dependant
upon them for support, and of the black
legs and hangers-on of such enter
prises. The city imagines itself benefit
, ted b. the license Of $25 to $50 per
month from each saloon; SIS per month
from the inmates, SO from the "madams"
of the disorderly houses and whatever
they collect from the brewery. The dis
tillery soon to start in the old glucose
! factory will be another advantage. Fol-
, all the horrors of moral degradation
> these agencies produce, the city finds
compensation in the revenues derived;
and they are all licensed, their denizens
protected in person and property, and
the license fees collected by Governor
Morrill's police. of all of which he ii
unquestionably aware,
The expense of the police department
is paid out of the proceeds of vice and
the balance ia turned ever to the city tc
l reward it for its insistance upon the de-
fiance of law. If the governor were
unable to enforce the law, why should
he make his policemen the guardians OF
lawbreakers and the servants of a law
defying community in the profitable
farming OF crime?
MOrrIII's Election a Misfortune.
Such facts as these are Governor Nor.
irll's misfortune. 1t would be better fol
all if they could be satisfactorily ex
planned. The temperance people will
, be crippled without his aid; and, without
! their confidence. his last political success
! may be the misfortune of his life
The governor is reported as saying
, | alt seems preposterous that a Kansas
: official should be called upon to say thai
he is in favor of the enforcement of Kan
. sas law" 1t ought SO to be; but, in the
light of experience, it is not. It is ever
more pertinent to inquire, Twill he sur
render or back up his preference with
courAge?" The people expect their gov
. ernor to stand by the dignity of his Office
= and observe decent proprieties If he
accepts and attends law-defying ban
l. quets in rebellious communities, he mus
: not whine over the effect upon public
= opinion. They have also right to ex