People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-09-26
Gov. Morrill's Views.

1opeka, has sept. "A gentle
man whose good opinion Governor
Morrill, values wrote to him recently.
and said that he had read so much
about the prohibitory law in one town
and its evasion in another that he
had become bewildered, and wanted
to ask a candid question which would
receive a candid answer. The ques.
tion was this: "Why was the state
attempting to enforce prohibition in
Wichita, and yet making 10 effort In
that direction at LeavenwOrth?"
In reply, Governor Morrill, informed
him that, as chief executive of the
great state of Kansas, certain limita.
tions, restrictions and modes of pro-
ceedure were laid down by the nature
OF his office which could not be sacri-
feed except at the expense OF good
order and dignity. While the cOnsti.
tuition Of the state imposed upon the
governor the duty of seeing that all
laws were enforced, it did not pre-.
sumo that he should act either as a
private detective or as prosecuting
attorney. AS he interpreted the law,
it became the duty Of the governor to
transact the routine business Of his
office at the state house, aud give heed
to complaints which might be made
to him by any portion of the people.
The people, through their legislature,
had established machinery for the en-
fOrcement Of all law. 1t was not the
duty of the governor Of the state to
walk ceaSelessly around this machin.
cry with an oil can in one hand and a
scourge in the othsr. If some por-
tion of this machinery went wrong,
he as chief engineer, was entitled to
information about the trouble.
brought to him in a regular, specific
and authenticated manner. Then, if
he failed to repair the injury, he be-
came at once to blame, and deserved
a rigid holding to responsibility by
the people.
I'm the case Of Wichita" says the
governor, more than 900 reputable
citizens came to see me by petition
with complaint that the prOhibitory
law was disobeyed. As is my sworn
duty, l brought the whole power Of
the state to bear upon this offense.
In the case Of Leavenworth, not one
not even one, mark you-citizen has
come to me with complaints of the
non-enfOrcement Of the prohibitory
law. What would you have the gov.
ernor Of Kansas do? Shall he close
his office in the state house, go down
to Leavenworth and take up the du-
ties of spotter, chief Of police and
prosecuting attorney? My dear sir.
will you give me the names Of three
LeavenwOrth men who will do bettera
police commissioners than the present
board? Do you know Of any temper
ance people down there who are dis
satisfied with the way things are
going? One Of the chief officers Of
the Kansas temperance union went
down to Leavenworth, investigated
the situation, and made a report to
me in writing that nothing was to be
done there in the way Of better en-.
forcement of the law. Am / expected
to step in where the state temperance
union can suggest nothing which 1t
wants at my hands?
'Now, my dear sir, / wish simply to
say one thing In conclusion. So far az
it be within my feeble power this ad-
ministratiOn shall stand for the en-
forcement Of all law. 1t is my dear
est wish to 60 out Of the Office Of gov.
ernor Of Kansas with the record Of
having at least attempted to do my
duty, but must protest again and
again that the governor Of state is
but an infnitesimal portion Of great
machine, and upon his shoulders
should not be thrown the blame
which properly rests upon those Of
other officers and the people"