The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-04-18
The aaieta Daily eagle Thursday ornino April Is, 1895.

! ferred much trade 10 Kansas City, No.
! We are not of those who believe that the
saloon is essential TO business prosperity,
nor 90 we believe that the amount they
pay for license in any manner compen-
safes for what they cost in the way of
waste for drink and consequent damages.
But there can be discrimination even in
the liberation and location of joints. per-
mitted by great big state with a solemn
and sanity policy enforced with wab-
/ bling and vascillation calculated to dis
appoint and sour people who have made
sacrifices in favor OF the principle of the
enforcement of laE.
y committee of bushes men and proper
" owners called at the Gazette Office last
week TO protest against the closing of the
joints. They related numerous stories of
1 buildings vacated and of trade reduced by
driving people to Missouri and they
thought that fnasmuch as we are so close
TO atown in which everything vas open il
was out OF the question for this city to
compete Quite a number of very respec-
table men in business and social circles
are commencing TO change their talk con-
corning this matter. and we hear of sa-
looms on Ninth street across and next TO
the state line that are doing a better
business since the gamblers left and the
ira beer-slingers are in demand across the
way. We deplore such Initiated taste but
that does not alter the very practical fact
that men VIII so into Missouri to spend
their money
The Gazette cannot take the side OF the
non-enforcement of the prohibitory law
or IN any way aid in the restoration of
the joint or saloon. but we have a right
to demand the enforcement of this ard all
other laws equally in Leavenworth, Atch-
ison and Wichita, with their enforcement
In Kansas Cit, Kan. We have a right to
complain of campaign promises concern
ing great moral question which seems
TO be limited 10 the Good Citizens move
ment Ia Kansas City. Kan. while a city
only twenty-four miles away, operating
under the same law, similarly situated on
the border. and sadly needing the same
moral effort, should be permitted to COM
pete with Missouri in the gin business
Leayenworth has not only the open saloon
but they had the gall to open a wholesale
liquor house In that city within the past
Few weeks. Under the law, as enforced
in Kansas City, Kan. we are piling up
deficiency. while under the same law, the
same officials with authority from the
same source are in Leavenworth and
Atchison, paying the current expenses of
their police, and turning a surplus into
the general fund. Since the closing Of
the joints the farmers in Wyandotte coun-
" go through our city to Missouri to do
their trading. But this we must submit
TO, because OF conviction, which we
think is worth the sacrifice-a conviction
that drink is waste and destructive TO
happiness, conviction that every law is
worthy and entitled to a fair trial. The
same law covers all, and this discrimina-
IN IN tic
who would like to be prohibitionists very
tired. The law should be enforced. but II
should be enforced. where it is in the
hands Of like authority. fairly and
honestly, or at least impartially.
Several Republican papers are very
vigorously discussing the difficulties
which beset the state administration
In our Judgment this Internal shystering
with prohibition is a leading and vital
cause of the trouble in the Republican
party. The party assumes prohibition as
n feature of its policy-the leaders were
lying and shystering wne1 they did it
and the party has been humbugeing with
1t ever since. There is no getting away
from prohibition. 1t is in the constitu-
ton. 1t is a very creditabIe idea, if prac-
ticable. The Republican party and the
people must face it. If it can be made to
win, then eight men out of ten are prohi-
bitionists, but if it is to be chronic
farce then it should be wiped out as quick
as possible. This offiial shystering and
perpetual perjury is more demoraliinC
than the open saloon.
The Gazette demands an honest at
tempt to enforce the prohibitory law alike
in all the cities Of the first class in the
state. There has never been an honest
attempt in certain cities to enforce the
law, and Governor Morrilrs recent utter
ances indicate that the swindle is TO be
continued.