The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-28
with the decent. iaw-abiding. loyal citi

81 do not mean that all who npDoseyit
are neither decent nor loyal. But ! do
desire to say they are either ignorant or
are prejudiced. know whereof l speak
I have had 'em both and had 'em bad, too
81 think it will be admitted that ex-
Governor John a. Martin was at least an
honest man. You who are familiar with
Kansas history know that no
man was more persistent aud in
earnest in his opposition to the
adoption of the prohibition amendment
than John a. Martin.
He was at last convinced that prohi-
bition was a good thing and he had the
sense, patriotism and common fairness
TO say so to the people of the state"
He then read from Governor Martins
message to the legislature in which the
prohibitory law was commended as
blessing 10 the people and to the state.
He then read from Governor Hum
phrey's message in which he, also, told
Of the good effect the prohibitory law
had OF the commonwealth.
When he got to Governor Lewelling's
administration he said: Governor Lew
eliing made no attempt to repeal the law
and made no recommendation to repeal
the law, but declared in favor of the pro
takes an oath to obey the law turn around
and in face of that oath condemn the
law. But Governor LewelIing in face of
that allowed the saloons to
run wide open and made no
attempt to enforce the law. He was con-
demned by the people of the state as will
every man be, who violates his oath of
office. [Cheers.
81 am friend of Governor Morrill,. l
am friend of many men who don't
know how to keep hotel l am friend
of many men who don't know how to
make watch. l am friend of some
men who don't know how to ride horse,
and am a friend of some who try to
ride two" [Laughter.l
He then opened up on Governor Nor
rili by reading from his message to the
Legislature, in which he said, referring
to the prohibitory law:
SIN 1881, 1885 and 1887 laws were
passed for the enforcement of the pro-
| hibitory amendment; three legislatures
have since been elected and no attempt
has been made to repeal or essentially
modify these laws. 1t is therefore. fair
to assume that the people desire this to
be the settled policy of the state"
He then read from the governors eel
ebrated public sentiment interview in
which the governor said: 'Experience
has fully demonstrated that enforcement
of any law in opposition to the pro-
nounced sentiment of the community can
not long be successfully accomplished"
Then he continued: "In my judgment
these words were the most unfortunote
for the state that ever fell from the lips
of a governor of Kansas. They encour-
/ age anarchy, wink at Iawlessness and
have a tendency to breed disregard for
all law.
what if President Lincoln had said in
1861 we have got to let the south go;
we can't enforce the law down there
| where public sentiment is against itf'
"What if Grant had telegraphed Lin
coin, when he got down south, that he
! found public sentiment in that commun-
| ity' opposed to the laws of the govern :
ment and, therefore, had given up the
struggle? We would today have had a
divided country, one half of it slaves.
But Grant was not made of that kind of
material His answer to the local senti-
ment was 'rll fight it out on this line if
it takes all summer"
Then the ex-governor took from the
table at his side copy of last evenings
STATE JOURNAL, containing Governor
MorrilPs interview on the Gothenberg
system, and he read it paragraph at a
time with comments as he went along.
He said Governor Morrill, is q tenn
perance man. He says he is. When
ever a man takes pains to tell me that
he is a temperance man PIl watch him.
Governor Morrill, is doing the best he
can. He went into Office bucked
and gagged. His party behind him, with
such leaders as Matt Quay. gave him
orders. They said, You have got to get
Kansas into line We can't have a
whisky Republican party in Missouri
and Prohibition Republi-
can party in Kansas
1.-THE governor says the prohibition
law can't be enforced, therefore we
ought to have state dispenser of liquor.
We have a law in this state against
murder, yet people keep on committing
murder Perhaps we ought to have a
state dispenser of murder. Turn lot
of bullies loose with clubs.
''We have law in this state against the
spread of infectious diseases. Yet dis
eases are spread. Perhaps we ought tc
have a disease dispenser. Suppose Gov
ernor Morrill, should commission a state
itch dispenser who would be authorized
to dispense the seven year itch to all ex-
cept children and chronic scratchers.'
(Lrughter(
When he got to where Governor Nor.
rill referred to Theodore Roosevelt ir
his interview, Governor St. John said
"If Theodore Roosevelt can close the sa-
looms in city like New York for one
day. and declare he can keep them closed
six days if he is given law for it, car
any person believe Governor Morrill,
cannot enforce the law in a little village
of 10000 or 10000 inhabitants. The time
will come when they shall be closed y
[Applause.l
Just before he closed his speech Gov
ernor ST. John said: 81 want to offer
resolution for your consideration.
'Resolved, That this meeting condemn
the proposition of Governor Morrill, Il
| a6nnt tho GnThlnha-n OF
tenn of state control of the liquor traffic.
About three fourths of the audience
voted in favor of the resolution and there
were no mays"
DEATH LIST GROWS.
Victims of the Baltimore Thsater Panic