The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-05


when the law is enforced It will only
be ended when every human being has
been lifted up into the full measure of
his manhood. To me there are two dis
couraging features in the temperance
work, and one is that so mapy of the pro-
fessed and often times active workers of
the cause feel that it is not necessary to
practice total abstinence. One of our most
distinguished citizens-one whom have
long known and admired for his great
ability and the purity of his life
said to me not very long ago: 4 am an
intense prohibitionist, but Pm no teeto-
taller Another and more discouraging
thing is the passiveness and almost utter
Indifference of very large class of up
right moral citizens who, while they
practice the most rigid temperance them
| selves, seem utterly Indifferent and un-
willing to take any active part in pro-
will name single fact There is prob
ably no city of its size in the world
where the sale of intoxicating liquors is
so restricted as in this beautiful capital
city. For this condition of things
| great credit is due to the able
and efficient board of police COM
nissioners. And yet they tell me
that in six months during which
they have SO earnestly labored, not a soul
|
assistance, nor have they in all that time
received a word of commendation and
encouragement On the other hand,
| there has been no especial lack of criti-
cism. It ia better to build up than to
tear down. Encouragement is better
| than abuse.
"Mr. President, sincerely hope this
| great assembly gathered here on our
| nationsl anniversary, will give new life
49, L. i 49,
hearts of the people of Kansas; then the
eloquent words that will be spoken here
today will be followed by earnest active
Christian work, tos which end / pledge
my hearty support"
At the conclusion of his address Gov
ernOr Morrill, withdrew from the con-
vention, and Rev.Dr Hammonds of Bald
win was persistently called for. Finally
he responded. DR.. Hammonds made a
stirring speech.
''Can the law be enforced regardless of
public sentiment" he asked. "You
have said in your resolutions that it can,
but the governor in one part of his
speech says that it cannot. The rest of
the speech leaves the hearers in doubt.
~ used to believe in the doctrine of
Morrill, persuasion but l have gotten
over that Laughter.l
"The people want the law enforced and
they want it done by those whose duty it
is to enforce it. A majority of the people
of Kansas want the law against the sa-
loon enforced; if they didn't the law
wouldn't be there. Why in the name of
God isn't it enforced? His honor tells
me he has more respect for the advice of
a politician than a preacher. May be
that has something to do with it.
"We are told that the temperance peo-
pie ought to lend financial aid to
help prosecute violators of the
liquor law The temperance people
pay their Share, yes more than their
share, to support the government Yet
we are expected to dig into our pockets
and put up to enforce laws we are
already paying to enforce. Wild ap-
plause
"There's another thing I would like to
know. If the governor could close the
saloons at Atchison last Saturday night,
why didn't he close them five months
ago? [Applause. .
Another thing occurs to me- If there
is money enough in the treasury to pros
ecute every Populist in Office, why isn't
there enough to enforce the law? Ap-
plause.
"The governor gives us a lot of this
total abstinence talk. My! Myl My! My!
What We want is the enforcement of the
law and these things will follow. If we
want to educate the masses let US begin
at the top"
The resolutions were read by Senator
SolOn 0. Thacher, the chairman of the
committee which drafted Them. They
passed unanimously without debate, and
were satisfactory, except that they were
not strong enough" for some of the DEL
egates. This discomfort manifested it;
self shortly after Governor Morrill, fin
ished his address, when the resolution of
censure was read.
This started the hostilities, and Rev. ].
. G. Dougherty was first to speak against
the resolution. He rushed to the aid OF
the governor, 81 would do wrong" he
, said, "to stand here and allow that to
pass without my protest. The resolution
insinuates that the governor has done
nothing to enforce the law. Give him
credit for what he has done. AS you all
probably know, l am from Kansas City
? Kansas, where the law is harder to en-
force than any place else, with the pos
sible exception of Leavenworth. have
/ had great deal of experience in tenn
psrance work at Wyandotte under
t many administrations. Governor Morril
, has made an honest effort to enforce ths
: law in Kansas City. He appointed tbs
r police board that we recommended, and
he stood by them through thick and thin.
= Possibly he has not done as much il
other cities, but we should discriminate
= in the resolutions"
w. B. Webster of Ft. Scott replied to
: DR.. Dougherty. "Are we here" he de
manded. 10 offer an apology for Gov
: horrill?" [Cries of No! No!l
''In Fort Scott" Mr.. Webster continued
: 1--WE have for. years been licensing joints
in the form of fines paid into the police
: court Last winter /, in company will
Rev. DR. Hammond, called on the gov
= ernor to urge the appointment of certain
: men on the police board and to protes
:. against the appointment Of others. Tn
. result was that the governor appointed
= = the very men we were protesting against
\. "The saloons of Fort Scott have bee