The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-26
WICHITA REBELLION.
A House to House Canvass of
the People
Being Made by the Temperance
People.
THEY EXPECT TO SHOW
That a Majority Are For Law
and Order.
Monster Mass Meeting Held by
Anti-PrOhibitiOnists.
AZ 4 n q n
ISSUE A MANIFESTO
Asking That Wichita Be Al
lowed Saloons.
Governor Refuses to Comment
on the Wichita Meeting.

WICHITA, July 26.-The temperance
workers of Wichita are making house
to house canvass of the city for sigma
lures to petition favoring the enforce
ment of all laws. The temperance lead
ers believe they will be able to secure
the signatures of majority of the resi-
dents of the city to this petition, notwith-
standing the general belief that public
sentiment is against the enforcement of
the prOhibitory law
The temperance people admit that
among the business men the sentiment
Is against prohibition, but they claim
that majority of the people of the city
favor the enforcement of all the laws.
Last night tremendous mass meeting
of prohibition citizens was held at
the Auditorium, which will hold 1000
1t was packed. Very few women were
present.
Rev. Don Colt OF the First Methodist
church is the leader of the temperance
element, and Col Nicholas Bird a
prominent member of his church, was
the chairman of last nights meeting.
The present board of police commits
sioners were given an ovation. Repre-
sentative Otto Eckstein made a speech
opposing the enforcement of the prohibit
tory law in Wichita. The following
resolutions we're adopted with cheer:
sit is conceded by all that the material
advancement Of city rests upon the en-
terprise and industry Of It's resident
property owners and permanent tax
payers and that the management of the
city's affairs necessarily and by right
ought to devOlve upon such property
owners and taxpayers.
Therefore, we respectfully but earn
estly ask the governor of Kansas to
listen as to matters of local government
for our city to our business men, who
toll early and late for our welfare; to
our resident Taxpayers who bear the
heat aud burden of the day; to our earn
est, loyal, Iiberty-Ioving people, who are
permanent residents, who carry the
good of our community in their hearts
and to this end, that he permit the
present police authorities to so regulate
the police affairs of our city as in their
judgment will insure to the masses the
most stable, quiet, orderly and least ex-
pensive administration of the laws of our
beloved state and city"
The following remarks by Col. Bird
were unanimously made part of the
resolution:
"Heaven forbid that one of us should
think, say or do anything that would
tend to destroy or endanger the fair
name OF our beautiful city, but at the
same time in our zeal let US not forpet
that the question of temperance has as
sumed the form of quasi-reiiPious cues
ton. If so, let it, like all moral and re-
ligious questions, be incuIcaIed and de-
veloped by moral suasion. If it belongs
to the sphere of religion let us remem-
Der that religion does not belong to the
sphere of politics or to the state. State
and church being separated, it is char
acteristic that the design of the clergy
OF some denominations is TO make
forcement of moral and religious
questions. Religion or morals can not
be forced and the bending OF them, even
remotely or coVertlY, with political
questions or political parties, instead of
accomplishing any good purpose, has
more to do with existing political de-
liberalization and corruption than manv
are able to perceive. Wherever and
whenever the question enters into poll
tics and partakes somewhat of the issue.
the result and consequence are almost
certainly pernicious and disastrous"
WHAT GOV. MORRILL, SAYS.
Will Not Comment on the wichita Meet
ing Until Personally Informed.
When asked how he looked upon the
action of the Wichita anti prohibition
meeting held last night Gov. Morrill, to-
day said: Il haven't considered it vet.
having heard nothing from there exec pt
what have seen in the newspaper dis
patches. don't propose to take any
notice of the meeting until it ia present
ed to me through proper channels"
In conversation with a personal friend
today the governor said he proposed to use
every effort to enforce the law in Wichita.
de said he had not changed his mind
In the belief that public sentiment must
be behind law to enforce it. but said he
was determined to give this law fair
trial and would use every means in his
power to enforce it.