Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-31
THE LIQUOR POWER.

Following is dispatch to the Chicago Rec
ord:
indianapolis, Ind, May 23.-The National
Liouor League will take hand in the fight
that will be made against the Nicholson tenn
perance law. Robert ]. Halle, of Chicago,
secretary of the national league, met the off-
GERS of the Indiana league, and pledged the
support of the national organization to the In
diana league in the fight that is coming. In
his speech to the officers of the Indiana league,
Secretary Halle attacked Gov. Matthews for
having signed the Nicholson bill. He said that
when the governor signed the act, he signed
his political death-warrant. The word mad
gone out from Maine to Mexico, he SAID, and
the liquor interests would be arrayed against
Gov. Matthews should he seek the office of
president or vice-president
The law will go into effect about June 18th.
Many saloon keepers are already altering their
buildings in compliance with the provisions OF
the law, which says there must be no obstructed
view of the room from the street.
You often hear the remark, "The liquor
question must be settled outside of politics"
We have even heard church members say this
In the face of such facts as above cited, we tail
to see how an honest man can entertain such an
idea. This is not an isolated case, by any
means. For years, the liquor men have con-
troled the political affairs of this nation-and
not only of the nation but of the several states,
and of the cities within the states. In Kansas,
for instance, the liquor power caused the cleo
ton of E. N. Morrill, and his gang Of "redeem-
ers.n last fall There is no doubt that there
was an agreement between the liquor men and
the "redeemers," whereby the former contrib
uted literally to the Republican campaign fund
with the understanding that the prohibitory
law should be practically nullifed. Every act
of the Republican officials goes to prove this.
There are Populists who insist that the liquor
question amounts to nothing, and should be let
alone. Evidently, they have given the subject
little thought There is not person who at
tended the bornin of the Peoples party, at
Cincinnati, who does not know that the liquor
men were actively represented at that confer
ference. They tried to capture the new party
at the beginning, and we are firm in the belief
that through the efforts of those representatives
the question was ignored. We are glad to say,
however, that, although the platform was silent
on the subject, large majority were opponents
of the liquor traffic, and the convention refused
n accept an invitation to attend banquet pre-
nared by the Cincinnati brewers.
The liquor interests are represented III every
legislative body, and whenever member has
the manhood to champion any measure that,
directly or indirectly, conflicts with the liquor
interests, he is marked for defeat at the next
election, if he succeeds in getting re-nomina-
ton. =. -,
The LIQUOR power is in direct touch with the
money power. Indeed their interests are ii
common. The former uses the latter to further
its ends, and vice versa So long as the money
mower has the liquor power for an ally, there il
no hope for any lasting reform along fnancia
lines: therefore, it is to the interest of all re
formers to unite in the overthrow of this grea
power-the twin brother of the money power