The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1895-09-13
REsUBMIssIoN.


fact that in every county within its
borders the prohibitory law is contin-
ually violated more or less. In many
towns and cities the local authorities
are in actual sympathy with the ven
dors of the prohibited articles. AS
rule. In those localities where no
license could be granted before the
amendment was adopted, no liquors
are sold as beverages, now. In the
| towns where the sentiment was then
in favor of license, it is, as rule, in
favor of license now, and liquors
are sold as beverages today. The
question is one of the most serious
import. Under the present system
every county of ten thousand or more
inhabitants furnishes law-breakers.
spies, informers and costs for proper
ty owners to pay. That the senti-
ment in Kansas is very seriously dlvi-
ded every honest citizen admits. We
believe that the people of Kansas
would cheerfully abide by the will of
the majority fairly and decisively
expressed. The question ought to be
taken out of the domain Of mere par
tisan politics. The matter should be
decided by the voters of each precinct.
The entire question should be re-sub-
mitted to the people and decided upon
its merits. The cause of real temper
ance and good citizenship has not been
advanced by existing conditions.
The republican party has done all in
its power to give the present system
legal and moral aid, and it has done
so in spite of the open and vicious
opposition of the political prohibition
lists. The republican party has ever
been the first to obey the popular will.
1t ought to be wise enough to solve
the problem now confronting the peo-
pie OF Kansas by boldly paving the
way for a new decision of the entire
question. The present system is the
parent of hypocrites innumerable and
veXations without number. No man
has been saved from the grasp of the
drunkard's appetite; no crimes have
been lessened; the burden of taxa
alton has not been lessened under the
existing plan. Re-submit the entire
question. Let each voting precinct
decide by it's own ballots whether
there shall be licensed vendors OF
absolute prohibition. We believe in
the enforcement of law OF its repeal.
The present system is travesty upon
justice, a political harlOtry of which
every law officer with a grain of con-
science is heartily ashamed. The
CHAMPION believes it would be far
better to undo the present OdiOus and
shiftless system and enact in it's stead
Il local option law that would leave it
in the power of the people of the sew
eral precincts to de eide the matter for
themselves without being made mere
football of the od1ous anti-American
metropolitan police system, which is
no more and no less than a part of the
dishonOrable political capital of the
party which may happen to be in con-
troll Of the executive branch of the
State government. The people of
Kansas are thoroughly disgusted with
the shameless hypocrisy of "a system
which says that the man who sells a
bottle of beer in Concordia or Salina
is common Jail bird, while he who
sells carloads of liquor in Leaven'
worth is an hOnored citizen and
among the confidential advisers Of
United States senators, governors
attorney generals and party leaders
The question of public morals ha:
been made political machine b,
which men who are practical drunk
ards are made the conServatOrs of tn
temperance cause. The question i
one that touches every home. l
must be lifted above the plane q
dirty partisanship and placed in tn
hands of the citizens of each precinc
This cannot be done under the pres
ent system. Let us have a government
i of laws administered for and by tn
people-not system which is merel
u the cats paw of constituencies pol
ticians. Daits Champion.
We published the alb ove by reques
although we decidedly disagree wit
that portion which refers to the att
> tude of the republican party. "
believe the republican party has dol
nothing but trade on the sentiment
side of prohibition and at the san
- time pander to the whiskey elemeIl
J.. The present prohibitory law, if Z
- forced, would be rule by the minorit
:. instead OF the majority.