The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-28
Gov. MOrrill's Proposition for
State Dispensaries
Seems to Suit Neither Prohibit
tionists Nor Antics.
BOTH SIDES SPEAK.
David Overmyer and Chas. K.
Holiday Oppose 1t.
Also Lieut.. Gov. TrOutman, Rev.
Richard Wake, Etc.

A great deal of discussion has been
started by Governor MorrilPs suggestion
that the Gothenberg system of control
ing the liquor traffic be adopted in Kan
sas in place of the prohibitory law. Il
appears that neither prohibitionists nor
resubmissionists take 10 the idea; some
Populists favor it because they believe in
state control being extended to the pub
lie business as rapidly as possible.
Lieutenant Governor James A. Trout
man does not favor the Gothenberg or
South Carolina state dispensary system
of controlling the liquor traffic.
To STATE JOURNAL reporter today
Governor Troutman said: fOur present
prohibitory law is the best law ever en-
acted in any state or country for the reg
ulation and control of the liquor traffic,
2nd the South Carolina plan is, in my
opinion, the very worst
"Our prohibitory law is all right and l
should be sorry to see any change in the
law as helieve at the present time the
law is fairly we'll enforced in majority
of the counties in the state"
David Overmyer, the leader of the
Democratic resubmission forces in Kan
sas, is also not in favor OF Governor
MorrilPs state dispensary plan. In speak
ing of the position of the governor, MIR.
Overmyer said:
81 have never seen the system in op-
Grafton and have only theoretical view
of the subject. It is claimed it works
very benehcially in Norway and Sweden
and it is claimed by its opponents
that it does not work benef1cially in Nor
way and Sweden. The fact that the law
may be a success in the sense that it is
successfully carried out does not neces-
sarily prove it good law. Order you
will remember, Teigned in Warsaw at
the point of the bayonet and muzzle of
the cannon, to be sure. That rule was a
great success, but it wouldn't be very
palatable for every day use in the
United States.
81 think that the Gothsnberg system,
even If regarded as feasible and success
full under the paternaI governments Of
Norway and Sweden, would not be so
here We must not forget that our
people demand in their every day lives
complete immunity from legal restric-
tions in matters pertaining to their own
LersoDs.
They are willing that anything like
the liquor traffic, which is fraught with
evil and danger, may be reg ated
strictly, but they believe that this can be
done without denying them their just
liberties on the one hand or making the
government a liquor seller upon the
other"
Police Commissioner c. K. Holiday.
who also represents the anti prohibition
element. said: 81 am an old line Demo
crat and as such 1 am opposed to the
state disDensary system or the state con
trolling the railroads or anything of the
kind. 1t is true that it might be better
than prohibition, but anything would be
better than prohibition. The liquor deal
IL Il ssI
prohibition and they are not anxious to
see it interfered with"
Rev. R Wake, president of the State
Temperance union said: Governor Nor
rill is evidently for resubmission. He
says he is for the Gothenberg system
and would have US give up our constitu-
tional amendment which prohibits the
sale of liquor as a beverage and place a
state saloon in every community where
any person can buy as much as he wants
TO drink.
when our present law was enacted
favored a law giving the state the control
of the sale of all liquors for the specified
purposes under the constitution, bu
Governor Morrill, would have US give up
our constitutional enactment and sell il
as beverage once more. The bill
favored would take the sale of liquor for
medical, scientific and mechanical EUR
= :
and make state agent in every com
munity the salesman.
"The temperance people will not ia
vor Governor MorrilPs scheme, as they
wenld have to repeal the constitutional
amendment before they could get the
Gothenberg system, and it would only bt
a question of time until we would fine
ourselves back under the old license sys
tenn"
Ex-GovERNOR ST. JOHNS SPEECH
The Foremost PrOhibIsionist Severely De.
nOuness Gov. MOrriiI's Idea.
Ex-Governor John P. St. John for over
an hour last night entertained az au-
dieuce Of about 1900 people at Hamilton
hall by criticising Governor Morrill, and
the governors new ideas on the liquor
question.
As soon as the local Prohibition party
committee learned that ex- Governor st
John was coming to Topeka, they an
nounced a meeting to be held at the
court house to be addressed by him, bu
when the ex-governor arrived yesterday
and learned of Governor MorrilTs inter.
view on the Gothsnherg system, the
plans were Immediately remodeled and
il was arranged for the meeting at Ham
iltoR hall.
Ex-Governor ST. John was never anv
more ready to talk than last night, auc
the entire audience cheered him as he
walked to the front of the stage to oper
his address.
He started out by giving history OF
the enactment of the prohibitory law,
and said: "From that day to this there
has been more or less opposition to tas
enforcement of that law. but from the
day of adoption down to the present hour
the Law has been growing more in favol