The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-05
Nh. SHELD0N'S SERMON
Upon an Open Joint Which He
Saw In Topeka.
A Bar 80 Feet Long With Five
Bartenders.
Church Members in q Quandary What
to Do, but Win Probably Vote
for morrill,

The Reverend Charles NJ Sheldon,
pastor of the Central Congregational
church, last evening delivered a pre-
dude to his Sunday evening sermon up
Dn the subject. THE Open Saloon IN
Topeka" There was a good attend
ance the church being filled.
AS q prelude to my Sunday evening
sermons began the pastor fl shall
discuss the most inportant event when
mas happened ia the world DeLWeeA LAE
Two Sundays" saying which he paused
q moment. Last Sunday the churches,
said he, by an unanimous vote decided
20 send q petition TO the mayor, ponce
commissioners and Committee of Fiji
teen asking that the prohibltory law
he enforced during the week we sent
Enat petition and In response received
q letter from Mayor Fellows in which
he said The Committee OF Fifteen
authorizes all innocent amusement and
1t would be distastetuL should the law
be violated, especially the pEo1lDAtOry
Jaw. They Will cooperate to prevent
the violation of it,
after receiving this we supposed that
she law would be enforced-On NVednes-
day I reported to one OF the Committee
Of Fifteen-the president of the police
Doard-Lhat an open saloon was run
ming on Kansas avenue near the corner
OF Eighth street We saw 1T with our
own eyes There was a bar so feet long
and three or four men were behind
pumping beer, while a long line OF men
stood in front OF the bar The coumlS-
si0ner sent for the chief of police and
in our presence ordered him to close
4he place. 4 understand that the place
closed that day Friday went in there
end it was running open Just the same
i understand that 1T was open Thurs
Gay ana yesterday
II felt that it had been a. sad week
1t had been spoiled for me Even the
flower parade, beautiful as it was was
spoiled for me,fOr couldn't help think
ing or that open saloon over near
Eighth and Kansas avenue The week
seemed to be stained with the violation
Of law What can be done2"
Continuing. Mr.. Sheldon said: 'It
would have been the greatest week in
our history if they had said: There
shall be no liquor sold But now the
people viii say when they go to their
homes Why we had no trouble in
open in Holy Topeka
II stood down on Kansas avenue and
saw OLD soldiers passing the place The
smell Of beer would come out Of there
very strong and they would wheel
right around and 90 in saw scores
Of old soldiers 50 in there
They say there was less Of inebriety
and crime than was expected What of
that2 1t isn't the number of drunk
men 1t is the violation Of the law
We should hang our heads in shame
THE officers said to us. Go and
swear out a warrant and we Will pull
the place Has it come to this, that
officers can't enforce the law against
sJar 30 Ieen long, and i've men pumping
beer as hard as they CAM / have felt
this disgrace keenly- What can we do
when officers who are sworn to do their
duty won't enforce the 1aWs2 / know
this as surely as know anything. that
there was an open saloon running back
of a cigar store near the corner OF kan
sas avenue and Eighth street We can
pray q long time. but if we don't do
something else here he paused and
seemed to mediate. then, 81 sometimes
think that this prohibition law is to be
overthrown yet"
He had no more than uttered this
than Lawyer Tom Balm arose and said:
IT hope Il may be pardoned for a few
words here. ten you the trouble is,
MIR. Sheldon has told of the great out
rage. but he hasn't told US what to do.
J. can see where the fault is I felt
ashamed that the churches had asked
the authorities to 20 what they had
been sworn to do. 1t was an insult to
ask men to enforce laws which they
Evere sworn to enforce It was the sworn
duty of the officers to see that the law
was enforced, and they are in a sorry
light in this community. The whole