The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-18
RAID ON FILTHY BUTTONS.
Kansas City Police Will Not Permit
Them to be Sold

Kansas City, Sept. 1s.-Under the
! guise of campaign buttons Kansas City
has been flooded during the past few
weeks with emblems in button form,
many of which bear Inscriptions that
are not only suggestive, but disgust
ingly vulgar. Pedestrians are con-
fronted with them on all the street cor
ners; in every block vendors are ped
ding them, and they are even dis
played in shop windows. The buttons
have met with a ready sale, especially
among youths who imagine they are
''gilded." Not many, however, have
been so brazen as to wear them con-
spicuously.
When his attention was called to the
matter Chief Irwin promptly declared
that all buttons exposed for sale that
are offensive to public decency will
be confscated. Two detectives started
out today and visited every place where
the buttons are kept, and weeded out
those that are suggestive or immoral.
Five of the buttons were shown to the
chief, and he had no hesitancy in pro-
nouncing them vulgar, and their sale a
violation of the law.
This is the first time my attention
has been called to the matter" Chief
Irwin said. I have noticed that but
tons like these were on sale everywhere
but I never stopped to inquire the in
scriptions. We cannot tolerate any
such business as this and I shall see
that it is stopped Immediately. I will
send two detectives out to confiscate
every button of an indecent character,
and if that doesn't stop it I will see If
warrants will have any effect. I am
satisfied that these come under the
head of indecent Devices and I am
surprised that the society for the sup
preston of vice has not taken cOgni-
zance of it,
Several buttons were also shown to
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney George
N. Elliott. He said: Whoever is get
ting these buttons out is trying to
evade the law, but has not succeeded.
They come clearly within the statute
for the suppression of things obscene.
I am satisfied that a prosecution
brought against persons dealing in
them would result in a convt-tion.
Guardedly as they are worded the idea
meant to be conveyed by these buttons
is too clear to permit of any mistake"
The section of the statute under
which Mr.. Elliott thinks a conviction
could be had is this: Every person
who shall manufacture, print, publish,
buy or have in his possession, with in
tent to sell or circulate, or shall sell,
give away, distribute or circulate, any
lewd, obscene or licentiOus book,
pamphlet, picture or print, or any other
thing of an indecent or scandalous ma
ture, shall be deemed guilty of mis-
deTneanor,' etc.
United States District Attorney Walk
er was asked to pass judgment on the
same buttons. He said that while they
were undoubtedly indecent, it was not
a matter in which the federal author
tiles were interested unless they were
transmitted through the mails. Until
then, he said, it is a matter for the
state officers.
Not all of the buttons are indecent
Some are meant to be funny and fail
ing in, that are only disgusting. If a
man wishes to wear upon his breast a
label, Cover your face and kiss me
quick there is no law that applies, ex-
cept possibly the laws relating to lun-
acy. If the person desires to be ex-
for 5 cents: who threw mush in
papa's eye" Or, for the same price. he
can array himself with this: Hush,
you'll wake the baby These gems
have made a hit with the stage-door
Johnnies: Where do come imp Il
can imagine how you felt" I've been
pinched, 4 have troubles of my own
and Lend me a dollar" Adorned with
these witty Campaign buttons all the
chumps who cannot attract attention
in any other way can roam at large
happy in the knowledge that the world
will cOnvulse itself in paroxysms of hi
larfous glee.