The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-21
THECHURCHVS. SALOON
independent Prohibition Party
Issues an Address.
Calling on All Christian Pro
hibitiOnists In Kansas.
Richard Wake Very Bitter Toward
Governor Morrill,

The state central committee Of the
Independent Prohibition party has is
sued the following address.
To the friends of prohibition.
Fellow citizens-A grave crisis is up-
on US. The future of prohibition in
Kansas viii be largely determined by
the election now at hand. We are
threatened with the return of the le-
CALLED saloon. The policy pursued by
the present executive has done much TO
pave the way for the resubmissi0n and
repeal of the prohibitory law. and his
reelection viii but c0nsummate the
conspiracy of the liquor power for
the overthrow of our amended consti-
tuition. IF resubmission should not be
secured we can hope for nothing but a
general disregard Of the law except
where an overwhelming local sentiment
shall absolutely forbid.
In this emergency we call your most
serious attention to the facts and con-
siderations which suggest that the inn
perative duty of the hour is to prevent
the election of Governor Morrill,
4. Governor Morrill, ia contempt Of
the platform on which he was elected,
which declared for the enforcement OF
law; and ia violation of his oath Of
Office which bound him to uphold the
constitution, has caused the virtual re-
turn of the licensed saloon to all cities
of the first class, except Topeka
2. He corruptIy secured the reopen
ing of saloons in Wichita after they
had been effectually suppressed by the
heroic efforts of its citizens, in order
that he might obtain personal political
advantage by combining the Yiolaters
of law and their abettors.
3. Under the stimulus afforded by his
official encouragement saloons have
sprung up in more than half the coun-
ties of the states, and the law ana con
stitution have been trampled in the
dust. In some fragrant instances where
convictions have been secured at great
effort and cost. he has pardoned the
offenders and has thus nullihed the law.
and produced Widespread demoraliza-
ton.
4. On account of his saloon policy he
Is being supported for reelection by
the Order OF the Mystic brotherhood.
the avowed purpose of which is solely
to secure the resubmission Of the con-
stituuonal amendment and the repeal
of the prohibitory law. His election
under such auspices viii be hailed as
a signal victory of the whisky power
and looked upon as the forerunner of
the overthrow of prohibition.
no vote for Governor Morrill, under
these circumstances is to endorse his
Ubiquitous policy and to invite the
speedy and general restoration of the
saloon. His return to office viii be in
terpreted as an abandonment of prohi-
bition and an approval of his defiance
OF the law and constitution.
Unless we are prepared to tamely
submit to the reinstatement Of the sa-
loon the placing of Governor BIorriu
again in the executive chair means for
the friends of law and order the fight
ing over again of the battle of prohibi-
tion with the immense disadvantage
that We shall be championing a policy
which our enemies viii represent as
having failed when put to practical
test.
To resubmit the amendment under
present conditions is to run the risk Of
repeal. repeal is TO remand Kansas TO
the unspealzable curse Of the open and
legalized saloon.
We therefore with utmost earnest
ness urge all friends of sobriety and
good order to lay aside partisan consid-
erations and to rebuke official perhdy
by retiring to private life the man
who above all others is responsible for
the present unfortunate condition OF at
Eairs
To enable this to be done without in
curing the necessity, on the part of
che Republicans, of supporting the tick
cts of opposing parties we present, in
the form of an independent party
ticket. the name of Rev. A. f. hepford
of Fort Scott for governor and that Of
"a. III. Vance of Topeka for attorney
general. BY voting for these gentle
men i'm place Of T.. n. Morrill, and f.
B Dawes, Republican prohibitionists
can express their disapproval Of the
course pursued by those officials in per
hitting numberless violations Of law,
and yet can support their party ticket
I'm main. TO elect the ticket with these
exceptions viii afford an object lesson
which viii not be lost On future officials
or political managers
"a the objection that the defeat Of