The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-16

The governor had himself inter
viewed upon this matter in the Kansas
City Journal of March 2Oth.as follows:
NOT A SURRENDER.
"a report has been industriously
circulated to the effect that in chang
ing the board of police commissioners
at Wichita, Governor Morrill, sur-
rendered to the whisky element of that
city. The governor asserts that the
change was made in the interest Of
good order and temperance. =
That this step has resulted wise
" is evidenced BY the fact that within
a week fines to the amount Of more
than 500 have been imposed upon the
1awbreakers."
The absolute hypocrisy of this inter
view is demonstrated in various ways.
The old board had the support of the
friends of law enforcement i n Wichita
without exception.
The whisky crowd in Wichita hated
the old board with most malicious and
vindictive hatred.
The old board was removed at the
request and upon the insistence Of the
whisky crowd in Wichita.
There was great rejoicing among
the 1awless Of every degree when the
old board was removed.
Church people and temperance PEG
pie at Wichita were utterly cast down
when they found that Notwithstanding
his repeated promises and solemn
pledges the governor had weakened
and removed the old board.
The day after the removal of the old
board Ton Sunday transfer wagons
were at work all day hauling saloon
fixtures to replace them where they
had been used prior to the appoint
ment of the old board. The Anheuser-
Busch Wholesale Beer Depot was filed
up with ice and the first car load Of
key beer that had been shipped into
Wichita in seven months came in the
day after. The famous Dixie Lee
establishment was re-opened and the
old license system was re-estabHshed
resulting in the fines which the COVER
nor points to with such pride.
Anybody who sincerely wants to
know whether the old board was re-
moved, as the governor says, Gin the
interests of good order and temper
ance," let him write to anybody at
Wichita that he knows to be favorable
to good order and temperance. Of
course those who are opposed to good
order and temperance will say Eyes,
of course the removal of the old board
was in favor of good order and tenn
perance."
Governor Morrill, has not been Who'll
" consistent in any policy, but as a
rule he has appointed police commits
sioners for inef5ciency and removed
them for efficiency. Whisky boards
have been appointed apparently with
out particle of effort on the part of
anybody. No petitions have been
necessary; no delegations have had to
appear in the executive chamber. The
appointment of temperance boards
have only been secured by the presen-
tation Of long petitions and repeated
visits of delegations. When temper
ance people have complained of the
violation of law, the governor has
evaded his duties by asking for tech
meal proof. When whisky people have
wanted anything the governor has
taken their word, or sent his own dele
gate to report what he desired to have
reported, as IN the case of Wichita.
Governor Morrill, entered upon his
Office with the warm friendship of every
temperance man in the state. To-day
there is not a temperance man in the
state who feels anything toward Nor
rin as governor, but con
tempt It is simply astounding how
man who was such a good private citi-
zen could make such a bad public
officer.
The mere non-enforcement of the
prohibitory law has not been the worst
feature of Governor NIorri11's admins
tration. The worst feature of his ad-