The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-08
HE VOTED FOR IT
BAILIE WAGGONBR OF ATCHISON
MAKES a CONFESSION.

When il was First Submitted lie Thought
twas Good Thing, But After Watch
ing its Workings for Fifteen Years He
has Come to the Conclusion That 1t has
Retarded the Cause of Temperance In
be Done Away with-Cannot be En-
forced in the Cities.
Topeka, Kan, March THE Topeka
Mail and Breeze has received replies
from the mayors of forty-four cities in
Kansas, of whom opinions We're asked
as to the advisability of Tesubmitting
the prohibitory law. OF the forty-four
fifteen favor resubmission, twenty-three
are against it and six are non-commitaL
OF the resbumissionists, five are Demo
Gratis and ten Republicans. OF those
opposed all are Republicans. Among
the mayors in favor of resubmission are:
H. B. Miller, Usage City; A w. Davis,
Holton; J. w. Wagstaff, Garrett, A 4.
Mole, Olathe; William Smith, Galena;
]. 3. Montgomery, 'Oswego; c. A Fisher
Pittsburg; John T. Goldwell, Cherryyale
]. c. Wallace, Harton.
Among those opposed to resubmission
are: 5. o. Mcdowell, Columbus; y. F.
Meeke. Osawatomie; d. H. Johnson,
Paola; G. c. CLANCY, Independence; J.
I. Evans, FL Dorado; Allen Emerson,
Eureka.
Mayor Bailey Waggener Of Atchison
made an interesting reply, rs follows:
In reply would say that L am in favor
Of resubmission of the prohibitory law
for the following reasons: First-I be-
Eeve that fifteen years experience I'M
her the present prohibitory law in this
state has demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton Of all conservative people that it is
Second believe that the amend
''Second-I believe that the maend-
ment would never have been adopted
had the people who voted for it realized
that its en- fOrcement would be so diff
cult and that it would not limit the evil
bf intemperance to the minimum. AS
practical temperance man and beliey-
er in and advocate of the cause Of tenn
perance in this state voted for the pro-
hibitory amendment, believing at the
time that it was the best temperance
measure that could be devised, and I
have since carefully observed its opera
ton, and ] am satisfied that the cause
Of temperance has been set back many
ears III the Sldle u hdHSdS ny li4G
adoption Of this amendment.
''Third-The enforcement of the law in
the larger cities has proven a failure
and the state Of Kansas, by reason OF
the attempted enforcement of the law,
has been advertised all over the coun-
try as being in the control of cranks, |
who have no interest in the welfare of
the state, but that their chief ambition
Is 10 impress upon the people some
''isms" or idea, TO the end that they
might add TO their own glorification,
rather than subserve the public good.
The attempted enforcement of this law
has driven from the state Of Kansas
many good and reputable citizens, and
its enactment has prevented the loca-
ton in the state Of thousands and thous
Rnds Of people who would have aided
materially in developing the resources
of this state.
"Fourth-The enforcement of the pro- |
hibitOry law is advocated by many Re- |
publicans who l personally know do |
not believe in the law itself. They ad-
vocate its enforcement to subserve poll
teal ends, and not to accomplish any
good for the public at large. It is not |
difficult to find many advocates of the |
enforcement Of this law in the various |
cities of the state, who have no sympa- |
thy with the cause of temperance, and |
who DO not practice what they preach
except in public meetings and conven- |
lions, when they are speaking for the !
benefit of the galleries. The result OF |
this has been to encourage and build up |
an army Of political hypocrites, and |
hypocrisy is condemned by the Bible |
as much IS intemperance.
''Fifth--if you can secure an amend |
nlent To the constitution of this state |
prohibiting hyprosity, and enact prop |
er laws for its enforcement, l will hearti |
ly cooperate in any such movement If |
such a law could be adopted and en-
forced. it would be productive of more |
good than the prohibitory liquor law |
and its attempted enforcement have |
been.
Il believe in temperance, and believe |
that the evils of intemperance have be- |
come a great curse to our state and our |
nation; but in my judgment, after a /
rarefunl consideration of the matter for |
several years. the people of Kansas have |
made mistake in adopting the prohibit |
tory amendment. and from the point |
Of view Of an advocate of temperance,
] believe that the sooner the question is |
reSubmitted 10 the people the better it |
will be. not only for the state of Kansas |
hut for the cause of temperance itself.
Yours truly,
b P. WAGGENER,"
Take the Ferguson stage from Perry
TO Pawnee Meets all trains. 143 If