The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-30
KEPFORD ON HAND
The ''Independent' Candidate
For Governor in Town.
Will Hold His Principal Meet
ing of the Campaign
AT HAMILTON HALL
This FYnninp- Sneak ON
This Evening To Speak on
Law enforcement.
A Letter From Elder J. E.
Brant Received.

The Independents Prohibitionsts)
VIII hold the principal meeting Of their
campaign in this city this evening at
candidate for governor, arrived in the
city this morning and viii address the
meeting this evening To a reporter
for the State Journal he said:
I am not making a very extensive
campaign, owing to the lateness that
this matter took form and the lack Of
organization. We have had to depend
on ministers and Repu blicans that are
not in favor of the present administra-
ton Of the laws to make arrangements
for our meetings. have held eighte en-
meetings and they have been we'll at
tended, mostly by Republicans, and
good deal OF enthusiasm has been dis
played I am certain that if we had
got our ticket sooner and had been able
to make a longer campaign we would
have pOlled the majority OF the vote Of
the Christian and moral element Of the
state. find many Republicans that
are opposed to the present administra-
ton that say that they are afraid to
vote for me, because they say there IS
no possible chance of electing me and
that they VIII elect Leedy, and they
say that of two evils choose the least.
I tell them that there is no such
thing as a compromise in moral ques-
ton and that if they vote for Morrill,
and Dawes they are indOrsing their ad-
ministratiOn of the law, which we
ton of it. and we have pretty good evil
dence that this is true.
Il am of the opinion that if the pres
ent state administration is reelected
it means that the question will be
resubmitted in this state. The con-
slant annulling of any law leads to
contempt for that law, and it has in
this state The way that the prohib-
itOry law has been treated in this state
has led to the disregard for the anti
gambling law and has had more or less
effect on the regard and enforcement
of all the laws of the state. Under the
present lax enforcement of the law
people are beginning to say that it is
q farce and that it would be better to
repeal it. and in this way L think that
an Endorsement OF Mr. Morrill, viii re-
suit in the resubmisslon OF the ques-
ton.
I'VE are in this campaign fighting for
a principle The Republican party
cave US the prohibitOry law in this
state; there can be no denial of thai
fact When the law was enacted it
became the duty of the adnlnislraIIon
to enforce ii. They have failed TO 40
so. w hen the church and the moiat
clement OF the state appealed to them
to enforce the law they paid no atten-
ton to the appeal but ignored It. II
this administration IS deLeated y VII
be a rebuke administered by The church
and moral element of the state and viii
be a warning to future misunderstanding
in this state that the people demand
chat every law shall be enforced
personally, I am Tor Mehlhley'
here Mr.. Kepf0rd pointed 10 Mchln-
lev button on his coat The principles
of the party suit me, but what 1 ana
those with me in this movement de
naand is that the law shall be enforced
7TI1a law has not been enforc- d for some
time. If it IS a bad law the best way
10 ind it out is by a rigid enforcement
ef it. If the people do not want IT,
then they viii say SO and it viii be re-
Draled. That is the American idea L
nave no doubt of the result Of an en-
rarcemeuJ. however
Rev j. z Brant, who was billed 10
-,alTa q sDeech at the meeting tonight
o-ilI not be able to attend. but the com
saittee wired r. p. H. Hammons. ask
ing him to come and speak, and he has
promised to come and VIII speak In
place of Eide. Brant. Mr.. Brant has