Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-04-09


ed with interest the contest between
the Governor and Attorney General
and tho law observing element of
Wichita on the one hand and the
saloon element championed by the
editor of the Eagle on the other.
Until a few weeks before the state
convention the battle seemed to be
rather in favor Of the administration.
Between twenty and thirty saloons
we're closed and there were number
Of convictions, which always has a
powerful moral effect on the law
breakers With the cowardlce char
acteristic of their class, so long as
perjury seems to be acceptable to
court and jury they feel secure; but
once a jury shows its intention to
render honest verdicts, tho saloon
keepers give up without serious re-
slstance. The efforts to enforce the
law in Wichita had apparently reach
ed this point, when there was a sub
gen, mysterious collapse. Then came
the state convention and the people
of Kansas were treated to the edify-
ing spectacle of the forces Of the i'd
mlnistratlon working together with
the resubmissionists to elect the head
Of the Wichita rebellion delegate
at-large to st. Louis. The want Of
dignity, self-respect and consistency
in such a combination as this at
Wichita has not escaped the severe
criticism it deserved from the decent
republican newspapers of Kansas,
Every republican in the state who
has respect for principle and back
bone felt Inundated by the ready
compliance of the members Of the
state administration with the demand
made upon them by the leading poll
tician Of the party to honor and re-
ward the chief nullifer in Kansas. .;:i
Even this surrender Of self-respect
might have been winked at, however,
If the bargain made at Wichita had
included mutual CONCESSIONS The
republicans Of Kansas are generous
and willing to make large allowak ces
If the convention had been followed
up by vigorous policy Of law en-
forcement they would have been sat-
isfed Of the evident desire Of the
Governor to compel the observance Of
the law at any sacrifice Of personal
feeling. But the policy at Wichita
since the convention adjourned has
been a more complete surrender than
the frantic efforts to elect Marsh
Murdoch delegate. Police commits
sioners favorable to the law have been
removed or have resigned and others
appointed who are known to be op-
posed to the principle Of prohibition
Policemen who performed their duty
under promise Of protection bv the
old board, are turned out and police
men who were discharged by the old
board for refusing to perform their
duty or who resigned rather than
perform it, have been reinstated A
chief Of police friendly to the law is
removed to make place for a man
said by prominent Wichita citizen
in a recent interview to be notorious
gambler, 'the Pete Kline of Wichita"
Joints have been closed; but they
have reopened as saloons.
Rather than to compromise the ad-
ministration with the saloons of Wich-
ita, the Governor might much better
have removed the commissioners and
let Wichita have her own way and
bear the responsibility on her own
shoulders. The present situation in
that town is a scandel to the Govern
or and the state, No defense or ex-
cuse can be made for 1t. 1t is a hu.
initiation to every friend of the adj
ministration and affords ammunition
for charges by every enemy Of the re-
publican party that it's professions
are humbug and hypocrisy.
Gov. Morrill, must recognize the
power Of the sentiment against the
present policy at Wichita even il he
does not recognize its justice. He
can not afford to be a party to the
farcicsl pretense of law observance at
Wichita. Ii he is tired Of the effort
to enforce the law, the least he can do
for the sake of himself and his ad-
ministration is to waeh his hands Of
the Wichita fight, remove the police
commissioners altogether and retire
as gracefully and in as good order as
nossihla Rut ~ he and Gan. Dawas