The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-17
ABOUT THE WAY OUT.

That Of Kansas politics which is not
blocked out in Kansas City, Missouri,
is blocked out in Topeka. Neither
blocking is proving very satisfactory
to the great body of the Republican
party, as next spring, summer and fall
are going to abundantly disclose. The
Kansas City (Kan.) Gazette suggests
that the reason why twO-thirds of the
important political conferences Of Kan
saS are held in the Missouri town. is
attributable to the fact that the states
men composing the conferences can
lawfully obtain any desirable amount
of wine and beer to drink without any
fuss being made about it. We do not
agree with our contemporary. The
horns and tail naturally go with the
hide. Kansas City, Missouri having
by the aid of the railroads skinned
Kansas naturally enough holds the
hide.
The Gazette, however, is the first pa
per in the state to virtually concede
that the Eagle has been right in saying
that whatever effect prohibition may
have on the material interests of the
state, that it is the question which, in
confronting the Republican party,
threatens to defeat it, the Gazette in
dulging in the additional observation
that if the Republican party in Kansas
falls down again it may stay down for
awhile.
Notwithstanding prohibition has
been incorporated in the constitution
Of the state and in its laws, it is still
an open question which has never been
settled. The Topeka conferences de-
clare that if the policy is not wholly a
success ii can be made so and through
the Republican party. The Kansas
City conferences say that excepting in
the rural counties there is no Semblance
Of success and that therefore the Ques-
ton must be met again, and directly.
at the polls, and voted up or down.
The voting it down might possibly set
tie ii; but the voting Of ii up again
would leave it just where it is. If
there were no Republican. Democratic
or PopuliSt parties in the state, and
the people We're left To form two par
ties, lined up on the prohibition queS-
ton. then. in such event pronounced
majority would settle it one way or
the other.
The Gazette suggets as a plan a set
Element, a prohibition and an anti-pro-
hibition state ticket. leaving the legis-
lature and congressman 10 be elected
on the usual lines. all 10 be guided by
and submit 10 the result on the state
ticket. The plan is impracticable. The
Republican party in state convention
assembled must prove equal 10 a salts
factory dodge, which dodge must be es-
SenJially a compromise. or otherwise
squarely face the music and hold either
10 ultra prohibition or hold for result
mission.
Had Morrill, adhered To the platform
upon which he was elected. which plat
form entirely ignored the question.
leaving its enforcement. as are all
other laws. 10 the regularly elected Of
ticerS: or. had he held to the majority
sentiment" policy first enunciated by
him, there would have been no trouble
in the Republican party of the state to-
day. other than the froth of the Dick
Wake ilk. But having declared that
all attempts 10 enforce such law
arsfnSr n ola. rlH- iafinad ,,,., s.,-=-,- -,
liment were vain. he turned right
about and selecting the most pro-
nounced anti-community in the state,
jumped into il with the most incorrigi-
sureS. The Republican party in con
yention VIII be called upon 10 recon