The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-26
IT WILL CUT A
SMALL FIGURE.
State Temperance Unions In
vestigatiOn of the o. NJ. B.
Letters of Inquiry Are Sent to
Reliable Persons.
SAY 1T ISN'T MUCH.
Almost All Say 1t Has Very
Little Strength.
Judge Carver, However, Says
1T Is a Serious Factor.

Secretary T. z. Stephens of the State
Temperance union has been making in
vestigatiOns to discover what influence
the o. NJ B. is having in local politics
and he says that the letters he has re-
ceived prove that it is cutting very lit
tie figure.
He sent out the following letter to
men in different localities:
In view of the widely advertised
boasted strength of the Mystic Broth
eThOOd, the State Temperance union
desires, if possible, to get at the real
status of affairs as regards to this lat
est Kansas innovation, and to this end
letters of inquiry are being sent to
considerable number of leading citi-
zens throughout the stae. whose word
is above Impeachment. The infOrma-
ton obtained is to be made public
Il Do you regard the Mystic Broth
erhOOd as formidable factor or pros
pective factor in the politics of the
state2
y. Is the brotherhood exerting any very
extended influence in your county or
section of the state?
g. Is it strong enough to control To-
cal politics?
a In your view has the time come
for the resubmissiOn of the prohibitOry
amendments"
He has received replies from Judge
T. f. Carver of Salina, Republican can
didate for chief justice; Judge Nelson
Case of Oswego, Judge Culver of En-
Harrington of Hiawatha, Rev. J. C.
Dougherty of Kansas City. A. c. Pierce
of Junction City, and others.
Judge Garver's letter is more discour-
aging to temperance people than any
of the rest. He says:
Il. Owing to the narrow political
margin in this state, I regard the o. M.
3. as a factor worthy of serious con-
sideratiOn and as being in a position to
work great injury to the cause of tenn
perance in this state.
2. Apparently, no.
"3. No.
a. No.
Whatever aid the cause of prohibition
can expect in this state will come from
Republican officials. Their election will
not be made more secure by the publi-
cation of interviews, especially when
the Mystic BrothhOod is proposing to
cut hard on any one who does not re-
spond properly to its line of question
ing. T. F. CARVER"
It is evident from Judge Garver's
letter that he is somewhat frightened
He is known as a practical prohibition
ist
The other letters are more favOrs-
ble,'' said Secretary Stephens. Mr. Pes
tana says that the o. M B. is practi-
cally unknown in his part of the cOun-
try and he does not know of a single
organization. He says that man
came up there to organize but he got
drunk and disappeared without max
ing an organization He says he does
not believe the organization will cut
any figure in politics.
Judge Case has also written a very
strong letter. He does not believe that
the 0. NJ B. will have any effect in pol
iticS- He writes encOura gingIy
THE letters Of all the rest are along
the same line" said Mr.. Stephens I
am satisfied that these letters are a
true indication of the condition as it
exists and that the o. NJ. B. will cut
very little figure in Kansas politics 4his
fall