The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-13

That the Jaw Is Not Being Enforced II
Kansas City and That the Whole Matter
Should be Turned Over to the People
Themselves When They Can Regulate ii
by EIecting a Mayor Who VIII Enforce
the Law-Morrnl Says Nothing to AL
This
Topeka, Kan, Feb I2.-Rev ]. G.
Daugherty, the noted Congregat iOnal
prohibitionist of Kansas City, held a
conference with the governor yesterday.
He believes that the system Of police
commissioners should be abolished and
the government of the cities placed
wholly within the hands Of the residents
thereof.
Mr.. Daugherty thinks that since the
women have a vote in municipal affairs
it viii be but little difficulty to drive the
liquor sellers, gamblers and other vio-
lators of the law from any city in Kan
sas. He expresses the opinion that the
local government he describes will prove
efficient, if given a fair test.
In letter written TO the governor
under recent date, Mr.. Daugherty
shows why he desires that Kansas City,
Kan, be given an opportunity for self
government. He says:
Our citizenship committee report 40
tipping shops outside OF the Sixth ward,
from which no report has been made.
OF these II are found on Minnesota ave-
nue.; on North Third street, 5; on North
Fifth street, 5; on Ferry street, 1; on
James street, Is; ToadalOup, /; on Cen
trail avenue, 4; on Colorado avenue, 5.
Compared with a report made two
month ago this Is an increase of one tip
ping shop in the territory. Three have
gone out of business and four have set
up business.
Two months since the SIKH ward had
26 tipping shops. If there has been no
increase in that ward there are 1t PREF
ent in the city Il places in which in
toXicating liquors are sold contrary 10
law
Last spring the Ministers alliance,
not at the request or even suggestion of
the present writer, commended by vote
the present police commissioners and
the county attorney for their efforts TO
enforce the law of our state regarding
the prohibition of the liquor traffic in
cur city. The ministers who introduce
ed the resolution commencing the coun-
ty attorney has since given public notice
that he withdrew his personal approval,
but the alliance has not been asked to
reconsider its action. The action OF the
alliance at that time was significant be-
cause then all the liquor forces were
using all devices TO secure the removal
Of one or more of the commissioners AMI
also because every one of the three po-
lice commissioners had, before his
name was presented to the governor for
appointment, aSsented TO the following
statement: Il hereby agree that if ap-
pointed police commissioner / VIII use
my best endeavors to suppress tipping
shops, gambling, policy and crap dens.
that L viii not tolerate these or any of
them on public streets, alleys or else
where within the limits of the city for
the purpose of public revenue, or any
purpose. 1 further agree to resign if
for any reason l find that the police
board of which / am a member does
not close these places"
No member of the police board has
yet taken back his assent TO this agree
ment entered into before he was nom
mated, so that it must be assumed that
he is trying to live up to it.
Now put together honestly these
three facts: A police board appoint ted
with the distinct agreement that they
were to close tipping shops or resign;
the Ministerial alliance, at an unusually
large meeting, unanimously commended
them after they had for two months
shown their honesty and ability in their
difficult service. More than seventy
tipping shops that have done business
most of ttem-for three months. What
is the fair conclusion? Is il not this:
If such police board, so appointed and
SO endorsed, does not close the Joints.
what is the use of experimenting with
any other?
IF such a board as our present fails. !
1t is useless to try any other. 1t only
remains TO abolish the board and let our
police be appointed and under control of |
our mayor and council elected by the !
citizens.
1T is full time, after our many fail |
lres with successive police boards, TO |
return the power and responsibility to |
the citizens, who, relieved of both, have |
thought it their chief duty TO criticise |
and denounce officials.
IF the police board were at once abol- |
shed there would not be another tip |
bling shop, for there all now that the |
,ity can support. We have the euuiva- /
ent OF 425 for Kansas City, Mo. If /
'ur people felt that the matter did not |
belong to the governor but to them as
citizens, they would go to work at once
o secure city council that would see
o the execution of the laws of he state
within the city; they would at the next
spring election look for that great NOR
Il benefit which is promised when wo-
men vote-fOr in city matters she votes.
Such is the disagreeabla situati
md such is the solution of one. Who
las a better?'