The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-08
A MIGHTY MEETING.
Continued from Fifth Page.>


homes free from saloons, and fully con-
scious of our culpable slothfulness IN
the past, we, in order to secure the
blessings of a sober, decent and law
abiding community, for ourselves ana
families, are hereby:
Resolved, That the law against the
sale of Intoxicating liquors as beVer-
age shall not be longer wilfully and
openly violated in this city.
Resolved, That in connection with
the foregoing resolution we call the at
tentiOn of our present county attorney
to the case of the State ex rel. VS.. Eos
ter, 80 Kansas, page II, and especially
to the language used by the court in
speaking of the duties Of county attor-
neys: After he Cthe county attorney
was notified of the violations
of the prohibitory law with
the names of witnesses by whom such
violations could be proved, it was his
duty forthwith to diligently inquire IN
to the facts of such violations, and If
there were reasonable grounds for in
shutting the prosecution, it was MS
duty not only to file complaints in good
faith before a justice, but it was also
his duty to prosecute in good falth the
nersOns therein named for violations of
provisions of the act,' and in response
to the written declaration of the de-
PENDANT to county attorney in that case
that he was ready to enforce the pro-
hibitory law and all laws, upon any
person coming forward willing to sign
and swear to a complaint the supreme
court said the written reasons
furnish no excuse or JuStnca-
ton for the defendant in this
actiou-of custer against him-for dls-
missing the cases" That, in view OF
these declarations by our court OF laS'
resort, the Hon. A. P. Jetmore IS re-
quested to proceed to prosecute all per
sons who, he has reasonable GROUNDS
for believing, are engaged IN Vlolaling
the law and to use in such prosecution
Witnesses whose names may come to
him from reputable sources, and also
in swearing to such complaints his at
tention is directed to words used by the
Kansas court of appeals in deciding the
case of The State VS.. Mike Etzel, =
court of appeals, 673:
1T is not necessary, in prosecution
under the prOhibitOry law, that the
prosecuting witness should have actual
personal knowledge of the transactions
charged in the Information. It is suf-
fcient if he have notice of knowledge
thereof and had the OffenSeS in cOntem-
Iation when he verified the information
which the witness testified to, and for
which the defendant was Convicted
Resolved, That we condemn the pres
emf attitude upon this question assum-
ed by our police commissioners; that
we commend to them the citations
heretofore made to the county attor-
That, again disclaiming all political
motives, we demand from the Hon.
Messrs. Billiard, Keith and Henderson,
our board of police commissioners, the
enforcement of law in this city; that
they direct and instruct the chief of
police and his SubOrdinateS to arrest
and present to the police court every
person known by him or them to be en-
gagged in the Illegal sale of liquor; that
they discharge summary any othcer
whom they believe to be neS1ectnS MS
duty in this particular, and we ask any
member of the board who is not willing
to enforce the law to forthwith tender
his resignation to the governor to the
end that he may appoint some one who
will yield to our reasonable demand for
protection against law-breakers.
Resolved, That we demand from Sher-
iff r. B. Kepley the same vigilance and
respect for his official oath that We
have asked for from the police COM
the county attorney and
other peace officers.
Resolved, That we appeal to the gov
ernor for such an administration of pO- |
lice affairs as shall secure the end
sought for by the law and by these res
olutions, and that We request from him |
the weight of his entire official influence |
in securing a board of police commits |
sioners that will restore US to our nor |
NAL condition as a law-abiding and |
la w-o deserving community.
Resolved, That the mayor and coun- !
ell of the city of Topeka should imme- |
diately enact into law the nuisance or /
dinance now pending before them which |
was framed to give the police depart !
ment of the city by ordinance as full /
power as is conferred upon the county /
officials by statute to suppress illegal /
drinking clubs and other places of re- !
sort maintained for the purpose of SELL |
ing liquor.
Resolved, That, feeling that we de- |
serve censure because of our own negli- |
gence in not making this matter a per- |
sOnal one heretofore, We will hereafter |
select for our officials men of character /
who will enforce the laws, and we Will I
call upon all good citizens, irrespective /
of party affiliations, to aid US in every [
measure to redeem our city |
from its present unfortunate condition, |
and we pledge ourselves to give freely |
our influence, vote, and, wherever nee |
essary. financial assistance to that end. |
Resolved, That we invite all citizens |
who believe in the supremacy of law to /
unite with US. We are here as citizens, |
and in this organization We recognize |
no Republicans, no Populists, no Demo- !
Gratis no Prohibitionists; but welcome |
all who desire to perpetrate the MAIN |
of good order and law in this |
city.