The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-09
NOW Topeka FUMES
STUPEND0US HOWL OVER THE
OPEN SALOON rs MADE

Force-Jointist Is Thrown Out of the
Hali-Governor Lsedy Will be Ordered
to Change the Board-Everybody Very
Hot-Nice Time Was had aud Good Hot
Words Split.
Topeka, Kan, May s-Two OF the
best known citizens Of Kansas OF oppo-
site political beliefs-ex-United States
Senator William A. PETER and General
Attorney A. L. Williams OF the Union
Pac.fc-last night advised the people OF
Topeka to take the law into their own
hands and destroy by force. il neces-
pary, the open saloons which have bold
ly opened UP on the main street, after an
absence Of twelve years. This they ad-
vised at an Indignation meeting held al
the largest auditorium in the city, Ham
;Iton hall, 10 an audience of 5000 people.
During the meeting "Nick' Childs, a
negro jointist and politician, endeavored
10 reply 20 one Of the speakers The au-
dience was n no mood to trifle with such
q person, and he was promptly thrown
vocates Of decency.
For week or longer the people Of this
city have been greatly exercised over The
reports in the newspapers Of the opening
OF the saloons, after the enforcement Of
the prohbitory law since 1884. The agi-
tat.on resulted in the calling OF mass
meeting for last night by committee Of
leading citizens, organized for that pur-
pose. The hall was packed and the
owner says the seating capacity IS 5000.
The meeting was called TO order by A.
H. Vance, president Of the State Tenn
perance union. He introduced the Rev.
d. D Boyle, pastor of the First Christ
ian church, who led il prayer. The d.
vine gentleman prayed for the prompt
suppression of the liquor traffic Mr..
Vance then introduced ex-Lieutenant
Governor James A. Troutman, whom
the committee N charge OF the arrange
nents for the meeting had selected to
preside.
In assuming the duties Of the chair
Mr.. Troutman made few remarks. He
sad II would be an easy matter to en-
force the prohibitory law If the officers
elected to defend the constitution and the
statutes would do their duty.
IF the present governor would tonnor-
row morning issue proclamation that
the prohib:tory law must be enforced,
the saloonkeepers, before sunset, would
be scamperng toward the Missouri riv-
er and across it," Mr.. Troutman said,
But 1 don't look for any such procla-
nation" he said, after a pause Mr..
Troutman referred to the administrations
of County Attorneys Vance, Curtis and
Welch. I'VE had no saloons in those
days" he said. At the CONCLUSION Of Mr..
Troutman's talk. Charles F. Spencer was
chosen secretary of the meeting. Sec
rotary Spencer read letters from the
speakers who were unable TO attend. A
tstter from General A. L. Williams was
read first 1t follows:
Topeka is an anti-saloon city and
her people can and will suppress the sa-
loon. While we are Handicapped, we
are also strongly fortified. Against us
are the covert opposition Of the governor
and a board of police commissioners, and
the police force of the city. It is also
believed by many that the county at
tocney and sheriff are not N sympathy
with the movement TO uphold the law.
Although the law-breakers have nearly
al the legal and political machinery of
the state to shield them in heir wrong
doing, 1 still think we will succeed.
''On our part we have a law, crystal
zed IN the constitution my the direct
vote Of the people, and supplemented by
proper legislation. which has stood the
t5st OF all the courts. And over and
above all, We have the overwhelming
moral and political sentiment OF this
community. To the statement that the
open saloon IS better thar the joint, II
Il is entitled to 10 any answer at all. /,
Is sufficient to say that we propose to
have neither; but in any event, apart
from the moral question involved. IS the
profound fundamental one as TO wheth-
or or not any community can afford to
have its laws placed at open defiance.
"A free government like ours viii go
20 pieces much more quickly from the
lIx enforcement of any law than will a
tyrannical or monarch;al one. and this
salf-evident truth will make itself man,
fest TO the mind OF the average citizen
Who wishes we'll 70 his country and the
force Of Il will unite all good citizens in
the effort to suppress al! forms of law
breaking. whether the particular law
violated meets theirs approval or not
These are the elements with which We
viii conquer.
There is a suggestion which. as a |
law-ab.ding citizen. perhaps. I ought not |
10 offer. but l venture il anyhow If il |
be conclusively shown that confessed |
Iy valid law fails of execution because |
he courts and the governors and other |
Sworn officers OF the law refuse 70 DO
their duty. then. and 50 long as such |
condition exists government does not eX- !
Isl. and the people are resolved once |
more into other elements where the law |
81 might and not OF right prevails: and il |
oppose the saloons. which we had rea- |
son 10 believe were forever ban,shed |
from our midst. and are denied the arm |
81 tie law n abating and destroying this /
crime. then We should meet force With |
force. ana during the temporary suspen-
:, on Of the law by our own might utter
ly destroy all saloons snd all other in
s.itutions being run in violation OF the
valid laws OF this state"
]. w Gieed wrote that he had 10 go
away, but would be on hand 10 help with
any plan the meeting might adopt.
Charles H. Ne;tles. who :
Ia Kansas City assisting in the hearing
of the stock yards case. wrote that the
meeting should call upon the governor
70 remove the board OF police commits
s:oners ard permit the ciyt 10 run its
,~n affairs Ex-senator PETER was the
srst speaker He rebuked Chairman
for having -sfa-ra5 only |