The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-14
HE RAPS PARKHURST.
Ste John Says the New York
RefOrmer Drinks Wine
And Keeps Liquor In His House
For His Family.
Closing Meeting of the State Temper
ance Union at Hamilton Hall
Last Night.

address at the closing meeting of the
State Temperance union in Hamilton
hall last night charged the churches of
Kansas with the responsibility of the
failure to secure the enforcement or
the prohibitory law.
1--WE are constantly hearing of the
difficulties which are a part of this law
Let me tell you what the trouble is.
1t is in the ballot box and in the very
doors of the churches of Kansas. AS
long as a man breaches and prayS one
way and votes another he does not
please the Almighty and accomplisheS
no good.
I'VE have had too much prayer and
not enough work. We have thought
more of party than of principle We
have been meeting here to resolve and
then we would go home, go to church
and pray for the enforcement of the
law, from minister down to Sunday
school superintendent, and the deacOnS,
too. Then on election day 95 out of
every 100 of US go to the polls and vote
for the party which represents the
rum power.
Il did not notice much applause fol-
lowing that assertion" exclaimed Mr..
st. John. 1.-THE reason is that too many
OF you are guilty of the charges which
make and know full well the abso-
lutte truth of the statement.
I'VE can never secure the enforce
ment of the prohibitOry law until the
people stop the prattice of placing in
power in this state political parties
ests. Administration after admins
tration has gone into the state house
handicapped and bucked and gagged by
that element. Police commissioners
have been appointed and sworn into Of
flee with the full knowledge that VIOLA
lions of the law should be permitted.
This certainly proves that the church
men are not for Christ, but for party.
Il believe that Governor Leedy has
backbone and it is my opinion that he
will do as John A. Martin did. You
all know that John Martin was COVER
nor of Kansas from the very moment
he subscribed to the oath of office until
the expiration of his term. He en-
forced the laws, not because he was
following the dictates of his party or
any outside power or influence, but be
cause he had sworn to do his duty and
valued his oath above all other things
on earth. God bless him. The people
of Kansas owe more to Governor John
Martin for the enforcement of law and
the preservation of order than to any
man who has ever been in an official
position in this state.
Were I governor of Kansas" ex-
claimed the speaker dramatically, I
would enforce the prohibitory law or
drive every one of the vioIators across
the Missouri river-and [ would not
in the middle of the stream
This talk about inability to enforce
the law is all nonsense. The claim that
the law is worthless is absurd. Let me
say that the law which we now have is
the best of it's kind ever adopted by
state or nation. Look at New York.
A little saWed-Off man by the name
of Roosevelt closed the saloons on Sun
day. I went one afternoon to at least
$50 saloons in New York city and rap
ped on the front and rear doors, but
could not get into any of them.
wanted to know if Mr.. Roosevelt was
succeeding in his work. IF one little
man with the same influence behind
him that would support the governor OF
Kansas in similar efforts can close the
saloons in the great city of New York,
then is it not the most ridiculous thing
on earth for our governor to tell us
that we can't enforce the law? The
trouble is, our officers do not try
Mr. st. John. was narrating an Incl
dent in connection with the Sunday law
fight in New York and referred to MI
Parker who was identified with it. A
man in the audience corrected the
speaker by suggesting DR.. ParkhurSt-
mo, I do not mean Dr. Parkhurst
A preacher who drinks wine and keeps
liquors in his home for the use of
members of his family can never close
a saloon or do humanity any good
whatever
At this juncture the speaker reached
the theme which has been popular
among temperance workers for the
years, the record of the last admins
tration. He said:
mo risk has been taken in making
the charge. In fact believe that those
who supported the administration just
inaugurated, believing that the laws of
the state will be enforced, will not be
disappointed. 1t can not possibly be
worse than the record of the last ad-
rninistration but I have high hopes
that we will be benefited.
Il would rather elect a brewer who
has a high regard for his oath for gov
ernor, than one of these church deaconS
who pray for the enforcement of law,
and then go to the polls and vote Tor
the candidates of the whisky ring.
1.-THE demand for a constitutionalco con-
ventiOn does not come from the best
element of the people of Kansas. We
have been hearing this subject discuss
ed for years, and have been assured
that the legislature would provide for
it but 1 have observed that the crowd
who wanted to do this, was never able
70 muster over 80 or 40 votes. We do
not need a new constitution. If the
question should go to a vote and pro-
hibition should again be adopted, will
venture the assertion that never again
would we hear of such movement. 1t
is a fight on the prOhibitOry law. Let
me say now that if this question should
go to q, vote again, we will crown pro-
hibitiOn with a majority of $50, 600.
TT has been said that ST. John is for
the constitutional convention. When
the liquor traffic lays down before the
crystaliZed sentiment of the people of
this state and ceases to rebel against
the laws; when the church people sue
coed in carrying out the provisions of
the law and want to reSubmit for the
purpose of securing a larger majority,
then I will favor a, constitutional con-
VentiOn. Just now, however, / am sat
isfied with what we have, and only
hope to see an enforcement of the
laws
In explaining his idea upon dispen-
sary system, Mr.. st. John said:
Ct do not favor the South Carolina