The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-01
SHOULD Get OUT.
A General Demand Made For
the Resignation
Of the Present Board of Police
Commissioners
FROM BAD TO WORSE
Have Things Been Going Until
Last Night,
When a COlOred Hotel Is Open
ed With the Sale
Of Intoxicating Liquors Openly
to the Guests.
ADVERTISED FORDAYS
Nick Chiles Encouraged By To-
peka Republican Leaders
Until He Tramples on Law and
Decency UnmOlested.

police board is totally incapable and
derelict in its duty. 1t is the worst po-
lice board ever known in this city, and
it's lack of action in the enforcement of
the prohibitory law as we'll as other
laws has brought on a state of affairs
disgraceful to the city in the extreme.
The police force itself is demoralized,
only last week one of the policemen
having to be arrested for drunkenness
in a joint by a fellow member of the
force.
To cap the climax however, negro
jOintiSt boldly announces for several
days that he will sell beer and wine on
a certain day at his place and no atten-
tion is paid to this fragrant and impu-
dent threat of defiance to the law. 1t
has come to pretty pass when the
decent people of Topeka are to have
the laws trampled on by a negro who
feels that has nothing to fear from A
K Rodgers. F. S. McCabe, and Charles
K. Holiday. If they are not going to
enforce the law, they ought to resign.
No one is compelling them to hold
position they are unfit to fill. If they
don't want to enforce the law why
should they desire to hold the position
of police commissioners. There is no
money and no honor (for them) in it?
Why not get out of an office that brings
d1Scredit on them and the city. Yaster-
day at Nick ChileS' place. a lot of negro
characters openly violated the law and
We're not disturbed in it. White peopIe
nave not as yet dared to snap their
fingers in the face of authority and de-
cency.
Are the white people in control of
matters here, or Nick Chiles?
1t is this outrageous license given bv
the authorities to Chiles because he is
a Republican boss among the negroes
that has perhaps done much to cut
down the Republican majority in thic
town to a paltry 1900, and it will go
lower under such management
Talk about the evils of the PopuIist
police management 1t couldn't posi-
oiy nave been worse than the present
police administration. The church neo-
ple,Who have mainly been Republicans.
are profoundly disgusted. They have
tried to unite their Prohibitfonisr1 and
their Republicanism such record
as is made by our present police board.
1t IS the greatest irony, too, that one
member of the board is a Presbvteria17
minister and another has been a Sun
day school superintendent in a Presbv-
terrain Sunday school. Isn't it about
time for the Presbyterian church to
look into the public record of these |
members and at least criticize it?
NICK CHILES' "OPENING.
The following is the account of Nick
nal reporter:
Ntcodemus Chiles kept open house |
last night at 116 East Seventh street |
The occasion was the christening of his |
new hotel, which starts out under the |
title of "ChiIes' Hotel
Chlles has bought the three story
building at 116 East Seventh strSet |
and fitted it up in good shape For. the
opening last night an elaborate menu |
card was furnished. For the sum of %
cents the guests last night received in |
addition to the we'll cooked summer
wine and beer
Even with. the weather as threaten
ing ana unpleasant as it was over 200
people, mostly colored, availed them
selves of the invitation to eat and SUP
with him. Had it been a clear night,
the S r. o. sign would have been
hung out early
The Gondolier Mandolin club played
music to please, the caterer, Fred Doug
las, with his assistants, VIM. Able Jas
Wiley, Frank Savenger and Dennis
Lindsay. had charge of the dining room
and in the dining room which is on the
first floor and brilliantly lighted were
hung many pictures and a framed COPY
of the mancipation Proclamation
Five square tables and a long ban
quet table with neat furnishings were
for the accommodation of the guests
The Chlles hotel is for the entertain |
ment of colored guests. Last night
the opening. The wine in small glasses
flowed as freely as any one could wish. |
and the beer, Val Blatz export was
served in large glasses from a pitcher.
The kitchen was in charge of Chef
Shell J. Young.
In the second and third stories there
are eleven furnished rooms, and last
spection of the patrons.
When the people entered the dining
room one of the gentlemanly walters
stepped up and said This way,
please. On being seated the guest
would be given a menu card.
After the order was given another
waiter would step near and in a low
tone ask: "WiH YOU have some of the
beverage?" glassful of wine was
given and later a brimming glass of
beer was served.
The evening passed off quietly with
out police interference, although the
entire police force had been notified
days before.
HE DIDN'T KNOW A THING
President A. K. Rodgers of the board
Of police commissioners did not know
until this morning a single thing about
Nick Chiles' plan OF serving liquor
publicly to dedicate his hotel. This
may not argue much foS President
Rodgers ability as an officer in charge