The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-19
GOV. LEEDY WAS HEARD.
And His Defense Did Not De-
fend Him.
Talked on Matters Foreign to
the Question.
Senator PETER and Annie Diggs Join
in Denunciation of the Non-En-
forcement of Law.

1t was a field day at Hamilton nall
last night. First Governor Leedy told
the people what he regarded as the real
difficulty with reference to the enforce
ment of the prohibitory law; then the
people told Mr.. Leedy what is the diff
hculty with his inanimate police board
and talked of the possibilities for en-
forcement of law were the governor
and the men in those places inclined to
stand by their oaths of office and dis
charge their duty as citizens.
The governor went to Hamilton hall
feeling in the best of spirits and con-
fdent that he would make some ex-
plantations which would aIlay the anger
of the law and order people. He was
given a respectful hearing and close
attention throughout.
Hamilton hall was filed in every
nook and corner. People crowded on
the stairways while many were I'M
able to gain admission. The meeting
was called by the committee of fifteen
TO report upon the progress of the work
and stir the indolent to action.
The committee also needed some
money, and DR.. Embree was there
conducting a collection on the old
fashioned Methodist plan, which result
ed in the accumulation of quite a sum
of money to carry on the work. J. B.
Iarimer and Governor Leedy each gave
SIS. The governor said: Il will give
$25 and will pay it when draw my
next months salary"
Major J. K. Hudson presided. The first
speaker was Governor Leedy, who ex-
planned that his presence was due to
an invitation which he asked the COM
mittee to send him. He said:
Mr.. Chairman:-I understand that
the object of this meeting is to promote
the enforcement of the prOhibitOry law
and to inquire into the ways and means
by which this may be accomplished.
In speaking to you on this question, L
have decided to reduce my remarks to
manuscript and furnish each newspaper
correspondent with copy for the pur-
pose of preventing my remarks from
being garbled and myself misquoted.
1T seems that at a meeting held
few days since, the conclusion was ar
rived at that the lack of the enforce
ment of the prOhibitory law was be-
cause the governor and the police COM
m1SSIOnerS were receiving money from
the jOintistS. I think that if such
charges We're to have been made, it
would have been fair and decent to
have invited the parties who were ac-
cused to be present, and they should
have been given an opportunity to de-
fend themselves; but as opportunity
was not given, proceeded to invite
myself TO the next meeting and I am
glad that the committee have o. K. d
the invitation and permitted me to
SPEAK, anu III GOING SO 90 not propose
TO abstain from saying what I think to
be true because of the presence of any
citizens of the state; neither do I ask
any man to modify his remarks be-
cause of my presence.
My opinion is that the failure to en-
force the prOhibitOry law is largely
chargeabie to the executive committee
OF the State Temperance union and to
the sO-called and pretended friends of
the prohibitOry law, and in order to
clearly present my view of the case, it
As necessary to go back and look into
the history of the State Temperance
union, which in former years was q
pulWark to the temperance cause and
great instrument in the hands of the
people to promote its enforcement; but
unfortunately, an organization capable
OF so much good fell into the hands of
the agents OF the cOrpOration who pro-
ceeded to make it a political weapon
instead of an fundamentally for good
Two years ago the committee was
reorgan1zed and a new executive COM
mlttee formed consisting of a long list
or gentlemen eminent in the temper
ance cause, and some ministers to give
1t tone and effect, but the chairman of
this committee was Mr. Willis Gleed. I
know not what the forces were that
Ho1sted Mr.. Gleed upon the committee
as It's chairman, and 1t seems strange
that the attorney of the railroad cor
pOrauOns whose profits derived from
the traffic in beer and whisky cOnsti-
autes one of their principal items of rev
enue and who pay Mr.. Gleed his salary
20 see that their profits are not reduced
chairman of this committee. but the
subsequent events plainly show that
Mr.. Gleed has earned the salary paid
him by the railroad since being made
chairman of the committee His mas
Gerly activity in preventing the commit
zee from doing anything or in any way
interfering with the political admins
tIatlon OF affairs that favored corpora
lions and his success in StOppiner the
mouth of the State Temperance union
Tor two years time, testify to his abiTitv
an carving ont a wishes Of hi
pIoyers, as chairman of the committee
At the meeting held a few evenings
since, MI Gleed seems to have uncork-
go the committee and told them to
howl and in doing so 7 think he mad
Nertently accomplished some good It
mas been the policy of the powers that
be in Topeka to keep the powers of the
police force minimized as much as pos
slble- They have had no power pre-
NlousIy 10 interfere with the liquor traf-
nc except on complaint and have no
right to open doors without a warra M {.
put the shout that went up at the last
temperance meeting a few 6avs since
was so great that it actually convinced
Ehe city council that at last these people
NAG quit playing to the grand stand
ana We're really in earnest, and the re-
suit was that the police commissioners,
succeeded in doing what they had never
before been able to do, although both
the board of commissioners and the
chief of police have repea tetllv endeaIr-
pred to get the city attorney to prepare
ana the city council to pass an ordi-
nance for the abatement of nl1isances
which gives the police power that thew
did not possess before. This has already
Deen productive of great deal of good
and hope that Mr.. Gleed will still con-
unue to direct the temperance union to
continue their efforts and think I can
ofter the gentlemen some suggestions
that will assist them in doing good
along temperance lines.
AT the present time there is a man
IN TINS CITY VINO has been convicted of
selling whisky, but for some strange
reason sentence has never been passed
upon him. It seems to me that if
these gentlemen would pass fewer reso-
1utions and pay more attention to the