The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-28
Prohibition and GRAY Matter.

| GutHble, ". l., Jan. -t-NSPscIdAt-ln Ut
mere fact that a prohibition law has beer
introduced in the lower house of the lesis-
lature of this territory has aroused the
, people of Oklahoma slightly and the Ene
between the high license and the prohibi.
! ton clements is being drawn more tig htly,
even though the possibility Of the passage
of such a law is as remote as an enact
ment that would repeal the law of gravita-
ton. The relative strength of the two
clements is about 80 to in favor of those
who believe in the policy Of high license.
Notwithstanding the strength of the lat
ter they are alarmed concerning the pre-
cipitation of prohibition agitation and
members of the legislature are receiving
dozens of letters from their constituents
telling them how TO act in the matter in
very positive terms. To crush the prohibit
ton movement in its infancy seems to be
the desire Of everybody. There was some
talk of starting an anti-prohibition move
ment here, with the intention of extending
it 10 every part of Oklahoma. The idea
is absurd and iil-advsed. The better way
10 do Is to permit the prohibitionists TO
| indulge in their dream Of having a new
! Kansas in this territory, unnoticed. The
| moment they start a fight on the prohibi-
tionists, OF show any signs of taking up
their gage of battle. that moment they
| Will make a mistake that will involve the
territory in unnecessary agitation and IN
settle the policy and hence the business
conditions of Oklahoma. There Is such .
thing as local option and II the people of
Oklahoma want to avoid that they will not
encourage or invite an agitation the So
luton OF which may be local option. The
| sentiment in favor of saloons is so over
wneiming in Oklahoma that. unlike Kansas
| there is practically no prejudice here
| against saloon-keepers. They preside over
meetings; they take part in politics without
| injurins the reputation or the chances of
success of the party which they support;
their wives so into society and they court
and wed girls who are of excellent fam
| lily and social standing without protest;
and they even belong TO the church, own
| pews, pay the preacher and participate
| in the management and affairs of the con-
Sresation. The idea of saloon-keeper
in Kansas belonging to the more strict
evangelical denominations would be prepos
ferrous, and yet there is nothing thought
of IL here. In business affairs they are
factors and IN commercial enterprises they
are not only consulted but they have a
voice equal with any other business men,
provided they are of equal intellectually.
By this is meant that they are not inferior
in business standing and weight TO other
men because of this means of living. In
Kansas saloon-keeper is outlawed from
society, bushes, religion and even poi,
tics-or, at least compelled to take back
seat-but here 1t is different. And yet
there great respect in Oklahoma for Kan
sas ways, outside of It's sumptuary in
clinations. 1t Is the respect young Dem
ocrat has for his father who is Repub-
lican. The father IS considered a little off
in his politics, but In everything else he is
all right. This is because of the fact that
nine-tenths of the people of Oklahoma
have come from Kansas, and they think
that what Kansas does. with the exception
of its crankisms, is all right just as the
Kentuckans in Kansas think that what
ever has been done in Kentucky is better
than the things that have been done in
other states. The average Oklahoman be-
lieves that the people of Kansas are the
brightest, best. wisest and greatest people
in the world, as the Kentuckian in Kansas
believes that the people of Kentucky are
the wisest, best and brightest people in
the world. An Oklahoma jury will listen !
fndifferently to decisions of the courts OF |
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, but |
when a lawyer picks up the Thirty third |
or the Forty-seeond Kansas and reads |
from il the Jurors will a once arouse them |
selves and listen attentively to what Is |
said. He would be very stupid, indeed, |
who could not see that the policy and at |
utude of Oklahoma towards the liquor |
traffic is better than the Kansas sys-
tenn.
Oklahoma is looked upon as a country OF |
crime, and no doubt great many people |
honestly regard ii as such, but nothing can /
be farther from the truth. The most pop
uious county in oklahoma has never had |
criminal TO represent it IN the peniten- l
tiary. This may be surprising-it may be
incredible--but IL Is a fact nevertheless
Sheriff McGrath of Woods county, the
place referred to, made this statement to-
day. The reputation of a place for Grim
fnality should not be based on the acts done |
but in the general sympathy of the peo-
pie for crimnality. Crime is not winked
at in Oklahoma, but on the contrary it is
met with the severest penalty and the SEN
timent of the people is strongly in favor
of suppressing IL. In Woods county some
criminals sought to operate at one time.
but the sheriff went out and killed them
and that vas the end OF 1t. If il had
no- been for the outlaws of the Indian ter
ritory and the unparalleled contentious |
that grew ont OF the desire to get homes
IN Oklahoma, ii would have a lower Grim
nal record than any country OF equal size
IN America. And this, too, IN a country
where many elements of different natures
habits and prejudices have met and ming
led In the lively race OF life. Oklahoma
better illustrates the proposition that in
teihgence and respect for law go hand
in hard. and flourish side by side, than
Any other place that can be recalled. There
a rsr FAC Of A-,s l.. I
ioma 10 the -tTnber Of heads than in any
under the sun, The defeat of Den
MS Flynn by J. Y. Callahan does not war
-Sne this assertion. but there are so msny
other things that do that the truth OF tbs
statement must be conceded by those who .
have an opportunity 10 observe all the
acts. 81 aims are 81 common in Oklahoma ,
hat ii Is ret rare thing to find Popu-
istS who possess them OF course the DUAL
y Is rot so fne. but il is better 20 have
Trans OF pocr quality than 10 have none |
II al, rs Is the case among the PopuAsts
x Kansas. There are Popu.ists in the OK.
anoua legislature who could SLY hide 5
heir politics behind their wide foreheaC>; {
they kept their mouths shut and Their
eng les SIN IN tire presence Of company
Toe fact OF the matter IS there IS not | ,
nore than one chump in the senate AMI ! a
hree in The house. ard that i a very small \
alto Even those are uos very bad And
peskiaS about Den-fs lynn there are
cope in Oaiakcn wao hate him so much
OF being good % them that he il bIArne.5
CT for Pc venting the opening OF the
.chits reservation. by introducing hfs |
re- Homes BIZ. before having frs So Z
arsi the opening CT that country 70 settle Q
zea-. There are Others who think that he I i
2yat 10 Ger IN extension % two years
or then and tEs1 T. would Be vel 20 sst 7
rec homes Al extension would mean | u
pcssr,lnrrrenr % The urn,Asssn. -.-s-. | :.