The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-20
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE MEET
Committee of Fifteen is Said to Have
a Contract That No Liquor Shall
be Sold on Fairgrounds

be Sold on Fairgrounds
County Treasurer Stahl made an i'm
passioned speech at the temperance
mass meeting Saturday afternoon.
Mr.. Stahl was chairman of the meet
ing and his address was the first.Among
other things he said:
why are we here today2 Because
our laws are being trampled under foot,
by lawless men. Because lawful Off
GERS are resisted in the discharge of
their duties. Because our public Off
cers,no matter what the reason may be,
made no effort to arrest the gamblers
and jointists at the grocers' and butch
erS' picnic, nor at the Labor day pic
mic, although they were present, and
knew that the laws of our state were
being openly and publicly violated. We
are here because our beautiful city, of
which we all are proud, is in danger.
We are here because of our boys.
have six boys, and that I give as six
good reasons why am here today. We
are here because we believe laws were
made to be Obeyed. We are here be-
cause the time has come when the law
and order people of this city and coun-
ty must arise in their might, show their
strength, and through legitimate chan
nelS enforce the law or throw up the
sponge, and let the joints and gambling
hellS have their own way, although they
are far less in numbers, than the law
and order element.
"At the liquor dealers convention
held in the state of Ohio one of the
speakers used the following language:
The success of our business is depend
ent very largely upon the creation of
appetite for drink. If there is no appe-
tite created, our counters will be empty
as will be our Golfers. After men are
grown and their habits are formed they
rarely ever change in this regard. 1t
will be needful therefore that mission
airy work be done among the boys, and
I make the suggestion, gentlemen, that
nfckels expended In treats to the boys
now will turn in dollars to your tills
after the appetite has been formed.
Above all things create an appetite
Can anything be more Satanic, or
devilish than this; and yet every word
is true; every word is logical; every
word is consistent with the hellish traf-
fic in which they are engaged. The
man that robs me on the highway or
sand-bags men in some dark alley is
gentleman compared with the man that
used the language referred to; or the
men who put it into practice in their
nefarious business.
Public office is a public trust and we
want to teach the officer who violates
at the first opportunity he will be elect
ed to stay at home and his place filled
by a better man.
Public sentiment in favor of law and
order is a thing to be desired; a thing
to be worked for, and dangerous thing
for a public officer to ignore. Neverthe-
less let it be what it may here in this
city, a determined set of county Off
GERS in sympathy with our laws would
close every gambling resort, every joint
and every law breaking establishment
in this city in less than one week.
Rev. Mr.. Hitchcock of Meriden who
followed Mr.. Stahl placed the whole
blame of the laxity in the enforcement
of the prohibitory law on Governor
Leedy.
r. S. Osborn, ex-secretary of state,
followed and advised that the people
should vote for officers who they know
will enforce the law.
" ALL kI,,a
people because the joints have been
driven to dark corners. He said he be-
heved the county attorney and justices
of the peace would do their duty.
Edward Wilder spoke a few minutes
"as an Individual and not as treasurer
of the Santa F'e road" He said. "It is
wrong to consider that during Festival
week any power, the governor, or chief
of police, or the Committee of Fifteen,
or the Kansas liquor dealers can sus-
pend the action of this law. If they
can do this then any individual can do
it with any law at any time.
81 appreciate the fact that the Com
mittee of Fifteen is in an unpleasant
situation. They have not the power to
accept conditional subscriptions. They
have nothing whatever to do with it.
The contract which the Committee of
Fifteen has with the privilege men dis
tinctly provides that no liquor shall be
sold on the grounds. At least this state
ment was made to me within this hour
by a member of the Committee of Fiji
teen.''
J. w. GIeed made brief talk and in
printed in Saturdays Journal. They
a