The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-19
HARPER WAR.
The Bitterest Whisky Fight in
the State
Under Full Headway in the
Southern Kansas Town.
Both Sides Number Powerful
Supporters in Their Ranks.
ROTH MEN AND WOMEN
Have Organized to Carry on the
Warfare.
A "JOurnal" Correspondent at
the Seat of Hostilities.
Sends a Fair and Impartial Re-
port
ABOUT THE SITUATION
Mayor Muir Says the Voters
Want the Saloons Open.
ssHome Protective League" Diff
fers From Him.

Harper. Kan, Aug. 19.-Harper is IN
the midst of the bftterest whisky war
ever known in the state. The two fac
+ions- saloon and anti-saloon, seem to
be pretty evenly divided, ana 1t 10
doubtful what the outcome Will De-
Reports have reached the outside Worlo
Indicating a serious state OF ahalrS
here and when the State Journal cor
RESPONDENT arrived. he found the town
arraved in two hostile camps, although
there had been no overt act for several
days.
The excitement all arose over a sa-
loon conducted by John BarteH OF
wichita and a joint and gambling
place operated by Holmes and Morgan
The prohibition workers have organ1z-
ed the Home Protective association
the. purpose of which is to secure eVl-
dence and manage the proceeollsS
against these violators.
The Young women of the town, head
ed by Miss Farwel, daughter OF 1he
Presbyterian minister, are bano1ng
themselves together under the agree
ment to accept the company OF no
Young man who drinks, smokes, cheWs
or uses profane language.
The temperance people have organlz-
ed the association first named ana are
holding daily meetings to outline anu
agree upon a plan OF work o,,++,,,r
The temperance workers, accepIlilS s
Mayor George 1uir's own statement
do not expect any assistance from the
mayor and the city council. mayor
Muir said to a Journal reporter; .
1.-The issue in the last campaign IN
this city was squarely drawn. was
elected to give the people just the KIND
of an administration they are now nav
ing, and will continue it
Citv Attorney Hamilton holds that
the city council, cannot under the
present law, frame an ordinance under
which the police judge may prosecute
men for the sale of whisky or other
LIQUORS Accepting this view, the coun-
ell, which seems to be standing with
the exception of one member, g L.
Denny. with the saloon faction, is not
disposed to take active steps towards
assisting in the crusade.
Mr. Denny is president of the Home
Protective association and a radical
prohibitionist. He is the only temper
ance worker who suggested that V1o-
lence should be used in cleaning out
the saloons. He said:
This is purely a fight between the
law abiding people and the jointists.
Mayor Muir promised to close the
joints, and he has done nothing. The
issue did not appear in the last cam
paign at all He is simply in league
council to all appearances is standing
by him. We expect no assistance from
the council or the city attorney, but the
Joints will be driven out. The law
Will be enforced. The county attorney
has promised to aid US, and when we
get our organization in good working
order, we will open fight on thesS
Vfolators, which. in my opinion, vii
drive them out of the city for good.
What plan will you adopt in the
event the legal processes fail?" asked
the correspondent.
II believe it would then become the
duty of the citizens to adopt any means
they chose to drive these holes out OF
town I do not advocate mob law, bu1
1 do believe that forbearance ceases tt
be a virtue, and that when the laws
fail in being enforced by the proper of
fcers, that the citizens should then ac1
upon their own responsibility and drive
the saloons out of the city"
Many of the temperance workers
took exceptions to the position defined
by Mr. Denny. The church people anC
their associates in this fight assert tina
there will be no mob violence; no de
struction of property of any kind, bu
that a well organized and carefully
conducted fight against the Jointist'
will be conducted through the proper
legal channels.
John d. Fisher. a grain buyer, wa:
also criticised by the temperance peo
pie because he attempted to induce
some of them to go over to the Santa
Fe depot at night and destroy a con
signment of beer which had been un
loaded on the depot platform.
We do not propose to indulge in any
such conduct as that said Rev H. T
Purcell, the pastor of the Methods
church We demand that the prohib
itory laws be enforced. We want the
people of Harper to simply abide by the
law and we would not for momen
consider the idea of demolishing tn,
property of the joint keepers -
Rev. Mr.. Purcell has introduced
new method in the crusade. He per
eonally visits the saloon men and urge
upon them the fact that they are vio
lating the law and should cease doing
sole walked into the Holmes and Nor
gan place a few nights ago and in tn,
presence of the crowd of habitues O.