People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-08-19
The Harper Prohibition War.

Daily Journal, Saturday.
Circulars were scattered on all the
principal streets of Harper yesterday
calling for mass meeting of temper
ance workers to be held today to take
action against the joints which we're
recently opened there as the result of
the election of an anti-temperance
municipal ticket last spring,
The circulars were issued by
authority of the Home Protection
league. This league, which as yet
has no organization, has been started
by the leaders of the Temperance fac
ton, which appeared in body before
the council and demanded that the
saloon recently opened and all joints
in the city be Immediately closed or
that the entire city administration
resign. The intention is to hold a
mass meeting of those interested,
both in the city and country and to
allow PrOhibitiOniSts in the country,
who have been lending their moral
support to the movement to close the
joints, to participate.
Thursday night, a secret meeting
was held at the Baptist church,
which appointed committee to pre-
pare tOday's demonstration. The wife
of the Rev. M. Parker will preside at
the mass meeting until an Organiza-
tiOn shall be effected.
Councilman G. L. Denny said yes
terday: "We have not withdrawn an
inch from our original demands and
we are prepared to take action to COM
pei the city government to comply.
The duties of the committee appoint
ed will not be made public, but you
may say we have written to the attOr.
ney general for advice and we propose
to bring the city officials to account
for openly tOlerating violations of the
state laws. Every one will know what
these steps are after the league meet.
ing Saturday. We have no intention
of going around the city authorities
to the cOuntY'a:torney to begin action
against jOintists. We are going to
force the city government to do It's
duty or take the league conse-
Quence."
The saloon which precipitated the
present fight is still running wide
open near the business center of the
town. No attempt has been made to
execute the threats of whipping or
mob law made to the council by the
agitatOrs.
The feeling has waxed much warmer
since the accusations of perjury and
the threats Of violence were made at
the council meeting, until now
scarcely a man or woman in town has
not become a partisan. Many who
are in sympathy with the movement
say that the action of the leaders has
been passionate and illadvised, but
there are no retractiOns or signs of
weakening on the part of the
organizers.
Mayor Muir refuses to begin the
fight on the saloon and joints until
he shall be convinced that the people
who elected him have changed their
opinion on theIquestiOn. "Idon't think
the people who signed the petition
peremptorily demanding the enforce.
ment OF the law were a considerable
proportion of the taxpayers of the
city. There is petition 10 the office
OF the county attorney from four.
tfths of the business men and large
taxpayers asking me not to interfere
with the city officers in handling this
difficulty. Their reason is that il
has become impossible to convict a
vlOlasOr ofithe prohibitory law in thi.
county by jury trial The prosecu
lions which were strenously conduct
ed for four years resulted in only two
convictions. The most fragrant viola
tor OF the law ever in the county wa.
petltioned out Of jlil by a majority
of the voters of this city few day,
after conviction. Whenever public
sentiment shall reach a point where
prosecution will not be generally op.
posed there will be no trouble in clos
Ing the joints. l am opposed to in
creasing the heavy taxation by tn,
J costs of futile prosecutions. Sine,
the system of fning offenders was in
} augurated the interest on the deb
amounting to $1,000 annually and ;
part OF the principal have been paid
Previous to this time sidewalks ant
crossing were in wretched state o
repair and the city treasury wa,
always depleted"