Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-20
GOOD FOR JOINTIS1S.
THEY ARE HAVING THEIR OWN WAY
UNDER GOVERNOR LEEDY.
EVEN TOPEKA is "WlDE OPEN"
SALOONS LICENSED TO DO BUSINESS
IN THE CAPITAL CITY.
First Time the system Has Ever Been
in Effect fhere-GO-Betweens
Getting n Great Deal of
Joint Money-EmpOri-
ans Aroused.

Topeka, Kas. July 1s-tSpecial) That
the Populst state administration is in
league with the whisky element OF Kan
sas there can be no doubt. Never since
the adoption of constitutional prohibition
has the law been so fiagrantly violated as
at present. No effort whatever Is being
made by the governors police commission
ers in the six large cities to enforce the
law. On the other hand. encouragement Is
given the lawless element to open joints.
The only promise eXacted is that the joint
lists will put up" No evidence has been
obtained directly fastening the charge OF
corruption on any state official, but a guam
tity of circumstantial evidence has been
accumulating, and some of these days ii
may loom up to embarrass certain present
officials.
That political fixers and alleged go-be-
tweens are making money out OF the
jointists is certainty. Examinations OF
police court records in several of the towns
establish this face. 1t is said that large
"rake-off" is being made by the hxers at
Leavenworth. A prohibition Populist took
occasion a few days ago to look up the
records in that city, and he reports that
there is a big discrepancy. He estimates
that at least $500 is being diverted monthly
from the pockets of saloon men and disso-
lutte women to some politicians who claim
to be the friends of the Populst admin
istration. The dates, names and places
have been obtained and II is said that the
figures will be turned loose during the
coming campaign. The chief hXer from
Leavenworth is probably the most fire.
quent out of town visitor TO the capitol
building. He is closeted sometimes for an
hour or so with certain officials, and when
the door swings open everybody wears
pleasant look.
Kansas City, Kas jointists are also put
ting up to somebody. However. that money
stays at home. 1t is divided up among
some Popocrats with pull there.
At Fort Scott the county attorney is in
terfering somewhat with the plans of the
police commissioners. He has kept the
Joints closed for some time, much to the
disappointment of the police board as well
as the fixers. At Wichita, the jointists are
getting along finely.
The police commissioners of Topeka have
at last adopted the license system of reg
ulating the Joints. This is the first admin
istration that dared to adopt this system
in this prohibition town. Some time ago
there was a great ado over the opening of
a saloon in the second story of buil1ing
on the principal street of the town. Indig-
nation meetings were held and the officials
were roundly denounced. 1t was resolved
that no open saloon should run in Topeka,
and the threat was made to organize a
mob to take summary steps to rid the city
of the open saloon. The proprietor became
frightened and closed up.
However. there is at the present time an
open saloon on the first floor of Kansas
avenue business house. and IL is running
as openly as any saloon in Kansas City,
Mo The proprietor says IL Is the first sa-
loon to occupy the ground floor in fifteen
years. Heretofore the Joints always sought
dark rooms in the second or third floors or
dingy Easements. This particular jOintist
formerly ran his Joint on the second floor.
but he said that II was too much trouble
for his customers to climb up and down.
Beside he said that IL was hard work to
carry beer up a long flight of steps. and
he did not think that ii was any worse a
crime TO run a saloon on the first floor than
on the second floor.
The Topeka jointists are now being
fined" regularly. That is, they put up a
cash bond when arrested and forget to ap-
pear for trial and let the police take the
money. And some of the fixers are getting
money out of the jointists on the side.
The Populist county committee has been
promised a good sized campaign fund by |
the police authorities, providing IL will call |
OF the tight of the prohibition Populists on |
the administration.
The jointists of Kansas are being bled |
pretty hard. but SO far they have made |
no kick out loud. They are anxious to do |
business. and are willing to surrender a |
portion of their profits for absolute protec- |
ton.
The class of people who voted for Gov |
ernOr Leedy with the promise that he /
would enforce the prohibitory law are maxi /
ing vigorous complaints, but their COM |
rounded with gang of political bloodsuck-
ars in the large cities who have hypnotized |
him and are using their influence to pull |
he legs of the jointists.