The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-21
WHATLEEDY SHOULD DO
Senator L. P. King on the Pro-
hibitOry Law.
Thinks Governor is Wrong
About metropolitan Police.
Says the Governor Told Him He
Would Appoint Commissioners
From Among Christian
People.

''TO take any other ground than that
every law upon our statute books can
be enforced would be the height of fol-
ly.'s said Senator L. P. King of Cowley
county to a Journal reporter in discuss
ing Gov. Leedy's policy with reference
to the prOhibitory law.
Kansas is regarded as being one of
the most enlightened states in the un-
ion" continued Mr.. King, "and 1t IS ab-
sOiute fOOIishness for US to have Of
ficers-or even our people attempt TO
do something and then take back
ward step.
"Of course. I have not seen any viO-
1ations of the prohibitory law in the
cities of the first class, because, per-
haps I have not been in them, but l
have been told, and my information re-
mains uncOntradicted. that joints and
saloons are running in all of these cit
les. wide open, and every day in the
week
The governor told me personally last
winter that ne would appoint commits
sioners recommended by the churches
and other good people, and that Sucn
appOintees would be expected to en-
force the law and to perform their
whole duty without fear or favor. Ac-
cording to the reports which come to
my ears, this has not been done. Grant
ing this to be true. and l presume it is,
the governor has attempted to go for
ward, but in reality has gone back
THE metropolitan police system is
unquestiOnably calculated to build up
prestige and secure influence for the
party which happens to be in power,
by furnishing a number of positions
into which political place hunters may
be installed The governors idea that,
if he abolished the system, as he has a
power to do, the Republicans would
gain control of local affairs in the cit
les, and steal all Of the elections. is one
with which I do not agree. If the con-
troll of local police affairs in those cities
would be advantageous to Republicans
at election time, it certainly follows
that q similar condition, with POpulists
in power, would prove equally adVan-
tageous to that party. These rules gen
orally work both ways, and the theories
do not harmonic.
I have always been inclined to the
principle of home rule. However much
the idea may be criticiSed,it is my Opin-
ion. taking the words of Gov Morrill,,
that in communities where public SEN
timent is not in favor Of the law, that
it is an exceedingly difficult task to en-
force it. This is but one of the difficult
ties which are encountered. L have OBJ
served that the people, in all communi-
ties, who would be regarded as being
most interested in the enforcement of
the law, are, a rule, very tame in
their efforts in that direction. The law
has not all to do with this question. In
fact, I believe, while admitting that the
prOhibitOry law is an excellent thing.
that it has been responsible for many
damaging and dangerous things. For
example, in Cowley county, on Satur-
days, our threshing forces, sometimes
numbering as high as 20 young men,
get together, go to town and spend the
night drinking and carousing. They
sneak around back doors and through
alleys. but get all they want to drink.
If there were open saloons. this would
not happen. They would, from fear Of
being seen. refrain from entering
them
Asked if he believed the law should
be repealed, Mr. King said:
I have not yet made up my mind
whether it is better than the old dram
shop law, and I am unable to give you
a definite answer