The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-04
Secretary Stephens Rather Fa'
vOrs the Dispensary Plan.
Even Then Would Sell for Only
Certain Purposes.
TROUTMAN OPPOSES
UnalterablyAgainst Any Change
in Prohibition Law.
We Want More Enforcement
Not More Law.

diSpenSary system for the government
of the sale of liquors at the coming
state temperance convention, mentioned
in Saturdays Journal, created unusual
interest among the prohibition workers.
Many of them decline to discuss the
subject in any manner, pleading as an
excuse ignorance of the workings of
the dispensary system. Others are
strongly opposed to it and do not hesi-
tate to say so privately, but fear to
discuss the subject for publication.
Secretary Stephens of the State Tenn
perance union favors the plan in modi-
fed form. He said this morning:
kansas will never go back to the
open saloon. She has been asleep for
some time past, but a decided reaction
is setting in. The defiant attitude of
law breakers is arousing the people all
over the state, and the inquiry, What
can be done to make the prohibition
law more effective?' is being more fire.
quently heard.
Various methods to this end are sug-
gested, such as the remedying of pres
ent defects in the law, the holding of
gospel temperance mass meetings, the
circulation of pledges. Some months
ago there was some talk of going back
to the old license system, but now the
talk is nearly all in the opposite direc-
ton. Not resubmission, but enforce
ment; not a weakening. but a strength
ening of the law is demanded.
And some there are who urge that
one means of strengthening the law
would be TO engraft upon it the state
dispensary system, suggestion with
which 1 am not altogether out of SYM
pathy. But l would not think it wise
to attempt legiSla ton as radical as this
at 1ir1cr There
been too little discussion upon the sub
ject. Such a change should not be at
tempted until ii has been prominently
before the people at least for one or
two years.
THE dispensary system needed for
Kansas is not the dispenSary system
of South Carolina. The system there
is a part of the political machine of the
state, used by the administration or
party in power to perpetuate itself The
agents should not be appointed by the
administration, but should come under
the civil service reform, and should do
their work on a salary, thus eliminating
the Objectionable profit feature. The
liquor sold should be the pure, unadul-
terated article, guaranteed by the state,
dispensed in sealed packages, and SOLD
onlv for the present constitutionally ex-
cepted purposes. Violations of the law
should be punished by the severest pen
altieS.
s.The people of Kansas are not going
backward They are tired of the pres
ent reign of lawlessness, and being sat
isfied that the license system is no rem
edy therefor, the next popular wave OF
temperance enthusiasm will be likely to
sweep bootleggers, jointists and drug
store saloOnkeepers out of existence IL
is possible that this question may come
in for a share of the discussion at the
meeting on the 1ztn anu lSth DA eiii9
month"
Lieutenant Governor J. A Troutman,
whose term of Office expires this week.
said: ...,z 49,,
nerance people who are always looking
for some sort of legislation that VIII
enforce it There has never been a
high or low license law, dlspe3nisary 9e3Iisa,.s.
system. local option or prohlpltory
law that was not persistently violated
THE fact that our prohibitory law
is resisted demonstrates its necessity
rather than it's failure. The temper
ance man who is looking for a law
that will not be broken is dreaming OF
an impossible utopia. My judgment IS
that the prOhibitOry law OF TINS state
is the easiest temperance law to en-
force ever enacted in any state Ihe
fact that it has been steadily enforced
in many counties. and spasmodlcaily
enforced in others. shows Whal can ps
done by proper effort.
Il believe further that, our 16 years
experience as whole, proves that our
primary purpose (the banishment of
the saloon) than any other law in any
other state The fact that general
denloralization prevails now is not at
tributable to defective law but to po-
Iitical conditions. We are approaching
a crisis and the prohibitory law viii be
thoroughly enforced or absolutely
wiped out
There is but one sensible thing for
temperance people to do and that is
resoIutely demand the enforcement of
the law We now have. Any attempted
change at this time means the restora-
tion of the saloon in Kansas AS com
nared with the license system the dis
pensary plan may have its merits but
in every essential particular it is not
to be compared with the policy of pro-
hibition.
Every section of our law has run
the gamut of the courts and has been
judicially Interpreted. The practice
under it is settled. Wherever all the
officers unite in doing their duty it is
easier to convict a liquor seller than a
horsethief In such counties, nine
times out of ten, there is no trial at all,
but the jOintiSt or boOtlegger pleads
guilty and throws himself upon the
mercy of the court Adopt the diSpen-
sary system or any other plan and our
courts for the next few years would be
the scene of contention and strife aris-
ing out of constitutional and legal ques-
tions What we want is not more law
but more enforcement of the law now
on the statute books.
s.I am unalterably opposed to the dis
pensary law or any other new-fangled
scheme to get rid of prohibition"
The members of Shawnee encamp-
nent No 8 are requested to meet at
T. o. o. F. temple at 1:30 p. m. sharp,
Tuesday, Jan. 5, to attend the funeral
! of Patriarch w. A De Moss. BY order
I