Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-17
GOVERNOR LEEDY DOES NOT INTEND
TO ENFORCE PROHIBITION.
CITIES MAY Do AS THEY PLEASE
IF THEY WANT SALOONS LEEDY
WILL NOT SAY THEM NAY.
II They Want No Saloons They Must
Get Rid of Them without Aid
From Topeka - Secretary
stephens Talks of the
Situation.

Topeka. Has., May 16.-(Special) In
speaking of the attitude of the administra-
ton on the liquor question, prominent
state official said: 1.-The policy of Governor
Leedy and Attorney General Boyle will be
to let the large cities have all the liquor
they want. This is particularly true OF
Leavenworth, Wichita, Atchison and Kan
sas City. The sentiment of those cities is
overwhelmingly in favor of the sale of
Uouor and the collection of a license. That
has been the programme in those cities for
two or three years, and it Will be con-
tinued. The machinery of the state will
never be used to carry out any other polcy,
and the people in these cities thoroughly
understand that fact. In the smaller cities
and towns Mr.. Leedy's administration Will
let the people handle the prohibitory law
themselves. He does not propose to inter-
fere; if they want to get rid of the joints
they will be obliged to depend on the local
officials They can't get any satisfaction
at Topeka
The managers of the State Temperance
Union fully realize that the present admin
istration does not intend to take up the
fight to enforce the prohibitory law. The
union has for the present abandoned work
in the cities of Leavenworth, Atchison,
Wichita and Kansas City, ana Will CONNIE
its labors to communities where they VIII
not have the opposition OF the admlnlstra-
s1rhe new administration has certainly
done nothing to show that IT IS frIendly 70
enforcement of the law" said Secretary
Stephens, "and we have very little hope
that they will do anything for US in the
large cities The same poiiey , MhIrn TiS bS
prevail during the present administration
Morrilrs administration was great dls,
appointment to the temperance people, and
four months under Governor Leedy indi-
Gates that his is to be just as bad. de IS
making the greatest mistake OF ms me. ie
is cutting his own throat and running his
party. A large number of influential Popu-
lists have told me that If Governor Leedy
continued his do nothing poncy u WOuIe So,o5i
of farmers in the Populist party who are
firm believers in the strict enforcement OF
indorse Mr.. Leedy again If he continues
to cater to the whisky element.
The situation in Leavenworth is simply
told there are over $50 drinking places
many of the lowest type. No attempt is
made to close them. In Atchison 1t is not
so bad; that is, there are not as many OF
them, but they operate openly and boldly,
the city collecting a heavy license every
month. Kansas City, kas., runs in about
are as numerous as they ever We're. 1t
seems to have been the policy of the ad-
ministl alton to permit the joints of Fort
Scott to continue business. but the citi-
Zens are decidedly opposed to 1t, and hope,
through the aid of a Populist county at--
torney, a. Republican judge and others op-
number of drinking places in Fort Scott.
In Topeka, the sentiment of the communi-
ty is so strongly in favor of the rigid en-
forcement of the law that no fOOlishness
will be tolerated.
There are great many earnest tenn
perance people in all these cities who would
work for the enforcement of the prohibi-
tory law If they had public officials who
would do their duty, but in Leavenworth
more particularly the best people have laid
down and seem to have lost courage. The
situation in LeayenwOrth is worse than
in any other city, and apparently no effort
is being made by anyone to change ii. l
believe that even i'm Leavenworth an Off