The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-19

besides the prOhibitOry law. It is true
that these gentlemen Justify shout that
they are in favor of the enforcement of
all laws, but they never hold any meet
ingS to protest against the nOn-enfOrce-
ment of laws other than the prohibit
tory law The prosecution of men for
perjury has almost entirely ceased, in
deed, it seems to be almost virtue
instead of a crime and they could do
a great deal of good along that line.
They have never held any meetings to
protest against the nom enforcement of
the laws regulating corporations, by
means of which the people of this state
have been robbed out of millions.
The legislature two years ago passed
a law compelling the railroad cOmpa-
MES to weigh and receipt for the grain
that they received for transportation.
The railroads have paid no attention
whatever to this law, and yet I have
not heard that these gentlemen, who
are so much in favor of the enforce
ment of all law, have made any public
protest in this matter. Can it be true
that these gentlemen have their exits
and their entrances at the beck of a
corporation attorney? Is it possible
that they shout when he waves the
batOn2 Is it true that they keep still
or retire from the stage at this gentle
mans instance? Verify, it looks so,
and I think that the temperance cause
could best be promoted by the temper
ance people of this state, especially the
ministers who are truly in favor of
temperance reform, and there are
thousands of good and honest Chris
tians of that kind serving the Lord as
ministers in this state, coming together
and recognizing the State Temperance
union by diSplacing the men who have
for the last two years made its name
synonym for political treachery, in the
ways that have described.
Speaking for myself, / intend to give
the temperance laws the same .execu-
ton that I do other laws, and other
7
prOhibitOry law, so far as I am able
1 have appointed to be police commits
siOners in the various cities as good
citizens as 1 could find that were will
ing to accept the position. 1 have not
asked them what their views are on the
temperance question, because it was
not my business to do so; neither do
ask a notary public when 1 appoint
him what his views are with regard to
keeping a record of his office, as re-
quired by law, but desire to say in de-
tense of the police commissioners of
Topeka that they have convicted more
men of selling whisky in the short time
they have been in office than was done
in a year previously It is supposed
that every man who is appointed to an
office understands his duties, and will
fulfill them to the best of his ability
with the power that is given him, and
the courts are open to any citizens who
desire to make complaint Every man
convicted of a crime and sentenced by
court, curing my MISUNDERSTANDING Will
have to go behind the bars, whether
he be friend or foe.
I believe in a government of law,
and have not, nor will not. set aside the
judgments of the courts by granting
pardOnS in advance of the sentence or
issuing conditional pardons If l think
a sentence is too severe for the crime
committed, I may reduce it, as the law
cOntemplates, but I have no sympathy
with the class of people who desire to
have their views carried into effect re
have found, when L have looked up a
citizen of that kind. that he was gen
orally a. law breaker himself.
AT the meeting recently held in this
city, some letters were read from two
eminent railroad attorneys, who were
not able to be present. One of them ia
vored mob law and anarchism in place
of public courts and legal machinery
for the enforcement of the law. If any
man in the state of Kansas shall resist
a legal process of any court in the state
I will see that he is properly dealt with
but I do not think the governors office
was intended to SuperSede the courts,
and am unable to understand why this
gentleman should take the view he
does of this matter, when he seems to
be a violator of the law himself
I do not know of a certainty the
reason why Mr.. Williams or Mr.. G1eed
told it was because they were called to
Chicago to attend the meeting of the
freight rate association to devise a
means Of evading the Sherman anti
trust law, and it seems that these gen
tlemen were successful because read
in yesterdays newspapers that a new