Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-02
OFFICERS IGNORE THEIR DUTY.
DIR. FISHERS ABLE STATE
MENT AT TOPEKA.
ance Union Starts on With a Dash
About o Delegates in At
tendance-Real BUSH
ness To-day.

Nay Sil ia lIEt StSSlol L it1It'll SSDSH
wood opened the way for a discussion OF
the prohibition law as II is enforced in these
good old Populist times, which brought
forth many interesting tales.
The meeting was called 10 order at 4
o'clock, with about 200 delegates in at
tendance. The president announced that
there would be an experience meeting first,
in order to stir up some enthusiasm. He
called for three minute speeches from the
various delegates as to the condition Of
temperance affairs in their neighbor local
titles.
DR.. Fisher. I~gnorantly. OF course lat least
his friends hope so), started off by telling
that the prohibitory law was fairly well
enforced at Topeka, when, in fact. every
body knew that there are more joints in To-
peka to-day than before the passage of the
law. The other speakers did not attempt to
color the condition of affairs in their local
ity in order to make a good showing.
L.. III. Thompson, Of Norton. said in his
county a desperate fight had been made
against the saloons. n that, at present,
none existed. He said the people were los
ing confidence on account of the general
violation of the law, and that If the tenn
perance people did not fHd some way to stir
officials up the law would soon be disre-
earded everywhere. He said the men should
quit laying the blame Of the n~on-enforce-
ment OF the law on the women and depend
ing on them TO drive the Joints out. The
men, he said, would nave to AXE a hand in
the fight. He favored making every preach
er. Sunday school superintendent and
churchgoer in the state take a pledge not
10 support any candidate for governor. at
torney general or county attorney who will
not agree TO enforce the law to the letter.
j. A. Hyden, of Winfield, said that polit-
ical affairs in Cowley county were in the
most humiliating condition Of anything this
side OF purgatory. Joints. he said, were
hourishing Ill a green bay tree, and juries
acquitted j~ointists in the face of the most
direct and positive evidence of law viola
lions. Cowley county. he said, had tried
county attorneys from all parties, with the
same result. The temperance people asked
the mayor to order the joints closed last
summer, during the Chautauqua assembly,
and he villified them.
j. L. Brant, of Coffey county, said the
law In his locality was only fairly well en-
forced. He had not seen a drunken man on
the streets In a year, but there was some
whisky sold. He said: "Coffey county,
the home Of Governor Leedy, stands fer
ninSt the governor or the liquor question"
He said that Governor Morrill, was a weak
kneed official and hat Leedy winks and
blinks at the violation Of the prohibitory
law. He commended the stand taken by
County Attorney Sheppard, of Fort Scott,
IN driving the joints out, and the large
audience applauded his words. He said
that the seal of condemnation should be
placed on the officials of all the larger
Towns which are in open rebellion,
William Harland said he came from
Stchison, a noted temperance town of Kan
sas, where anarchy is in full control, so
lar as the enforcement of the liquor law
IS concerned. He wound up: when any
political aspirant from Atchison comes to
you for your suffrage, smell his breath
first"
L. L. Thomas, of Whiting, said there
was not an open saloon in Nemaha county,
but plenty of joints. The county attorney,
however. was trying to do his duty, and
was arresting j%ointists right and left. The
speaker said he had been pushing the
fight himself. and that twice within a few
months a mob had been organized to lynch
him; but, he said, the leaders did not nave
the courage to carry out their plans.
DR.. j. u. Dougherty, of Kansas City,
has., startled the delegates by stating that
there was not a solitary joint in his town.
After a brief pause, however, he declared
that there were over 100 open saloons rum
ming: that they were well regulated, and
under the protection and supervision of the
governor of the great state of Kansas.
President Lockwood then announced that
the experience meeting would suspend for
the day, as there was other business to be
transacted. The following committees were
appointed:
Credentials. C. Haskell. Lawrence; J. F. Brant.
burlington; L. II. Murlin. Baldwin: A. B. Whiting,
Topeka: c. S. Scott. lola; o. L. Smith. Wellington;
Plan of work.. W. GIeed, j. A. Troutman. W, a
PETER. A. A. Adams and F. NJ. stahl. Topeka; W. II.
lington; II. C.. Rush. salina; Robert Astchison, Of
tawa. c. A. Place. Winfield and R. A. HOFFMAN,
Lincoln.
Resolutions-John D. Hewitt and John Madden,
Emporta: +. II. Snow and r. ". Spar. Lawrence;
peka: J. c. Haskell. LAWRENCE; j. q. Doucbertv
Kansas City: s, L. Allison, Holton.
Revision Of the constitutional. II. Vance, T. H.
Balm. F. c. Poponoe. J. A. Troutman and A. r.
Whiting. Topeka: n. Williams. Lansing; j. n. cui.
yer, Emporia; Ella Brown. Holton.
Ways and means-E. A. Hoyt, wellington. Mrs
s. A. Thurston. J. 3. Lariner. S. T. Howe, Thomas
Page. George NJ. Herrick. Topeka: 7. p. Moore. HoI-
win.
communications-wmLam Bishop. salina; Horace
Hurley. Junction City: o. L. Smith. Wellington. :
At t~o-night's session, President Lock-
wood delivered his annual address. He said
that the union had conducted a campaign
of education during the past year, and that
much good had been accomplished. Over
confidence, he declared. endangered the
success Of the movement. .'If prohibition
IS overthrown.' said he. at will be done
through o~verconfdence of its friends, and
not because of the strength and
numbers of It's enemies. No one can doubt
thai the principles of prohibition have a
hrin mold In this state"
tnder the reading. Things That Are
Needed, the president said:
"First-We need the temperance forces
OF the state united and ~reorganized. To
accomplish this. the union would recon-
mend a thorough organization in every
county. township and school distcrict in
the state 10 the end that the latent forces
may be called into active work. Let a state
organizer be employed TO canvass the
state.
"Second-We need the temperance senti-
ment thoroughly aroused. The press should
he utilized TO Its fullest extent The press
is a powerful educator, and has shown a
Willingness 10 FAVOR US with its influence.
Its columns are always open to use and If
We don't take advantage of the offer IL is
our fault. The pulpit can be depended up-
on. Mass meetings and picnics should be
held.
"Third-We need officers, from the high
est 10 the lowest, who will do their duty
If We want this class of officers the temner.
ance voters must he in evidence. We must
not wait until after the various conven-
lions of the various parties are held when
st is too late to enter n useless protest"
The first days session closed to-uipbt
with an address by DIR. Howard RusseU
Of Columbus, o., national organizer of the
anti-saloon league. The union will get
down to business in earnest tomorrow.
d SCHEME THAT FAIL En