The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-27
HAS A MISSION.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


| secure justice, only I would rather have
justice secured through a boycott than
strike OF course, before boycottS
would be wholly effective there would
have to be an almost perfect organiza-
ton of labor. The laboring men must
realize just what their salvation con-
sistS in, and I mean to make the labor
ing men of Wichita realize this to the
fullest possible extent if 1 am elected
mayor. We have strong labor organiZa-
tionS here now, but they must strength
ened. I intend to see that every branch
mas an organization If the people give
me the office I expect the street labor
ers to be better paid when 1 step out
two years from now than they have
ever been paid in the history of the
city.
& am just as much in favor of the
public ownership of utilities as I am in
the organization of labor. If private
corporations can run waterworks plants
and electric light plants and street rail-
ways profitably, why can't city do the
same? 1t will give the city a revenue
and still furnish accommodation to its
citizens at a much lower rate. It will
serve to reduce taxation, and I want to
see Wichita set the example to the
whole country of just what can be done
in the way of municipal ownership.
Il have been asked how stand on the
liquor question, and 1 have told the men
who asked me that if prohibition could
be enforced as it should be enforced as
a law that I would be in favor of it.
But since the prohibitory law has been
passed in this state it has been proven
that it is not a success. I would rather
see this city have respectable saloons
which could be kept under police sur
veilance than holes in the walls where
our boys could hide themselves away
and learn to become drunkardS. was
a drunkard myself for eight years, and
/ know that drink is one of the greatest
curses on the face of the earth. My
father was a drunkard before me, and
although an old man am sorry to say
he is a drunkard still But people will
have liquor as long as liquor is manu-
featured, and it is better that they
should have it openly than any other
way. I believe in high license for the
saloons, and such a close police inspec-
ton that boys will be kept out of such
places. l think the majority of drunk
ards start on their career when young,
whereas If liquor had been kept away
from them until they were grown their
against giving way to excesseS.
HE HAS NO CREED.
James w. Tapp is man without a
creed. He says that he doesn't know
the names of half the churches in Wich-
ita, although he has been inside of all
of them and has spoken in the major
ity. Il see I have been called a Saliva
ZIONIST" he said, land indeed would
just as soon they call me Salvation
list as anything else. The only connec-
ton 1 ever had with either the Saliva
ton Army or the Volunteers of Amer
lea was to act as treasurer for them,
because one of their regulations pro-
VideS that the treasurer must be some
outside man. I'm not a believer in
creeds, because believe every man
and woman who have the thought of
brotherly love before them are in the
right direction no matter what their re-
ligious faith may happen to be. Lots
of people laugh at the SalVationlsts and
the Volunteers because they get out on
the street and march and sing, but L
don't / shut my eyes and see the Sal
walton Army women and the Volunteer
women walking up and down the dark
alleys of our big cities trying to br1nS
a. little sunshine into the lives of the
poverty stricken, and doing all they can
to reclaim criminals. They are doing
good every day; and because they don't
go about it just the way we THINK they
should is no reason we should laugh at
them. I go to their places of meeting
and talk to them just as L go to the
churches and talk to the church people
I think with the exception of the First
Methodist church of Wichita, have
talked in every church in this city
where members of the congregation are
given that privilege.
Tapp proves the fact that he has no
religious preference by employing men
of all faiths and some without faiths IN
his big store. The Roman Cathollc
works there daily with the A. P. A.
member, and the Salvationist, the
Methodist and the Hebrew compete
with each other daily in the matter OF
sales.
Tapp's history is interesting as show
ing what he has done by hard work
coupled with natural shrewdness. HE
was born on a farm near GaIeSDurS,
ILL., 43 years ago, and in winter instead
of going to school like the majority OF
other boys he put in his time sphttlhg
rails. In summer he dug coal, and
whatever education he can now boast
of he acquired without a teacher In
1878 his parents, with him and fVe oth-
er children, moved to Reno county, Kan
sas, and the family of eight located IN
Of He hired out 10
a farmer at less than so cents a day
and worked for such wages during the
spring and summer. In winter he gath
cred bones on the prairies and sold them
in Hutchinson.
Soon after the family moved to Reno
county Tapp met his present wife. She
was then a girl of Is herding cattle for
her father with but one dress to her
name A year after the Tapp family
located in the county, young Tapp de-
cided to marry her Her name was then
Millie Whittum How he succeeded in
carrying out his decision he tells enter
tainingly himself.
HIS ROMANCE.
'fShe was under age and I knew
had to get her fathers consent The
old man didn't like me very well and
I knew that it would do no good to ask
him. So 1 made up my mind to get
him drunk, and started in to feed him
corn juice. After little while he got
so he consented to let Mile come to
town with us, and we started for
Hutchinson a load of bones 1 had
gathered the day before. I didn't have
any money but one of my brothers had
Just closed a horse trading deal and
had 81 in his pocket, and held him up
for this. 1 went to one of the boys liv-
ing near there and borrowed a white
shirt, and then we all drove into Hutch
inson. 1 left Mile with the team, and
took the old man up to the court house
with me- He was getting drunken all
the time and was beginning to think I
was a pretty good sort of a fellow. L
liz Of %In To
court with the old man on my arm and
told the judge 1 wanted a marriage