The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-14
TALKED MATTERS OVER.
Young Peoples Societies Discuss the
Joints, But Form No Plan
of Action

The delegates from the different
young peoples societies together with
a large number of interested persons,
met last night in the parlors of the first
Methodist church to elect officers and
to form plans to be carried out in a
campaign against the joints.
Mr.. L. A. Stebbins said, when called
upon to offer suggestions: We can
form an organization that will be pow
erful enough to suppress the joints. But
the most difficult thing to do is to keep
them closed after we have once done
are closed comes a period that the ac-
tive work dies out and the persons who
forced the Joints to close up become lax
in their endeaVorS and the places open
again. We can cripple the saloons but
we can not kill them until we reach a
higher state.
IF a jointist sees that this organization
becomes a MIXTURE he will respect what
we do According to my mind the most
important thing to do is to vote. Have
an organization of voters and prepare
a list of voters in every city and county
precinct. Teach them what is needed
THE jointists are organized into a
non-partisan organization and work for
their own interests. We should find out
whether joints are running or not, find
the number that are running, their loca-
tions the name of the man that runs
it, the name of the owner of the build
ing or the agent of the property.
and many good citizens object to it.
That way is to employ men who have
admittance to these joints and have
them get evidence for us To hire detec-
tives is the only way we can get this in
formation. If this is dishonorabIe then
we can't get information.
when we get a list publish it and
send it to every good citizen. I can
suggest no better plan of campaign
than this for the average public
official. We should also place be-
fore the voters accurate information as
to whether the officers of the law per
form their duty or not.
L think 1t is unwise for this organiZa-
ton to actually enter actively into the
field for an important element is public
sentiment. Unfortunately there are a
great many good citizens, that good in
quotation marks, who have preiudices
against citizens attempting to enforce
the prohibitory law, we have had
some experience regarding that in the
last two years. Efforts of that kind
operate against public sentiment"
Rev. NJ. L. Thomas said:
Il want to say that 1 believe we have
in Topeka tonight the best official force
for the enforcement of the prohibitory
law we have had since I have been in
the city.
There are officers of this town who
are being abused by those who assert
that they want to see the law enforced
l do not believe in this abuse I think
there is great deal of harm done to
l11S temperance cause nOC-h6aded-
ness. L don't like a man who has a
hot head and cold heart. Better have
a cool head and a hot heart
After the short speeches the follow
ing constitution was adopted as the
object of the organization:
ITO promote good city government;
to secure the election of honest and up
right men, and the enactment and en-
fOrcement of good and wholesome laws.
To see particularly that laws relative
to temperance, gambling the sale of
tobacco and cigarettes, and Sabbath
observance are enforced. This organi-
cation shall not exist in the interest of
any political party
The following officers were elected:
President. Geo. B. Harrison.
Vice president, F. D. Fuller.
Secretary, F. H. Niles.
Corresponding secretary, E. E. Steph-
ems.
Several musical numbers were given
by Mrs. L. L. Goodwin, Mr. W. L.
Hofer, Mr.. F. w. Swearingen, Miss
Mary E. Corr and Miss Anna NJ. Parry
Bundy.