The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-28

torney, told me that when the case of
the City VS.. KneisSler was dismissed he
turned to County Attorney Jetmore, in
the presence of the judge and the court
stenographer and said: 81 want you to
prosecute this case. Here is a list or
witnesses. I want you to make out
complaint. If you do not care to swear
to it I will 1t seems to me that is a
good basis for a case.
George 3. Harrison-Mr. Jetmore, 1
believe is not dishonest in this matter
He explained to me that he has no Sc
cret service to accumulate evidence. He
said the city was in direct charge of
these matters and should take the initi-
ative. He said if ten good citizens
would help he could close the joints. He
thought, however, that he could not find
ten men who would stand by him in
the fight. He said if the city would
start the fight he would help. He has
expressed Willingness to work in
these cases. L think the failure of the
officers to perform their duties is owing
to timidity. They need higher power
to push them along. If the attorney gen.
eral would give them encouragement be-
lieve they would fight to a finish. We
need as Roosevelt said, a power to en-
force respect for all laws, regardless of
the sentiment of the people 1 think
Mr.. Jetmore is honest and is idle only
because he has no help. From the
standpoint of a Christian I think the
law is wrong, but it should be enforced
and l think it is possible to secure it's
enforcement
judge can enforce the law.
Mr.. Godard-What are the sympathies
OF the police Judge?
Mr.. Bonebrake-He is a prohibitionist.
Mr.. Nettels then came forward and
said: Il have come here by invitation
as a citizen and not in any sense as
member of the city government; and
though in fullest sympathy with the
general purposes of the meeting, and
willing, as you know, at ali times to
do what 1 can to promote the enforce
oar7& Nf fIn low T In fr--,1, L.
ness that if L had known the scope the
discussion was to take and the char
acter of the demands to be made, L
should not have come. In justice to the
mayor, whom I know to be a man of
oId-fashioned honesty, and firm in his
purpose to suppress illegal liquor SELL
ing in this city, I feel that L should be
put in a false position if L did not tell
you what I have told others upon other
occasions, that I know the mayor does
not purpose to be a party to any sys-
tenn of license. The joints are to be
closed if they can be closed. If they
can not be closed, they will run like
other classes of business. We all believe
they can be closed. Gentlemen will diff
fer upon the means of closing them but
L know that there is in the city govern
ment an honest purpose to enforce the
law. I think it right that the attorney
general should know this. 1 could not
say less; do not care to say more upon
| the subject"
Mr.. Godard-What is the status of
Mr.. Nettels-Our sales ordinance was
| passed in 1881 and provides for fine only.
| 1t has never been changed to conform
| to the present condition of the state
| law. A nuisance ordinance was passed
j in 1897 at the request of Governor
Leedy's board of police commissioners.
| Judge HaZen has lately decided a part
| of it to be invalid. A new ordinance
! was presented by the Committee of 200
! some weeks ago which failed by one
vote to pass. It is believed that it can
| now be passed if desired. This or
| dinance consOlidates the two features of
! sales and nuisance and requires both
| tiOn.
H. G. Larimer-I think the city Off
| GERS should report to the county attor-
| ney the evidence which comes into the
| city court in the trial of various cases
| of this character. This would aid the
| county attorney materially and place
! him in a position to proceed with his
! prosecutions.
Mr.. GODDARD said: Gentlemen, I as
| sure you that your requests in this
| matter shall not go unheeded. In just
! what manner I shall proceed I do not
| know now. I ask you all to be not too
| hasty in passing judgment. ] am COM
| get back until the latter part of the
| week but 1 will then take up this mat
| ter. / am convinced that the situation
here is not what it should be and I
| shall do my whole duty. I am very
| glad that you gentlemen have seen fit
| to call on me in the interests of good
| citizenship and good government
The call upon the attorney general
was the result of a meeting held in Mr..
Gleeds office this forenoon to discuss
/ ways and means of securing the en-
| forcement of the law.