Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-01-13

III not hostility. yet III Is app rent tilnJ Sucn u
spirit exists. Tho causes OF this condit.o, arc
numerous. On the one hand, the political dem
agoguo has been constant, in season and out OF
season, In melting the people against the rail-
roads that he migha gain personal or political
advantage. On II other hand the railroad
management has afforded ample ground for the
discomfort which exists. In can hardly be
hoped that Their, Will be n re establishment OF
the old time relations OF cordially and good
will while these reason remain.
The railroad ,ompanles have large sums IN
vested In Kansas and should be allowed to re-
alize q reasonable profit on the amount invest
ed. The people o. the state are too fair minded
to so limit the rate OF transportation over rail-
road lines as to cripple the companies, prevent
them from realizing reasonable income on
their capital, or from plying TO the great army
OF laboring men they employ good wages. They
believe, however. tat the RI lroads have dis
eliminated against Kansas communities, and
out OF this b,lief h $ grown much OF the feel
ing of dissa tsfactoa which now prevails.
This same condition confronted Us ten years
ago. In his message TO the legislature In 1889
Governor Martin In treating this question said;
And worse than all. and OF state ~ well as To-
cal concern, several OF the railway lines OF
Kansas are so operated as to build W and fos-
ter alien communities, TO the detriment or de-
struc.ion Of our towns md cities Several. II
not most, OF the ra iroads traVerslng our STATE
are so operated rs to retard the growth and
damage the prosperity OF communities that
have materially aided in building them, ana
that are bearing heavy burdens OF taxation to
meet Indebtedness contracted for that purpose.
Millions OF acres OF state lands and millions or
dollars in DO ads have been given by our people
10 aid in building these roads The benehciar-
les OF this prodi yal generosity should recognize
their ob igations TO the people OF the state ana
so p,rate their lines as TO confer the largest
possibl, benefits and advantages upon Kansas
communities"
Since that message was delivered many
changes and some adjustments have been made,
but the language used by Governor Martln
wou d fitly describe present conditions. Gov
ernor Martin closed the subject Us follows:
Appeals to the justice and fairness of many
railway rlauAscr' have bcea tried again ana
again for many years nd have failei to ac-
complisn any important results. 1t is time TO
try what stringent laws, backed by determined
public sentiment, will do"
Tho me, hods p intei out have been largely
pursued, but they have not bri igcd the DIM
cutie,. La IS passed in the heated discussion
of partisan controversy are often detective,
sometimes unconstitutional. Remedies tn 'ough
the courts are generally tedious and expensive,
an frequently INADEQUATE TO meet the case;
and especially /; this true where the Giscriml-
nations are made in matters Of Interstate COM
merce, and, coaseluca Is, matters over when
our local courts hay, no control. But in all
matters OF state commerce the state has very
great powers OF regulation and control
The benefits AMI obligations accruing to and
resting on the state and the railroads are
dependent and mutual Each desires the larg-
est advantage possible consistent with the
rights OF the other, and however and Whenever
the difference is adjusted 1t must be done on
tho basis OF the reciprocal rights OF both par
tess
The new lnw-iust passed at the special ses-
sion-is entitled to u fair trial. II called into
use for the pm pose of enforcing rights or re-
dressing wrongs 1t is hoped tn 1t It's provisions
may be AMPLE; but l would expect better re-
suits II an honest attempt should be made to
adjust matters along friendly lines. legal
methods being resortsd to only when friendly
methods fail. l am satisfied that the people
are fair and will meet the rlilr0ad cmpanie'
half way. II tho management OF the railroad
companies are willing to have an cQuitabl, ad-
justment of tho difficulties which exist, have
no doubt that th: re ,rcsentatives OF the people
will be equally Wi ling to meet them on the
basis OF fairnes, and think we could accom-
D ish In two years OF effort in this direction.
more than we have accomplished in q decade OF
strife and contention.
Prohibition.
For eighteen years the prohibition OF che
manufacture and sale OF intoxicating liquors
has been the settled policy OF this state. but the
enforcement tf this law IS been attended with
Indifferent success The difficulty Of the Stu
alton has becn owing largely to the fact that
prohibition has been made n political rather
than an economic question. This perVersion OF
the question has resulted in such condition
that, in Kansas. prohibition and temperance
e not Synonymous The misfortune OF pro
hibi.ion is that it has largely been made
political question every two years, TO lapse
during long intervals. only to be rehabilitated
and brought into use at each recurring election
for political purposes. The result OF the last
two general 'lections in Kansas demonstrated
that, as purely political question, 1t has about
run its course AS an economic question II Is
entitled to q much more serious consideration,
and ought to command our earnest attention.
AS the law now stands 1t Il hardly profitable
to discuss whether prohibition is wise or I'M
wise Many of our best citizens diner on this
proposition, but prohibition is the policy OF our
state a part OF our fundamental Inv, supple
mentel by legislative enactment and the en-
forccment OF this law Is entirely outside the
pale of discussion. The talk that 1t Is better
that other laws and different methods should
be resorted to for the enforcement OF II Is IDLE
The talk that it should be disregardcd and that
officers should tacitly, II not openly, consent to
its violation is vicious All laws should have
more and no less than other laws and the pres
ent administration stands squarey AID I'M
in favor OF the enforcement OF all
laws the prohibitory law in no vile excepted.
Heretofore the executive departing 1T has been
in n measure charged with the enforcement OF
this law in cities of tn, first class, and many
honest and vigorous attempts have been made
by some of my predecessors to accomplish this
purpose. These attempts have In large meas
urc resulted in failure. and whatever may be
the reason the failure has been largely at
tributed to the metropolitan police sy ITEM
without discussing the reasons 1t may be
stated as q fact that the m 3tropoitan police
system has been failure, and in more recent
wears scandal and a disgrace. The influence
of tlese failures has to II certain extent reached
many other communities, so that Mt this time
the prohibtory law IL not successfully en-
forced The metropolitan police system has
failed to meet the expecta, ions Of its friends
and It's abolition meets with my approval The
end of this system will place the enforcement
of this law in the hands of the people through
the Judges county attorneys. sherifs and con-
stables elected by them a reasonable number
of citizens in any community can secure the
enforcement OF any law with reasonable GER
tanty.
Ih,v, great faith in the people The aboli-
ton OF the Metropolitan police system leaves
the enforcement OF the prohibitory law. like
other laws. in their hands, through the agency
OF the local officers, and there l am willing to
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