The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-09
PAT NOONAN's THREAT.
Liquor Agent Tries to Brighten a
Scandia Preacher.

John Boyer, of Klondike, and Tim
Burke of Leavenworth, are not the on
" people who can write letters on the
prohibition question. Rev James
Kerr, of Scandia, is in receipt of a let
ter on this same subject from Pat Moo
nan. the Leavenworth agent for a Kan
sas City brewery.
Rev. Mr.. Kerr has come into promf-
nence in the temperance movement be-
cause he is the originator of the reward
providence plan of fighting the joint
lists, which is being put into practice all
over the state Mr.. NoOnan writes to
the Scandia preacher to give a little ad-
vice. and in his letter he says:
Pardon this abrupt intrusion, but
from the papers and private reports we
see you are in very peculiar business
for a Methodist preacher Being OF my
own nationality I am dOubly surprised
at your course. 1t is making a set of
deceiVers and oftimes perjurers of men
who have most SOlemnly pledged to
keep their business dealings safe with
in their own breasts. Then it will ali
enate the German vote and ruin the
Republican party. We have thorough
ly discussed the matter and will black
list every enemy. The NJ. E. church
can not afford to array itself against
the traditions of the Grand Old Party
and lend aid and sympathy to the dis
reputable prohibition contingent. Our
agent, Mr.. Dunible, at Clay Center, in
forms US that only lately you made a
very bitter and insurrectOry speech,
inf1aming the public mind. 1t were
much more cOmmendable to do like the
NJ. Z. pastor at ROSedale; DR.. Vincent
of Greenleaf, who told me he had quit
harbOring crankism; Rev. J. K. Miller
of Junction City, Rev. W. A. Crawford
of Abilene, and many others we have
on our books who hold their jobs and
profit by keeping to their legitimate
calling of preaching the gospel instead
of sneaking around nights prying into
1f har a nd crl 10
in their own duplicity- This fanati-
cism you are helping along will make
no end of trouble and recOil on the head
OF your denomination that tOlerateS
such disturbers and it Will soon be as
unpopular as the Wesleyan Methodist
and United Presbyterians. Mr. Rice
will easily neutralize your Clay Center
illumination The whole NJ. E. church
is going to backwater on this political
prohibition folly at the next General
conference and preferences will be Civ
en- to those cOnsecrated and progressive
ministers who do not divide the churC h
by meddling in unpopular movements.
I have been selected on the committee
to attend to these details and it will be
done to a. finish. Nor is it desirable
that you show or reveal the contents of
this correspondence. I tell you this on
the square, mark and govern.
Yours fraternally.
"P. S.-Of course, being a Methodist
you are for Mckinley and will favor
Stanley's denomination and election.
The governor is solid gold, an upright
man, level and plumb. P. M
The Scandia Journal. a Republican
paper, edited by a Republican pOstmas-
ter, in commenting on this letter, says:
Mr.. NOOnan intimates that Governor
Stanley is with him If this be true,
Mr.. Stanley may as well pack his grip
and prepare to remove from the state
house For not in ten years have the
people of Kansas reelected a governor