The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-29
COLONEL FEI|M R|)lRS
Because There's ''ToO Much
Rot About the KlOndike."
ALL JOINTS LOOK ALIKE
But Those Of the KlOndike are
a Little More So.

|. Topeka Kan. Aug. 2&-The Capital
says: . reporter for the Capital in
Leavcnwor :. yesterday called upon Colo
mel Thomas = Felon. the veteran Demo-
cratic lawyer and politician whom Gov
ernor Stanley has paid $50 out OF his con-
sIgnment fund to make war on the Klon-
bee ntaken toward the enforcement OF
law in that locality.
Young man." said Colonel Felon. glar-
ing fercely at the reporter. there al
ready has been too much rot in the news
papers. and especially in the Topeka Cap
ital. about the Klondlke. and about my
private business. Please state to your
paper that 1 haven't a damn thing to
say"
Tnen In softe' tones. as he embraced
the reporter according to Leavenworth
customs. Colonel Felon said: II do not
desire TO be discourteous. and as evidence
OF my good intentions toward you person.
ally, I viii ask you to join me in a
drink
One night last week. Governor Stanley.
Attorney General Goddard and F. B.
Dawes OF LeavenwOrth held a conference
in Kansas City. tn eEllondike being the
subject under discussion. 1t was reported
at the time that the governor and the
attorr y general had offered Dawes 500
to assist FelOn In the fight. and that
Dawes had taken the matter under ad-
visement.
Yesterday Mr.. Dawes was asked II he
would assist in the proposed Klondike
prosecutions.
81 don't know" was the reply.
Mr.. Dawes Is quoted in Leavenworth as
having said that Governor tSanley's plan
to suppress the Klondike would fail for
the reason that no Leavenworth county
jury would convict a saloon keeper on
spotter testimony.
Mr. Dawes also Is quoted as having
said iuAr the way to suppress Klondike
for the attorney general to notify the
sheriff and count yattorney that unless
they enforced the law within a month he
would commence custer proceedings
agains. them in the supreme court.
Mr.. Dawes would neither affirm nor de-
ny any Of the reports in circulation about
his views on the subject, or his intentions
in the matter.
The citizens OF Leavenworth county pay
no attention to the proposed crusade.
They all along have refused to treat It
seriously.
The Democratic county attorney and
sheriff have no intention Of moving In the |
matter. They treat Governor Stanley's |
offer of rewards for the information lead
ing to the conviction as a hunse joke.
The people, as well as the officers. pride
themselves upon the success In which
they have tramDled the prchibitary law
under foot.
AS to the Klondike. the joints out there
do not differ materially from Joints in
other localities. They contain the usual
fixtures; the usual blear-eyed bartender
serves the usual bad liquor: the usual to-
bacco smoke, beer odor and flies are there,
and the usual drunken scenes are en-
acted.
The Klondike infancy has been made
great in the eyes OF the public by the fact
that the principal patrons OF the joints
are aged civil war veterans from the
Soldiers home.
KlOndike extends to- the very gates OF
the home. Last week the odd soldiers
were paid $50 600 in pensions. and Klon-
dixie is reaping a harvest now.
OF course all the old soldiers don't spend
their money in Klondike. but so many %
them do that from early in the morning
till late at night a string OF veterans can
be seen vending their way 70 and from
their favorite Joints.
The reporter yesterday counted twenty
two old soldiers In one joint
The old soldiers VINO patronIze the Klon-
dixie don't want 1t suppressed. They say ,
the Klondike is more handy than the city;
that they meet with fewer accidents than
when they went 10 Leavenworth for their
liquor and are assaulted and robbed less
frequently.
There are twenty joints In KiOndIke-
The buildings ar echeap. many Of them
without paint. Most OF them have rooms
TO rent to bad women from Leavenworth.
black anil lif-, who take from the old
soldiers all the money that the joint
kee-r leaves.
Occasionally an old soldier manages 70
IA We something from the joint keeer and /.
who hang out IN the locality knock him
iown iwth club and take Il away from
him by force.
An assault Is committed every night r.
he KIondike. and often a murder: yet
he poor old men. too weak TO resist. or
protest. remain its patrons. and the com ,
runity seeks 10 project It from tie Ia1. ,
The KIondike joints Dsy a ''iioenss" & ,
he township. /; T. Claimed that the rev.
'nue Is used to hire o3nstables - patrol ,
ne Kiondike which extends over terri ,
Jr~ o. about ss acres. The rsDJTter ,
aw no constables. !
Where are your constables7' vas ask :
4 Of a soint kesSe
-'Daufno.' was the reply. we had a
elier around here las; week. but havn't
cen him Lately. Guess he's gone a FISH,
D."
GOD. AND THEN MORE FOOD 8