The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-03
Discusses Enforcement of the
PrOhibitOry Law.
Some Troubles of an Official Of
the City.
NO NEW CONDITIONS.
Always Have Been Difficulties
With Liquor Sellers.
Was the Same During the Days
of High License.

Police Judge Guy thinks that the
"Scandja plan'' of enforcing the pro
hibitory law is a good one and ne 50
expressed himself in a conversation
with Mayor Drew. This is the plan
of offering a reward of $50 or 500 for
evidence that will lead to conviction for
selling liquor, which is now being con-
sidered by the temperance committees
of Topeka.
Il believe the plan is one of the best
I have ever seen proposed said Judge
Guy. ''If jointist knew that a reward
was offered for his conviction he would
not dare to sell liquor to his best friend
for fear that his friend would tell on
him to get the reward. 1t would make
a iointist suspicious of every one. Some
might take the risks, but they would
be very careful about it, and many or
them would be frightened out alto
gether. There are many men who
would not voluntarily tell of buying
liquor who would quickly do so for
$50 At present when a man is dragged
into court to testify in a liquor case he
generally comes unwillingly, and 1t is
hard to get testimony"
well, 1 would like to see something
successful in closing up joints" said
Mayor Drew, $50 that the police force
can have a little time to work on some
thing else. Liquor dealers always make
if there is q law which restricts the sale
of liquor in any way, it is constantly
broken. 1t was just the same under
high license I was here before the
DAYS of prohibition when we had high
license laws, and the police force was
kept just as busy then watching that
some one didn't sell liquor without a
license. A certain number OF saloons
We're licensed and then all the other
fellows started up without licenses; the
men who had licenses complained to
the police and claimed the protection
of the police because they had paid well
for their privilege. The police court
records of those days will show the
same difficulty in enforcing the high
license laws that are experienced now
with the prohibitory law.
And if the police make an attempt
| to get evidence against these jO1ntiStS
| there is complaint about it. Some time
| ago was advised by a state official to
| have the policemen go into the joints
/ and get the names of persons there to
/ be used as witnesses 1 thought l
| would try it and I had two policemen
go up into a Sixth avenue joint, which
/ has acquired considerable notortety- No
/ sooner had those men got up there than
1 my telephone bell began to ring, and
/ I was told that two policemen had gone
! into a certain joint to get drink. Four
| times within the next hour was told
| the same thing over the phone, and
/ within two hours there was a delega-
| ton up here asking that these men be
/ discharged from the force. These peO-
! pie were gOOd temperance men VINO
| were anxious to see the law enforced
| Some of them saw the policemen go
into the joint, and they jumped at the
| conclusion that they had gone there
/ to get a drink This just shows how
hard it is to get evidence against joint
| lists"
| When asked concerning the charge
| made by ex-DetectiVe Matthews that
| the police force is in league with the
| local beer trust to crowd out the joint
| lists who do not sell trust beer, Mayor
/ Drew told State Journal reporter that
| he knew nothing about it.
IF an explanation should be attempt
| ed of all the charges that are made
| against public officials, " said the mayor
| they would do no good. Explanations
| do not satisfy people who find fault.
! Matthews was kept on the police force
| much longer than he would otherwise
| have been had it not been for the COM
| mittee of 200. He was put on the force
| by Chief Ramsey at their request.
am satisfied that he has been of little
| service to the city for some time"