The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-17
WILL TAKE A HAND
Anti-Saloon Leaguers' Eye on
on Oklahoma Constitution.
KEEP WHISKY OUT OF IT"
That Is the AvoWed intention
According to Rev. Swan.

Guthrie, o. T., Dec. I.-Considerable
interest is still taken in the organization
of anti-saloon leagues throughout Okla
homa. A speech made by Rev. Swan.
territorial secretary of the league at
Kingfsher recently. is attracting atten-
ton, in as much as boycott against
business houses not in sympathy with the
league Is referred to, and also the state
ment is made that the league intends to
take a part in the making of a constitu-
ton for Oklahoma state by keeping
whisky out of the constitution" Accord
ing to the Kingfsher Free Press, Mr..
Swan said that a saloon license legally
issued is void. and that its possession
was no protection TO the saloon keeper.
He said the petition must be genuine and
legal in all respects, and that the bond
must be Of the same character, and that
saloon keepers carrying on business I'M
der such a license were doing so in yio-
lation of law, and that they were sub
ject to prosecution therefor.
One of the plans of the league was to
secure a complete list of the names OF
all petitioners for saloon keepers license.
That as soon as this list of names was
completed it would be printed alphabet
ically in book form and freely distrib-
uted all over the territory. He stated that
the investigation so far made, shows
that the total number OF names to saloon
keepers petitions does not exceed three
or four thousand He said it was fire.
quentIy asserted that a majority of the
people were in favor Of the saloon bust
ness. This he disputed on the ground
that there were $1,000 voters at the last
election, and that not over one out of
every twenty had ever signed these petit
TONS He declared that in most the
towns practically the same persons sign
ed all the petitions, and that it only re-
quired thirty names to each petition.
Saloon keepers boycott those who op-
pose their business, Mr.. Swan claimed.
and, by this means, overawed business
men. AS soon as a business man takes
a stand against lawlessness, the lawless
element begins a boycott against him.
He asserted that in every community
many merchants contributed literally to-
ward the Anti-SaIoon fund but made it
special condition that their names
should not be known. They are afraid
that they will lose the saloon keepers
patronage.
He said the league was watching bust
ness men, and it proposed to follow the
example set by the saloon keepers; that
its members proposed to stand by each
other, and to patronize their friends. He
said the number and patronage Of saloon
keepers were small compared with the
number and patronage of those who were
in favor of law and order. He said he did
not believe in boycotting only in self
defense, but II merchants preferred the
friendship of law-breakers to the friend
ship of those who We're in favor Of the
law he thought they ought TO have all
the benefit they could derive from it. He
said it would not take long to demon
strate the strength and value of the pat
ronage of the temperance people.
Mr.. Swan declared the league was not
partisan organization. It was not Repub-
lican Democratic or Populist. but its
embraced men of all parties /.
It's fight was against whisky and men
who were allied with the whisky inter !
ests. He illustrated this by referring TO (
the recent election in Ohio He said the
Anti-Saloon league gave notice to the /
political parties that it would not support
whisky men. He said nineteen members +
Of the previous general assembly were
under the control and in the employment {
Of the liquor dealers association. The
league gave notice that, Il these men .
were renominated, its members would
vote and work against them. One humid
red and fifteen thousand letters were
written and sent out by the league. Fiji
teen OF these men failed Of nomination:
four were nominated In spite OF the pro-
tests. but were defeated at the polls. He
also spoke OF the fight made by the lea
que against the Republican candidate for
lieutenant governor who was attorney
or the Ohio State Brewers league. and
said that It resulted in his vote falling
s 900 below the vote cast FOR the Repub-
lean candidate FOR governor. He said
he temperance people had learned a val
liable lesson from the liquor dealers, and
hey proposed to show the country that
hey could control a. many votes as the
Saloon Keepers and the Liquor Dealers
issociatiOn. we propose. said NJ
swan. "to support only the known
riends Of law and order. no matter what
,arty they belong 10. And we shall give
,arsy leaders notice Of our purposes.
And II they ignore cur demands and nom
nate friends and apoloEists Of law.ess
ess. they must suffer the consequences 1
We viii not support them. We viii
how that when a candidate e champion
d by liquor dealers. II VIII be a damage. /
ather than q benefit 20 him"
Mr.. swan also said The Anti-sa1oon lea
ue proposed 30 have something 20 say
Bout Oklahoma statehood. and when s.
ONES 70 the adoption a. 4 constitution !
he hzh+ against saloons VIII de made !.
Te said lt wosld b. much easier 20 keep :
.hlsky out - the constitution than 70 1
81 Il cut after i 81 once IN there