Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-02-16
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EEIToR GAZETTE: Tread your article
In last weeks issue relative to our COM
missloners turning out the jolntists,
and have since read the explanation Of
the commissioners, Published In the
News.
When did the city Of Hutchinson
cease to be part Of Reno county, The
commissioners say the city authorities
are licensing joints and that while the
city openly violates the Law, they will
not enforceit. Every citizen Of Hutch.
inson is a citizen Of Reno county. 1t
Is as much the duty of the county
through It's ttllcers to enforce every
law against very citizen within its
boundaries rs + is the sworn duty of
every city Official to enforce the law
within the city. Every jointist in
Hutchinson is violating the State law
which the county officers took a solemn
oath TO enforce. The commissioners
by their explanation have through the
public press notified the people, that
they and the county attorney have full
notice and knowledge of these open
and notorious violations. But that ia
not all. II what the commissioners
sly, is true, the city authorities, who
are also citizens Of the county, are
openly violating the law and Of this
they and the county attorney have full
notice. 1t 10 therefore the sworn duty
Of the county attorney at once TO pros
eCute not only the jOintISts, but these
city authorities who they say are I'M
lawfully licensing law breaking. Many
good citizens are anxious to know
whetheror not 1t will be done,
1t is well known that during the four
years service Of the former county at
torney, certain city authorities, several
times. went to him and wanted him to
agree to lot the joints run and collect |
lines from them. This, he always re-
fused. But as soon as he was out OF |
office the joints opened and 1t was
openly and publicly announced that
hey would be allowed to run and the
,ity would license them. This shows
,oncluslvely that the city cannot license
Jhe joints and the jointist cannot
flourish without the acquiescence Of
he county officials. Neither the COM
nissioners nor the county attorney can
hift this responsibility to the city.
The county is greater than the city.
county officers are guardians Of State
aw. The rights Of the city cease
where the rights Of the state begin. It
8 the duty Of the county attorney to
'nforce every law against every citizen
Il the county even II such citizen does
Happen to live In Hutchinson. s.1IA
Commissioners in their explanation
ay they release these "poor fellows
Who are not able to pay their flnes;"
Ind yet one need not search far to find
n Reno county the record of poor I'M
ortunate fellows convicted Of MINOR
,ffences, who have been made not only
% serve out their full time, but mot
able to pay their Hnes," have been
rade to work them out on the rock
pile. Why this unrighteous and unjust
iiscriminationp 1t is just such that
,reates In the mind Of so many, other
wise good citizens, a disrespect for and
1isregard Of all law.
A poor boy is caught by a Hutchin-
ION policer an in the back alley throw
Ing dice, II his parents do not happen
% have friends or political influence,
ne is punished to the full extent Of the
aw and yet that same policeman to
The knowledge Of that same boy, every
lay on the Main Street walks by the
loors Of the jointist and leaves him un-
nolested because he pays for the privi-
ege Of committing crime and IL he gets
INTO trouble Is pardoned out. Then
he tax payers build reformatories FOR
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