The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-05
THE KEYS OF THE CITY.

Prohibition had an inning in the
house yesterday afternoon. 1t came up
under the bill introduced by Marks of
Jefferson, repeating the Murray law,
and before the inning was out the
author of the measure and F'airchild of
Kingman. the big Populist leader, had
taken several falls out of TOpeka's rec
ognized reputation as a city of law and
order.
When the bill was read Fairchild Of
fered as a substitute the old Murray
law, which differs from the Murray law
as now on the statute books, by provid-
ing in the section relating to penalty
that judge should impose fine "or''
imprisonment or both, instead of a fine
land" Imprisonment.
Larimer of Shawnee at once asked
that the substitute be printed and plac-
ed on the desks of the members before
they were called upon to consider it.
Cubbison of Wyandotte explained that
1t was the old Murray law and that the
only change was the substitution of the
word or for land" and said he did
not think the printing of the substitute
necessary. Larimer insisted on the
printing of the substitute and Fairchild
took the floor.
He accused the gentleman from
Shawnee of attempting to delay pro-
ceedings by insisting on the printing of
the substitute, intimated that he was a
crank on the question of prohibition and
said he represented a city that had
more Joints within ats limits than
Sedgwick county.
IF the gentleman from Shawnee op-
poses this substitute" said he, "he op-
poses it because he hasn't enough con-
hdence in his district judge to allow
him discretionary power. realize that
At is crime in the sight of the prohibi-
tion element to allow even discretionary
power in whisky cases. L realize that
the average sentiment of the prOhibi-
tion element in this state is to place a
lot of poor devils in Jail as tax upon
the community and allow the wealthier
class of violators to go without prose-
cution of any kind. This substitute
says to a judge that he may impose a
nne or Imprisonment, or both, but it
gives him power to show mercy where
he thinks it is deserved"
Marks of jefferson jumped to his feet
as soon as Fairchild sat down and Sc
cured recognition. He seemed to have
caught the idea of berating Topeka
from the gentleman from Kin gman, and
before speaking in favor of his bill as
introduced. he turned his attention to
the capital city.
Holding up in one hand q bunch Of
keys and Jingling them together, he
said:
Gentlemen, every key on this ring
and there are 21 of them, is a key to a
no more foul, more filthy or more low
down joints in any city in the country
than there are in the city of Topeka
You can scarcely go up Il stairway
without running against them, and YOU
can't go down a cellarWay without run
ming into them
Were you hunting for them when
you ran against them2' called some one
from the Republican side
yes; was hunting for them" rotor
TED Marks, and then continuing he said: !:
The prohibitory law now upon our
statute books is not enforced in either
the letter or the spirit daresav there
mas not been a legal sale of LIQUOR in
any drug store in Topeka or in anv
drug store in any city of the state for
the past wear, because the law saws a
man shall hold up his right hand and
swear that the liquor is needed for med
acinal or mechanical purposes. IF he is
required TO do anything at all it is
simply to sign the book of liquor sales
/ am in favor of absolute home rule in
the matter of the sale of liquor, and all
i am asking You to do is to-giye the