The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-01
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Topeka has 81 saloons, or joints as
Topeka prefers to have them called, and
Il drug stores. Besides these there are
lnnumerable dives and gambling places,
and other disreputable resorts. Arrests
are made daily, but no convictions re-
suit. Meanwhile the Temperance Union
or whatever its name is stands around
and screams Topeka is fearful it may
some day lose its reputation as the Holy
City of Kansas "-Lawrence Journal
If there has been an issue of the
above Lawrence paper in the last six
months that has not contained one or
more attacks on Topeka, it has escaped
the notice OF the State Journal.
Editor Charles Finch is man for
whose character and ability only the
highest admiration can be entertained
but his assaults on the capital city of
the state are too bitterly sweeping and
largely without cause or reason. The
charges OF -.hypocrisy;" .'collusion with
whisky men, working the state at
large for appropriations and general all
around degeneracy are the favorite
double loaded anathemas hurled at To-
peka. In his fierce Indictment of Topeka
and Topeka citizens this Lawrence edi-
tor can see nothing but evil and sham.
No ray of hope comes to tell him that
the conditions are not so dark as paint
ed. No silver Innings appear in the pes
simistic clouds that overhang his sane
tum by day and by night.
The editor has right to his opinion
but the facts do not justify the attacks.
Topeka is clean city of good morals,
numerous churches. a fine school sys-
tenn, miles of well paved streets with
able pastors. professional and business
men. It's citizens are cheerful, busy and
optimistic. Their time is not devoted TO
abusing neighboring townsmen nor run
ming down other citizens OF one of the
best states in the union.
Nor is the charge true that every
stranger who knocks at our gates is ia
ken in as was the lamb BY the wolf.
Let the evidence of state officers and
assistants who come from every section
of Kansas be taken. To a man they
declare that Topeka is a pleasant place
to tary and the people are courteous and
sooiable. Men who have lived here have
always come back after a sojourn in
other lands and especially. after an I'M
avoidable stop, in the Athens of Kan
sas.
The chief case of Topeka's offending
seems TO be in the fact that some whisky
is sold, perhaps, illegally and some
gambling is being carried on. That this
eral denial is entered. The mayor and
the chief of police have been active and
vigilant But a willy foe has confronted
them and every advantage of the loop
holes in a weak prohibitory law has been
taken and sometimes offenders have es-
capped the punishment that was due
them.
But on the whole this city is far above
the average of towns of a similar popu-
lation in moral cleanliness and as the
capital city of the state should be en-
couraged in the attempts to be kept
morally free from vice and crime rather
than be made target for abuse
He who lives in thin glass houses
should avoid casting stones. Within ths
month a citizen of Lawrence created
considerable undesirable notoriety at
Limon, Colorado. another was arrested
at Salina for stealing drugs to satisfy a
depravcd, passionate appetite, acquired
in the Athens" another citizen ard
merchant announced that the town was
d poor place to live in and the best citl-
zens were leaving, and he would sell
out cheap: etc, etc. Topeka does not
glorify over its neighbours nisfortunes
in fact they are to be deplored None is
perfect and 1.-The Athens seems to have
a few weak spots in its armor as well as
Holy Topeka
The upbuilding of ones own town is
more conducive to happiness than abus-
ing harmless neighbors