The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-11
ENFORCE THE LAW
That Is the Cry of State Tenn
perance Union.
Gen. J. X. Hudson Makes a
ROusing Speech.
PRES. GLEED SPEAKS.
He Discusses the Results of
Intemperance.
Attendance at Meeting Larger
Than For Years.
PRES. GLEED SPEAKS.

gregational church in this city and
there are delegates in attendance from
all parts of Kansas. The meeting this
year is one of the most enthusiastic
ever held, and the many delegates and
visitors in the audience go to show
that the cause of temperance in Kansas
is by no means dead.
The session opened at four O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon, and will close to-
night. J. w. Gleed, president of the
Temperance Union, called the meeting
to order. The afternoon session was de-
voted to the organization of the con-
vention and arranging the details SO as
to get under Roadway at once. Snort
reports of work done and on the good
of the cause were made by the local
workers, followed by a few announce
ments, after which the meeting adjourn
ed to meet at the evening session
The evening session opened at half
past seven o'clock, and the real work
of the convention was begun President
Cleed called the meeting to order and
prayer was offered by Rev. H. j. Cooper
of Emporia, who prayed strongly and
earnestly for Divine help in the cause OF
temperance, which is of so much i'm
portance to so many people.
President GIeed introduced General ].
K. Hudson, the first speaker of the
evening. General Hudson said:
In behalf of the temperance people OF
Topeka, in whose name I speak to you,
}
sas. A large part of the people OF TINS
city is in sympathy with your work.
They have been trying to drive out the
joints, and they understand and realize
the difficulty of the work
'sThis convention meets in the only
capital city of any state in the United
States, in which there is no open saloon.
The Joints are skipping from here and
there, from basement to garnet, trying
to find a place of refuge in their at
tempt to hide from the police. Prohibl-
ton does prohibit when the joints have
to hide from the law.
How we'll I remember way back in
the eighties, when the prohibitory law
passed the senate and it's constitutional
ity was tried in the courts. The law
proved to be good and then the serious
work began of closing up the saloons.
A Judge sat on the bench, who when
witness was brought up and asked
what he had drank in a saloon, he an
SWered cold tea, and all in the court
room laughed. That was the kind of
difficulties " had to work against.
You all know A. H. Vance, who has
as level q. head and as good a heart as
there is beating in any bosom today. He
was prosecuting attorney, and he did
his duty, but he had to fight his way
against almost every citizen. we could
| hardly get evidence, and even then we
had to employ detectives to ASSIST US
Our cause was thrown out of court on
every possible pretext. Finally We had
a Judge in sympathy with the cause,
| joke about cold tea, the Judge and it
was John Martin, told the witness
| he had better tell the truth, and in
Judge Martin the temperance people
found a man who would enforce the
law.
UNLESS you have got enough tenn
| perance votes to control the election
| and make the office seeker respect the
| temperance sentiment, you can do
nothing. The power of the people must
| go up to the office, not come from the
| office down to the people.
within the last u months the
| apathy of the people has been aroused,
| and has taken hold of the question
| again. Towns over the state have open
| joints and saloons and the law is not
| enforced. The difficulty lies before US,
| the difficulty of enforcing the prohibit
| tory law. It is a good law and can be
| enforced. The people have been asleep
| for the past six years. If you ever get
on your fighting clothes along the line
| of prohibition, you can close every joint
| and saloon in the state
| Grant that there are joints and sa-
| looms and drug stores in the state sell
| ing whisky, yet they can be closed if
! you will elect the right kind of officers
/ and help them in the work. The public
sentiment in Kansas has been educated
| to a point that any professional man or
| mechanic, can get a place or hold one
very long with any large or respectable
| firm No young lady wants to be seen
| with young man who is known to
| drink.
Il notice a great change in the army
| In 1861 it was the proper thing for the
| army officers to be offered liquor. 1t
was issued in rations to the troops, af-
| ter long tedious march. Liquor was
| drank everywhere and there was no APP
| parent sentiment against it. But the
temperate soldier had the best health,
was less number of times on the sick
report and was best fit for duty.
Last summer when I was at Tampa,
| n T IA a
been a total revolution in this custom
The army canteen exists yet, but not
one-third as much liquor is drang as
there was So years ago. There is a strong
| temperate sentiment in the United
States today and there is a premium all
over the country on the sober man.
| Rouse up the churches. rouse up the
newspapers. Let them take a bold
| stand for the enforcement of the pro-
hibitory law. Select men for office who
are right on this question. There is
only one way to reach the whisky traf-
fic, and that is through the ballot box.
81 am glad to meet with you tonight
/ Glad to greet you and welcome you to
our city You have a right to be proud
Of the city. We have no joints here
| which pay monthly assessments to sup
| port the city. The government is not
sustained by being in partnership with
| saloons, gamblers or crime Makers
Rev. 6. Lowther, D. D., of Winfield,
responded to Gen. Hudson. Rev. Low
Their said, in part: L am proud of To-
peka. the capital city of Kansas. The
state which is the best in the Union 1t
is something to be proud of to know
that Topeka takes no fines from the
joints.
Everybody considers it a sin to de-
bauch the soul and damage the body.
The question of today before the
people of Kansas, is whether we have
a right to barter the public health and
morals; the right to trampIe the con-
stitution and laws under foot. or disre-
gard the best constitution ever provid-
ed, and allow the office holders to take
the oath of Office and then periure
themselves. by almost refusing to sup
port the very laws which they are
bound to uphold