Washington sentinel., 1900-10-13
Notes

but the Topeka correspondent OF the
New York Tribune has looked into the
subject, and finos that, in the main, Mr.
Sheldon is correct. The correspondent
shows, however, that the mere fact that
Kansas, during the year 1899, imported
7,9I2 barrels of beer does not mean that
this was the only beer received during
that time. The law does not bar out
liquor purchased across the border and
brought 10 Kansas; what it does prohibit
is the unlawful sale OF liquor, and since
1881 (the year the law was put into effect)
it has been steadily enforced Literary
DigeSk
These statements, to say the
least, are mYstiiying. Since 1881,
when the Kansas prohibilory law
was enacted, it has been steadily
enforced, so it is asserted. And
yet it is admitted that in 1899
Kansas imported 7,SIs barrels Of
beer, which represented only part
OF the beer brought into the State.
What became Of this beer7 Beer
is not generally used for mechan-
ical or scientific purposes, though
it is frequently prescribed as a
medicine; nor is the preserving in
dustry of Kansas sufficiently large
to base a claim for the importation
Of such quantities, unless it were
intended for stockyard consump-
ton, where it would doubtless be
appreciated as preservative after
an experience with Kansas prohi-
bition whiskeY. What becomes OF
it, then1 That it does not go to
waste the correspondent makes
clear: likewise does he make clear
the utter futility of prohibition.
laws. He explains:
In Topeka, a city Of about IS 600
inhabitants, the law is better enforced
now than at any time in the last tour or
five years. There are no open saloons
|
since the enactment of the Drohibitory
law. AT times, when the law has been
poorly enforced, a good many joints
(eveTy place where liquor is illegally
sold is called joint start up. Some
have only bottles and glasses; some
have tin dippers or tea cups; some have
a good assortment ofutensils and drinks
some have planks for counters, and
some have bars-but all are concealed
from the public view. Public opinion
soon demands that the officers enforce
the law. The keepers are arrested, and
most Of them are fined and some Of them
sent to Jail. The liquor, if any is found,
is poured into the street, and all fixtures
and apparatus destroyed This course
8 oon drives the Joints out OF existence.
Today there are few places OF this kind
in Topeka, less by a considerable
number than when Mr.. Sheldon was l
speaking in Edinburgh The people of S
Topeka frown upon lax enforcement
Of the law, and refuse support to any
city government that grows weary in
we'll doing. Consequently near the
close OF every administration the law is S
better enforced. While Topeka adopts c
he close them up system OF dealing with b
oints, every other city Of the first class O
n the State takes an entirely different
method, viz they arrest and fine, once o
/ month regularly. The joint keeper a
walks up every month, pays his fine and
eturns TO his llegiImate business, n
which to him now seems perfectly B
legitimate because he has assurance of Il
10 more interference for thirty days. IL
The fines collected monthly aggregate p
n year to from 5000 to 81 900 for each al
oint, and amount 10 about the same in
hing as license. The place Of business
5 not in reality a saloon, because it pays
10 license-only fine. There is about re
S much difference as between tweedle' oi
um and tweedledee. About one halt in
he cities of the second class adopt the fr
lose up plan and the other half the pull pi
nd fine plan. The third class cities p;
catered over the State are nearly all
on the close up plan. The th
rug stores are the only places where in
quor can be legally obtained, and then 1t
My Tor medicinal, scientific and mech at
nical purposes on sworn statement OF nj
ne purchaser, There is much talk about tn
ne drugstores being run as joints, but tn
lere is little truth IN it. While the -
Irming community in some parts OF the
tate is made up of foreign population -
to the use OF beer, it is a
ct easy to verify that the greater part of
lie beer consumed in Kansas is drunk n
the cities II
And thus prohibition prohIbitsl
ell in secret uutIl public opinion
ecomes aroused--Just before
ections-then prepare for a raid
y removing everything of value. -
liter the raid, go on as usual until .
ection time comes again. The
of stock and fixtures
counterbalanced by the saving
a license fee. Who losesp This L.,
called the close-them-up plan
I'd is carried out at Topeka.
lsewhere they have the pull-and
le plan. There are no saloons, IR
because there is no w
cense-onlY a fine" Once a y,
onth the dealer walks up, pays w
S fine, and goes on selling for Pr
lother month. More considera. ST