The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-12
WILL WAIT.
State Temperance Union Not
Ready For Commissioner.
Refuses to Endorse the Pro-
posed Bill.
TO BE CONSIDERED.
Another Plan For Killing the
Measure
Old Officers of the Organization
Reelected.

The closing meeting of the annual
convention of the Kansas State Tenn
perance union, was held last evening at
the First Congregational church. The
audience present last evening was by
far the largest which has attended any
of the meetings, and the church was
filled to overlooking. Long before the
time set for the beginning Of the meet
ing, the main auditorium of the church
was filled and chairs were placed in the
aisles to accommodate those who could
not find seats. The large doors con-
Meeting with the Sunday school room on
the west were raised and several hun
dred people found seats there.
The meeting was called to order at a
few minutes past O'Clock. by James A.
Troutman. Prayers was offered by Rev
P. B. Lee.
There was much discussion Y it'll re-
gard to the proposed new prohibition
law. This is law which has been
brought up for passage before the leg
iSlature of Dakota The preamble to
the law is as follows:
"A bill to provide for a state tenn
perance commissioner, defining his Gu-
ties and powers, fixing his compensa-
ton and bond. appropriating money for
salary and expenses, and regulating the
sale, barter and giving away Of intox-
icating liquors. for MEDICAL scientific
and mechanical purposes, prescribing
penalties for violation of the provisions
of this act, and to provide means for
the enforcement of the provisions"
Section 2, of the proposed rill, defines
the duties of the state temperance COM
missioner.
This law was printed and copies dis
tributed, and it was referred to d COM
mittee composed of Rev. w. H Hull
Wakefield; Mr.. Wilson, Clifton; A. H
Vance, Topeka; ]. NJ. Beecher, Belle
vile; Rev. Mr.. Moorehead. Baldwin;
Mrs j. W. Davenport, Ottawa, and
Rev. A. E. Wagner, Topeka.
The committee to whom this bill was
referred was somewhat divided as to
the best means Of disposing of it. Part
of the committee $hOught that the law
was a good one and that the committee
should recommend it to the Temperance
Union for their support and influence
to have it made law at the next
legislature. Others on the committee
thought just the opposite and so two
| reports were handed in. One from the
majority side, headed by Mr. W. L.
Hull favoring the law, and the other
| headed by A. H. Vance, favoring the
| granting of more time in looking up the
merits of the bill, and the taking OF
definite action on it later.
Several speeches were made by dele
| gates, both for and against the bill but
/ the consensus of opinion was for more
| thorough examination of the new law.
| A vote was taken on the two committee
| reports ana the minority report was
| adopted, which leaves the matter open,
and refers the new law to the consid-
! Grafton of the executive committee.
! This will allow for a more thorough ex-
| animation. and if found to fit the case
/ of prohibition in Kansas, there is nc
doubt but that the new law will be
| brought up before the next legislature
| and steps taken for it's passage.
State Lecturer George K. kirkpatrick
| then spoke and following Mr.. Kirk
| patrick, Rev. A G. Rankin, of Chicago
| was introduced, and said: In the city
| of Springfield there are 1873 licensed sa-
| looms, which stay open day and night
| Run wide open on Sunday just the same
| as any other day, and only close Ut
| when the proprietor feels like it. They
| do as they please.
| Contrast that with the condition OF
| affairs in Topeka, the capital city OF
| Kansas, and then ask yourself if prohi-
bition does or does not prohibit
Col. Rankin closed his address with
to the cause of prohibition, and nearly
$500 was raised in about twenty min
| utes.
After a song by VIM. Shaver and Jas
Moore, which was well received, Rev
| ChaS. NJ. Sheldon was introduced, anG
began his address. The audience pait
the closest attention to the speaker dur.
ing the entire time in which he was talk
ing, and were very liberal in their ap
plause. Rev. Mr.. Sheldon said:
When we take up our daily paper:
and read there the account of some par
ticularly wrong thing in the conduct O.
municipal and local affairs 1t is not al
uncommon thing for some of us to say
Why don't they prevent these things
| Why don't they give US a better ad.
ninistration? It is a shame the way