The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-01

such candidates as Mr.. Babbling Block
head, Hon. Andrew Angleworm, and
DIR. SIinck, who have enemies.
Johnny Bothsides is the man we really
ought to nominate 1t is true he is OPP
posed to prohibition, but he pledges
can get votes from the other side-on
personal grounds."' And so on, ad
nauseum. / have known many men to
be nominated by such pleas, and elect
ed, but 1 could not name half a dozen
that have not proved to be bruised
reeds. Yet this insincere class was
never so strong in the prohibition ranks
as it is now
The following foot-note refers to the
above:
"A we'll known and influential Kan
SaS Republican says that it has been
many years since a Republican could
be elected governor, unless he could
carry a Sunday school on one shoulder
and a joint on the other"
Speaking of a comparison, he says:
1.-The contrast sometimes drawn be-
tween Kansas and other states, to show
that prohibition is a success, is mis-
leading Because there are no open
saloons in most Kansas cities, many
jump to the conclusion that there is but
little drinking here-and give prohibit
ton the credit But intelligent observ-
ers know there is a great deal of drink
ing in every nook and corner of the
state
when Mrs. Nation began her law
breaking laW-enfOrcement crusade,
liquor was sold more or less openly
in about $50 places in Topeka-which,
even then, was claimed to be the dry
est city in the world. Even so earnest
and honest a man as Chief Stahl is
generally believed to be, had closed only
a few joints-and these but for a few
hours Cor even minutes) at a time
and no pretense was made of closing
their thirty-eight drug store rivals. At
this time October 5, 1900 it is claimed
that twenty-five of the joints have been
closed; but there are many more drug
store sales, more bootlegging, and more
private deliveries direct from Kansas
City-so that it is doubtful if the con-
sumption of intoxicants has been ma
terially diminished, even for the time
being"
Referring to the recent Home De-
fender crusade in Topeka, Mr.. Griffin
says in a foot-note:
Then came the Ratchet episode, and
a genuine attempt to close the joints
in Topeka-but not its drug stores and
club houses. Now mark the results!
enforcement Republicans succeeded, by
a small majority, in nominating, as
their party's candidate for mayor,
man that was we'll known to be
drinker, and i-prohibitionist, but
who pledged himself to enforce the law.
The Democrats entirely ignored and
angered their longtime allies, the Pop
ulists, and nomina ted a man that had
no personal following, that had to be
persuaded to run, and who announced
that, if elected, he also would enforce
the prohibition law. as well as all 9TH
erS.
Unfortunately for their ticket, the
Democratic convention also issued an
address that was unnecessarily often
sive in its terms, to prohibitioniSts and
others, and thus alienated some. who,
T.r7% Gov hot Go harv -,w.f-
ed their nominees. And yet, in this
Republican city, with
many ultra anti-prohibition Republic
cans voting for Col Hughes because
they believed he would not really try
to enforce the law; and with the wo-
men giving him more than a thousand
of their votes, he was counted
in by throwing out Parker votes on a
technicality. On the man vote Mr..
Hughes was beaten by 1,O96 votes
why was there such a change in a
city in which the men usually give the
Republican candidates about 1000 ma
jority?
1.-The reason is plain. Tt is because
although the drinkers will vote their
party ticket so long as no serious at
tempt is made to enforce prohibition
large numbers of them always aban-
don it whenever they believe it's success
means that policemen are to say. in
effect, what they may and what they
shall or shall not drink
Under the heading what Ought
Kansas to do Now?" Mr.. Griffin says:
81 reply, expunge prohibition from
the constitution; repeal all liquor laws
mediately; and, until a vote has |
been had on prohibition. put nothing IN
their place except, possibly, a. law pro- |
hibiting the sale of intoxicants to in |
ebriates and other irresponsibles, with |
severe penalties for its violation; MAX |
ing dealers responsible for all losses |
resulting from the use of liquor sold by |
them; and leaving them still subject |
to the common law against nuisances."
Mr. Griffin's plan is to inaugurate a |
temperance revival that will wean the |
drinkers from the liquor sellers.