The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-05-11


In those communities where the sale
OF liquor Is controlled and safeguarded
BY the law and where the business OF
catering 10 those more or less bibu-
lously inclined IS conducted by men
with a regard for public opinion and
for law and order. Il IS difficult 20 un-
derstand the intense opposition Of a
large percentage Of the best and most
law-abiding people toward those places
IN Kansas where intoxicanis are sold
It is almost impossible In such COM
munitios % comprehend how minis
ters and other professional men and
ladies OF culture and refinement can
become so wrought mp as 10 arm them
selves with axes and similar instru-
ments OF destruction and take part in
raids such as have occurred recently
in scores Of places IN this state. The
explanation lies IN the fact that there
is a constitutional provision IN Kansas
against the sale OF intoxicating bever-
ages. and that those who engage IN
the illegal business are Of necessity
such men as hold Law and public opin-
ion In contempt AS a rule they are
men lacking conscience and devoid Of
social and business standing Their
places cannot be compared 20 those
restaurants or saloons In the east
which are conducted according 10 law
by men who have regulations 10 main
tain This Is the more true in those
villages and cities of Kansas where
the Prohibition sentiment IS strongest
and where the business can be carried
on only subrosa or IN brutal defiance
of both law and public opinion The
more aggressive the Prohibition senti-
ment. the more degraded are the
drinking resorts which succeed in
eYading the law This follows as a
matter Of course. and equally Of course
Is the feeling Of contempt for and re-
sentiment against these resorts the
more intense on the part Of the better
element The word joint' has a sig-
nincaGce al SIS own IN Kansas. n IS
applied to az drinking places alike
10 the richly appointed bar-rooms.
which are permitted 10 flourish In
some Of the more liberal" cities boy
contributing generously 10 the public
exchequer IN the way Of fines imposed
with regularity. and to the under
ground or hack-alley rum holes which
are 70 be found In almost every part
Of the state The men who conduct
these places are known as "j0intisls.
term applied In a wider sense 10
their patrons and sympathlzers These
Kansas Joints are of many varieties
and OF varying degrees Of boldness.
according 20 the temper of the people
amore whom they are situated In
some cities they are run openly. or
az least have been so conducted un to
The time Of the present law-enforce-
ment agitation. the entrances being DE-
rectiy from the street These are as
easy Of access 10 the stranger az TO
the Initiated. There Is no pretonse Of
secrecy. and liquor Is bought and con-
sumed as openly as Ia the leeaiized
saloons Of the east OF course. these
places have no lawful existence. but
the authorities eontent themselves
with sending 10 thtir proprictors al
regular intervals "a officer with an
invitation for theu 90 appear in p0-
lice court On being arraigned. these
favored iaw-breakers simply enter a
plea Of guilty pas 8 substantial fine
and return 30 their bars with lhe as-
sarance that they Wiii not aeaIn BE-
roniasied feI some considerable tine