The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-11
TIE REsoLUT1oNs.
officers Are Called Upon to Enforce
the Law.


mass meeting assembled, February ~
1901, unite IN making the following dec
whereas. In open violation of the con-
sttuuonal law OF the state OF Kansas.
Topeka and in defiance of the over
whelming sentiment Of the people, the
ularly known as Joints has been and is
vet carried on in this city. and,
Whereas, This lawless traffic In addi-
ton TO all the evil effects ordinarily y
resulting from the saloon has tended to
to our. city an increasing number OF Grim
inal characters, to the serious menace of
the public peace. and TO the great dam
age of our city's reputation: and.
Whereas. Up to the present date. but
little has been accomplished toward sup
ton of the law. by the ordinary processes
Of the courts, the fact being rather that
# has increased and become constantly
Whereas. IN Consequence Of this persist
ent tramphng upon the laws OF the state
and of the city, a condition Of things has
been brought about that is no longer toll
cradle. and that demands and justifieS
extraordinary remedies. therefore,
Resolved, That we unite, deliberately
and firmly. in the following appeals and
declarations of popular purpose:
ITO THE PUBLIC OFFICERS
To the police department, to the county
sheriff, to the attorney general and to the
judges of the city and district courts we
appeal for redress in the immediate em-
pioyment Of all the agencies Of the law
for the suppression OF the evils of which
we complain Faithfulness and vigor in
the exercise Of your authority and in the
discharge of your official duty S public
servants, viii receive the fullest popular
gence or diIatoriness on your part will be
regarded with the severest condemnation
ITO PROPERTY OWNERS.
The criminal business which we are de-
ter1nlned TO abate, IS conducted for the
most part in rented premises. We call
your attention, IS owners of the buildings
IN which these joints are maintained,
to your partnership and completely in this
lawless business: and we hereby notify
with the immediate ofrenders for this
continued outrage upon the laws and
to YOU to at once terminate all contracts
with those who are using your property
can have no legal validity and are IN
themselves without moral justifica ton.
III.-TO THE JOINT-KEEPERS AND
THEIR AGENTS.
To those Immediately engaged in this
illicit business. whether wholesale Or re- re-
tail we have to saw that the long rom
troversy Of the public with Won must now
come TO an end You have openly and
persistently defied our laws: you have
made yourselves the agents OF even
greater criminals outside The state who
have supported YOU in Your unlawful
traffic; you have gathered about YOU a
criminal element that is a perpetual men
ace to the safety of the community and
have maintained places that engender and
the most corrupting and demoralizing fac
tors and influences into our local politics.
peals and warnings that have been pre-
sented to you by the virtue-loving portion
of the community. Now we feel that the
time has come when we must speak to
You peremptorily. We cease now to en-
deavor TO persuade; we command. You
must stop this lawless and iniquitous
business and stop 1t at once And we
hereby notify you that must have un-
questionable evidence, absolutely satisfac-
tory to the committee of public order
which we today constitute. that all your
Illicit goods, together with all the associ-
ated fixtures and furnishings of the places
where your unlawful business has been
carried on shall have been removed and
shipped from the city, before 12 o'clock
noon, Friday. February Is, 1901. Upon
the strict and literal observance Of this
demand we shall insist. and If it shall
be disregarded, we Will take whatever
measures are necessary for its rigid en-
forcement
In this appeal and declaration we invite
all good citizens to unite; and for the car
their resolute and uncompromising coop
Grafton
# q long outraged public shall be com
PEELED TO resort to the fUnda-
against criminals and their abet-
doers which may result from such a re-
turn must rest with the defiers and llulli-
hers OF our laws, and the INSTRUCTORS of
our governmental machinery. The joint
lsts, the men who rent property to joint
lists, and the men who have violated their
oaths in tolera ting crime-these are the
diSturbers OF the peace. and not the af-
fronted and WrOnged public, which, as
sovereign, has both the right and the
duty to see that its viii and judgment
shall be respected.
SArEC 1rTrer- cSnoD AT 1-Oo.r