Hutchinson gazette., 1901-03-21
MARTINS LETTER.
He Tells Billie Morgan
A Few Things.
HUTCHINSON, KAN, March 10, 1901
w, Y. Morgan, Chairman Repub'
can County Central Committee,

can County Central Committee,
Hutchinson, Kansas.
My DEAR Sir AND FRIEND;
Referring to our several CONVERSE
lions and your letter from Topeka Ns
TO the political situation, permit me to
say that | have carefully considered
the republican city ticket and platform
and all the facta and circumstances
surrounding the creation Of the two
tickets now before tho people Of this
city for the coming election.
| would have been glad indeed, II
the republican convention had seen lt
to nominate ticket that would re-
ceive the support of oil the republic
cans Of the city who believe In the gu
premacy of law. In your conversation
you stated that unless the republican
convention nominated a ticket as
strong for the enforcement Of law as
the ticket already before the people
that you will not support II. You
stated that you 80 Informed the cen
tral committee. This was your posi-
tIOn, doubtless, because no other prin-
ciple Of republlcanism ls at stake In
this contest except the enforcement Of
law.
| observe by your paper Of Wednes-
day evening that the ticket nominated
by the republican convention receives
your highest encOmiums and unre-
served approval. presume you de-
cided the question for yourself and
that you were not controlled by the
men most active In pressing the repub'
lican organization into this contest,
You will of course, therefore, concete
the right of all other republicans to
consider the same question carefully
and decide II for themselves.
The one issue above all others In the
minds OF our citizens at present is the
question where Hutchinson shall take
her place; whether on the side Of the
laws of the State, obedience TO the
oath Of office Of the chosen Office hold
ers and that decent respect for civllz-
alton which is the life Of our country
and liberty; or whether we shall sue
cumb to that highly dangerous doctrine
now secretly advocated by many and
openly advocated by a few bold per-
sons, that In cities the prohibltory law
should be nulli6ed by the police court,
the marshal and other police officers
wholly ignoring the mandate Of the
law and their solemn oath Of office,
This Is the issue pure and simple.
There is no middle ground, IL cannot
be denied as a fact that there is a
large body Of men In the city who
boldly y.asSert that the prOhibitory law
cannot be enforced, that there is no
use to try TO enforce the law, that 1t
has been tried and failed, that to close
the joints simply means that liquor
will be sold by the boot.leggers, and
that inasmuch as the law will be vlo-
lated anyway, the system now In force
In certain large cities Of this State by
which the city receives each month q
certain amount of revenue collected
under the guise of fines, is the proper
system of handling the question.
| freely admit that many men whom
| consider highly, who are good bust
ness men, public spirited, and who be-
long to the churches, endorse this po-
sition and believe in 1t. AT stated Pc
RODS In this city that position has been
acquiesced In by the mayor and coun-
Gil. On the other hand, | believe the
majority Of the people Of the cities,
and know that q large majority of
the people Of the State, are opposed
to the open nulll6cation Of the law and
to the violation Of the oath Of Office by
officers charged with the enforcement
of the law. The last republican legis'
lature passed several laws, all intended
to aid and assist the people and the
officers liz they wish to do their duty,
in enforcing the law. 1t is undoubt
edly the determination Of the republi'
can party OF Kansas to give the pro
hibitory law u fair test. That ticket
which was nominated as q Don.partisar
ticket is clearly in accord with thai
view. 1t was nominated for that pur
pose. The committee appointed b!
the mass meeting to select the ticket
are men who have always openly ant
avowedly stood for that principle
They are also republicans, They hav,
been republicans for years. They havv
not been the men who have wandered
away from the republican party no
have they seen lit to bolt its candidate
when the views Of an individual can
didate did not suit them. 1t cannO
be denied that the movement whic
brought forth the present republican
ticket originated with the men who ar
opposed to the further attempt to en-
force the prohibitory law. The we
known views Of the men connecte