The Atlanta constitution., 1901-02-11

state. a majority of the votes cast were
counted for the amendment.
Prohibition Fires Built.
'.-rhe rum-deviI had met his Waterloo.
Prohibition fires in celebration of the
event were burned upon every hilltop, In
every valley and far out on the western
plains of the state. The temperance peo-
pie had won the most signal victory In
the history of the movement.
''No more serious, sincere or honorable
people ever championed a cause than were
the prohihitionists. They honestly be-
Ievcd that the end of intemperance was
already In sight; but now came the serious
work of enforcing the law. Backed by an
aroused public conscience. and in the fer
vor of his own vigorous manhood, Cover
nor ST. John entered upon this work.
BE it said TO his credit. he came nearer
making. a success OF prohibition than any
man who has succeeded him as chief eX-
ecutive of the state of Kansas. For TWO
years the temperance people were active
Local officials in fun accord with the DOM
inant sentiment of the state administra-
ton were elected. The law was enforced
with some degree of success. IN the
meantime. Governor ST John had D D.eh
elected FOR second term oil TWO year :.
Feeling secure in the conscientiousness al
a duty well done. the temperance workers
ceased their agitation.
tHfaaiuillN tntN -nlleu llit itApi ~ AN
sponSibility for the laws enforcement
upon the shoulders of those charged with
the administration of the laws. Prohlbl-
tion sentiment gradually subSlded. II.
moral sentiment of the people. without
the support of which no legal cnaclilth'
Will be OF any effect. was allowed 10 cooi.
Indifference took the place OF carnes'
Zeal. The last year of Governor ST Jonn
administration was n stormy one poiltl-
cally. Local officials were becoming In
different to the Jaws and enforcement.
Violations of the law We're becoming every
day moro numerous. Under the proVls-
ions oC the law. the governor of the state
had the power TO appoint assistant attor-
neys generals in such counties as the local
authorities failed or for any reason were
unable to enforce the prohibitory law.
Dnsicr this provision. Governor 81. Johh
appointed large number OF attorney
general Tor different counties of the state
This action on the part Of the state eN-
ecutive precipitated "a whiskey war the
ike of which was never exceeded in the
history OF the state.
In the midst of this embroylio came on
The state election Of 1881. Mr.. -. Johh
was again the candidate of his party tor
the office of governor lie made a he
role canvass, but the people had tired OF
the constant and expensive warfare. Inc
hosts of prohibition could not be ralllcd.
In the hopes Of Kidding themselves of the
burden Of the obnoxious law. which even
in the hamls of its most ardent frlends
had failed Of success thousands OF re-
puhicans turned TO the democratic state
and legislative ticket which stood pledged
TO re-submit to the people the prohibition
amendment 20 the constitution. and voted
FOR the candidates Of that party. Ine re-
suit was the election of the nrst demo-
cratic governor i'm the history Of the state.
Hon George W Click OF Atchison. being
elected over 81. John by a decided ma
jprity- But the prohibitionists held the
balance n power IN the legislature. ana
the Te-SubmiSsionists failed To muster the
necessary two-thirds majority.
No Attempt To Enforce Law.
''No serious attempt was made 10 en-
force the law during the ensuing two
years In the election of lSsG. the republic
cans were successful. electing Hon. John
A. Martin. Of Atchison. TO succeed Cover
nor Click. The prohib.tionists Were again
in the ma iorifv 5n the legislature, and en-
deavored u strengthen the prohibition law
iu several directions. among them by add
ing heavier penalties for violations of the
law and authorizing the governor 10 oilef
rewanls for the successful prosecution of
vso.ators of the law. etc. but all TO no
purpose. The violation of the law became
more fagraut each day. Blind tigers.
holes in the wall. joints and half a
hundred other devices were resorted to
10 defeat the law. Drug stores sprung
Up in every village and hamlet in the
state. a few empty bottles upon the
shelves. a few toilet articles in the show
eases. and q large and varied assortment
of liquid refreshments behlnc the pre-
scriptiun case. constituted the modern
Kansas drag store. To secure q drink.
the drinker must sign sworn certificate
that the liquor 50 purchased was Tor
medical purposes. Huge books of signed
and sworn aiiidavits were kept constantly
ou hand In blank. and perjury was re-
duccd 20 "A common. ordinary pastimc.
1t Was about this time that the late
lamented John j. Ingalls, made his famous
declaration fnat prohibition IN Kansas
was a success. because the prohibitlonists
had prohibition and the whisky men had
whisky. But TINS prostitution of the pub
lic co-s cienCe became the curse of the
state. In most communities no jury could
bc found who would convict "a Vioiator of
the law. Public officials became contami-
mated. Only the Vilcst and most irrespon-
s. bile men would engage in the EquOr traf-
fc They were Totally and wholly ire
snousiblt. Their business being outlaWcd.
they sold u minors. 10 arunk3rdS. and
iu fact. 10 any one who had the price. III
a conviction WAS secured IL WAS at "a
great expense. and then the party convict
el would simply 20 10 jail and serve his
sentence. tle while hiring a substitute to
S rye mis- thirsty customers at his usual
place OF business
State Got No Revenue.
The state derived absolutely no revenue
from the traffic. and thus the farce Of pro-
hibition dragged on for eight years
through the succeeding administrations OF
Governor Martin. republican. who served
four years. of Governor HUMPHREYS re-
publican. who served two years. and of
Governor Lewelling. populist. who served
two years. The matter had become 50
serious and the state of public morals 50
debased and rotten that when Governor
H. y. Morrill,. republican. who succeeded
Governor Leweiling To- the chief magis-
tracy of the state in 1891. was inducted
into Office. he declared that the prohibition
law as then admin stored was the great
est curse ever visited upon the state
Mr. MorTil. who WAS himself a pro-
had served several terms in the national
congress ana was considered one Of the
ahlest public men Of the west. now under
took the enumeration of tie putrid car
cass Of Prohibition. lie appointed at
torneys general in many counties of the
state. In his efforts 10 enforce the un-
popular law he plunged the state into a
mass Of litigation. from which ii emerged
Inundated and defeated. and at an eX-
peuSe of more than SJ0.o00 TO the tax
payers Of the state.
I'm the election of 1896 Governor Morril.
went down to defeat. He was succeeded
bv Hon. John W. Leedy. Dopulist. The
legislature WAS also anti-republican. but
the re-submissionists could not muster the
necessary two-third majority. and 50 the
prohibition law remained 10 curse the
state The legislature of 1892. hoping to
strfsghten the prohibition law. had taken
from all cities of the nrst-class IN the
state. the right of police control ana
pIated il in the hands OF the governor or
the state whose duty IL was. under the
I.w- ia annoint three police commissioners
.aa . ffNslsH sH-faHa