The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-11
1t Warns the Dive Keepers, Officers of
the Law and Owners of the Prop
critics Occupied by Joints.
ARMED MEN WILL ENFORCE IT
A THOUSAND WILL RAID ANY
PLACES REMAINING OPEN.
Text of the PronunciamentO-K
City Law and Order League Orr
ganfzed to the Same End.

TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. 1o.-Three thousand
male citizens of Topeka, in mass meeting
here to-day, decided that the numerous
joints of the city must close their places.
They issued an ultimatum giving the joint
keepers till Friday next, at IL o'clock noon,
to quit business. If this is not done warn
ing was given that thousand armed men
would Immediately move on the joints and
remove them by force. To-day's action is
the result of the crusade started in Topeka
less than ten days ago by Mrs. Carrie Ma
ton.
The meeting this afternoon was re-
markable one in every respect 1t was
called by a committee of the Law Enforce
ment League, and was attended by nearly
all the prominent business men of the city,
There was feeling Of intense earnestness
pervading the meeting. Conservative men,
who have hitherto advocated moderation in
the dealings with The lawless element. in
sisted in unmistakable terms that the time
had come when patience had ceased to be
virtue, and that the people OF Topeka
should take the Jaw in their own hands.
First Christian Church Of Topeka, who
aided Mrs. Nation in her saloon smashing
here last week, opened the meeting with
prayer. After a few short, snappy ad-
dresses, which worked up the audience to
| a high degree of enthusiasm an ultimatum
was proposed and passed amid the loudes-
cheering. 1t commanded the officers of the
city and county to perform their duty re-
garding the closing of the joints. The Of
| ficers were warned that they had waited
long enough.
The property owners. in whose premises
the joints are kept, also were warned in
unmistakable terms that they had better
abate the nuisance at once, or the people of
Topeka would not be responsible for the
damage that might ensue to the buildings.
| When the reader of the ultimatum
reached the part pertaining to the jointists.
| there was hush of expectation, as there
had for several days been rum0rs that some
important declarations were to be made.
| The words Of condemnation and warning
brought forth murmurs of approval that
| gained strength with each minute finally
sweeping over the entire audience and cul-
minating In the widest enthusiasm AS the
reader finished and submitted the ultima
servative old men and ministers of the
gospel leaped to their feet in their enthus-
iasm and waved handkerchiefs, gesticulated
| and cheered to the echo The cheering
lasted for several minutes. The ultimatum.
| which was adopted by rising vote, follows
ITO those Immediately engaged in the
Illicit business, whether wholesale or retail.
we have TO say that the long controversy
nf he Tnh1 1ia with
an eId. You have openly and persistently
oefed our laws; you have made yourselves
tie agents Of even greater criminals out
side of the State. who have supported yoc
| in your unlawful traffic; you have gathered
about you a criminal element that is a
perpetual menace to the safety of the
community, and have maintained places
that engender and encourage all vices; you
have introduced the most corrupting and
demoralizing factors and influences into
cur local politics; and for years you have
scorned all appeals and warnings that
have been presented to you by the virtue
loving part of the community. Now we
feel that the time has come when we mus,
speak to you 'peremptorily. We cease now
to endeavor to persuade: we command
You must stop this lawless and iniquitous
1
by notify you that we must have unaues-
t.onable evidence, absolutely satisfactory
to the committee of public order, which we
to-day constitute. that all your Illicit goods
together with all the associated fixtures
and furnishings of the places where your
unlawful business has been carried on
shall have been removed and shipped from
the city before IL o'clock noon, Friday
Feb Is, 1901. Upon the strict and literal
observance of this demand we shall insist,
anG IL ii shall be disregarded, we will TAX,
whatever measures are necessary for IFS
rigid enforcement.
IF long-outraged public shall be com
relled to resort to the fundamental righ
OF self-vindication against criminals ans
their abettors the grave consequences I,
oyil-doers which may result from such 1
return must rest with the defiers ant
nullifiers Of our laws, and the obstructor,
of our governmental machinery
''The jointists, the men who rent prop
erty to jointists and the men who have vio
| Ia ted their oaths In tolerating crime-thes.
are the disturbers of the peace, and now
the affronted and wronged public, which
as sovereign. has both the right and TN.
duty TO see that its will and judemen
shall be respected
The ultimatum was written by a com
mittee. of which Robert Stone, leadiny
business man, was chairman. There wer,
a number of addresses. in which Mrs. Ma
ton came in for her full share of credit
+ p. Lindsay said there had been a slum
bering volcano OF public indignation
against the liquor sellers In Topeka TO
several weeks. and that II remained 70
''Oid Mother Nation TO come along an.
: touch off the crater with her hatchet.''
Or. ]. T. Mcfarland said that Provi