Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-11
Three thousand Hold a Meeting
In Topeka, Kan.
THEY ISSUE AN ULTIMATUM
Officers Commanded 10 DO Their Duty
The joints Must Go by Fri.
day, February 10.

Topeka, Kan, Feb. 10-A mass meet
ing of the citizens OF Topeka this af'
ternoon, at which 5000 were present
decided that the joints of the city must
go at once. Friday, February 18th. is
named as the time when the cleansing
Of the city must be made complete II
1t is not done by that time an army Of
a thousand men will Immediately move
upon the joints and remove them by
force.
The meeting this afternoon was re-
markable in every respect. 1t was called
by committee Of the Law Enforce
ment League, and was attended by
nearly all the prominent business men
OF the city. Conservative men, who
have heretofore advocated moderation,
insist that the people OF Topeka shall
take the law In their own hands,
An ultimatum was passed, command.
Ing the officers of the city and county
to perform their duty regarding the
closing OF the joints Inc property
owners on whose premises the joints
are kept were warned that they had
better abate the nulsances at once or
the people Of Topeka would not be re-
sponsible for the damage that might
ensue to the buildings
The Jointlsts were warned in the fol-
lowing vigorous terms that Topeka did
not desire their presence any longer
To those Illegally engaged In this H.
licit business: We have to say that the
long controversy Of the public with
you must come TO an end. You have
openly and persistently dehed our laws;
You have made yourselves the agents
OF even greater criminals outside OF
the State who have supported you in
your unlawful traffic. you have intro
duced the most corrupting and demon
ali2ing factors and influences into our
local politics, and for years you have
scorned all appeals and warnings that
have been presented TO you by the vlr.
portion Of the community.
Now We feel that the time has come
when we must speak TO you peremp-
torlly You must stop this lawless bus.
mess at once.
1--WE hereby notify you that we must
have satisfactory evidence that all your
Illicit goods shall have been removed
and shipped from the city before Il |
o'clock, noon, Friday, February 18th |
Upon the strict observance Of this de- |
mand we shall insist, and II IL shall |
be disregarded We will take whatever
are necessary for It's rigid |
IF long-outrared public shall be
TO resort to the fundamental
light of self-vlndicatlon against crimi-
halls and their abettors. the grave con.
sequences 10 evil-doers which may re-
'ult from such a return must rest with
he deflers and nullltiers OF our laws
md the Instructors Of our govern /
mental machinery. The jolntlsts, the
men who rent property to jointists, and
he men who have violated their oaths
n tolerating crime, these are the dis
urbers Of the peace, and now the
vronged public, which, as sovereign,
las both the right and duty to see that
Is will and judgment shall be re-
pected."
There were n number OF addresses,
n which Mrs Nation came In for her
hare OF praise.
Chief OF Police stahl made an ad-
ress; he said the law could be en-.
orced II the entire police force Of the
ity would work in unison with him.
Twelve hundred men signed their
ames to cards pledglng themselves 20
e ready at a moments notice to Join
he "army" which has been recruited
, stamp out the joints by the time
he limit set by the ultlmatum expires.
he next few days In Tokepa VIII see
Interesting developments. possibly
loodshed.
The Rev. c. NJ sheldon. author Of I'm
is steps" preached a sermon today
which he disagreed with the meth
Is about 10 be undertaken by the cit
ems OF Topeka to rid the town Of
ints. Rev. sheldon said the respon-
bilIty should be laid on the individual
nd that the officers should be forced
do their duty.
MRS. NATIONS
METHODS.
New York, Feb. li--Mrs. Julia Gates.
cording secretary for the New York 9
,unty w. c. T. U.. discussing the +
ethods Of fighting saloons adopted by /
rs. Carrie Nation. said: \
II do not approve OF Mrs. Nations g
Ittle-axe methods. While she may 1
Il be technically violating the law, i
cording to the way II is interpreted in
ansas. stlll as matter OF fact her 1
urse Is one opposed TO law and or 4
q, and therefore 10 10 be condemned