The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-11

IOpeka. Man, tpDTudIS lus-fl utee
Thousand male citizens OF Topeka In
mass meeting here today decided that
tho numerous joints Of the city must
olose. They issued an ulttmatum giving
tho jotntistls till Ftiduy next at II O'Clock
noon to quit business. II this IS not
done warning was given that thousand
armed men would Immediately move on
the Joints and remove them by force.
Today's action is the result OF the cru
Wade started in Topeka less than ten days
ago by Mrs. Carrie Nation,
The meeting was a remarkable one in
every respect. IL was called by a COM
mlttee Of tho Law Enforcement league,
and was attended by nearly all the prom
nent business mon OF tho city. There
was a feeling of intense earnestness per-
vading the meeting, Conservative men
who have hitherto advocated moderation
in the dealings with the lawless clement.
insisted IN unmYstakable terms that tho
time had come when fapbearGnce had
ceased to be virtue and that the peeple
OF Topeka should take the law in their
own hands.
Rev. e. w. Emerson. pastor of the
Christian church OF Topeka. who aided
Ms. Nation in her saloon smashing horo
last week. opened the meeting with
prayer.
After a few, sDappy addresses. an ul-
ttmatum was proposed aud passed. amid
the loudcst cheering. The ulllmatum
Commanded the Officers OF the city aud
county to perform their duty regarding
the closing Of the joints. THE OFFI-
GERS were warned that they had waited
long enough THE PROPERTY OWN
BRS IN WHOSE PREMISES THE
JOINTS ARE KEPT, were aINo warned In
unmlStakable terms thar they had better
abate the nuLsanccs at once or the people
clr Topeka would not be responsible for
the damage That might ensue b the
buildings
with the reading al the ultimatum
there was a hush OF expectation as there
had been for several days rumors that
some important declarations were TO be
made. Tho words OF condemnation ,nnt
|
prevail that gained strength with oacl
minute, finally sweeping over the entirI
audience and eliminating In the wildes
enthusiasm. As the reader finished ant
.tfDmitted the ultimatum TO the approval
Of the audience. old men and conservative
ministers of tho gospel leaped to theiI
seats in their enchustasm and waved
handkercheis. ge5ticuIzted and cheered
to the echo. The cheering lasted for
several minutes. The ultlmatum which
was adopted by rising vote, follows:
TO those Immediately engaged in the
Inlet business, whether wholesale or re-
tail we have TO say that the long con-
troyeIsy OF the public With you, must
now come to an end You have openly
and Professionally deaed our laws; you
have made yourselves the agents Of even
greater criminals outside the state who
have supported you in your unlawful traf-
hc; you have gathered about you Grim
inal element that is a menace TO the
safety OF the community and have main
talned places that engender and encour-
ages all vices; you have introduced the
NEST corrupting and demoralizing factors
and influences into our local politics and
for years you have scorned all appeals
and warnings that have been paid you
by the ylntue-loying portion OF the com
munity Now we feel that the time has
CINE whea We mast speak 10 YOU per
emptorily WE CEASE NOW TO EN-