New-York tribune., 1901-02-09
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS.

II she has accomplished nothing else by her
rsmpaign against the saloons. Mrs Nation has
sr least made evident the utter breakdown of
Prohibition M Kansas. She has forced 10 the
front the question Of providing some substitute
for the universally ignored law. which has
been allowed 20 remain practically dead let
tar ip the statute book because nobody in poli-
tics wanted 10 precipitate a new contest on the
subject. What everybody knew before and said
nothing about is now no more a matter of pub
lie knowledge. but much more a matter of pub
Tic acknowledgment and discussion. and at that
stage OF laWlessness the elf-respect OF a COM
munity calls for at least show Of good faith
IN enforcement or a movement for repeal As
the great majority appear TO have no desire for
enforcement, an early repeal may be looked for.
and the substitution Of local option license or
q dispensary system for the regulation of the
liquor traffic.
This is doubtless the last thing Mrs Nation
hoped for. She wanted the evil extirpated. II
the officers of the law would not do IL she
would plunge towns in disorder and invoke the
genius Of mob rule 10 exercise the liquor demon.
But her assertion of right 10 destroy the sa-
looms on the ground that they were outlaws
seems likely. instead Of stopping the traffic in
lntoxicants. 10 give il some sort OF a legal
status, for the State cannot give itself up 10
violence and anarchy. The authorities have
declined TO accept the invitation 10 make her a
martyr, her own methods fail TO give her stand
Ing among persons not fanatics. No great re-
vivsl OF that temperance sentiment which origi-
nalls placed Kansas among the Prohibition
States appears TO accompany her progress. so
the net result OF her efforts seems likely TO be
the conviction on the part OF the average Kan
san thai NE is put I'm false and untenabe po-
siton by his laws. ana that the best thing he
ran do is to revise them. There is no sign that
II occurs 10 him TO enforce them This situa-
hon with regard TO the federation of illegal SELL
ing is illustrated by letter 10 s'The Outlook"
from Enterprise. a town which Mrs. Nation
visited and In which she wrecked one of the two
saloons and was prevented 10y the City Marshal
from demolishinc the other. but without be,uy
arrested. The correspondent says:
Enterprise is a typical country town. With one
thousand population, largely German and Swea.
Ssh one family owns the CHIEF Industry .,s
fions OF them active In its affairs; they an.
well known refOTmers and Prohlbifionists Fo,
many years the elder Hoffman was it's Mayor
and used his best efforts TO enforce the Law
Liquor selling out of private rooms. pockets ane
n0ot legs could not be reached He gave up IN
despair and allowed Joints 20 run in peace b,
1sr,,e~nt Mayor, and ne. too, believes that ciosin,
she .sosnts' would only shift the traffic TO boo
,eNe1ne."
he solo Mrs. Nation that neither raiding no
xr-sshinr would do any permanent good: mei
esntsd the drinks, and way would always M
Pound 70 supply them. His view is that unit
.ne Prohibition lsw ls repealed they had bette
1gno-s IT. collect the revenue and not drive m,
trsAac into the bywsys
When q whole community, intending thos'