The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-05-17
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
w. c. 7. U. NOTES.
s.s.ss.s...t.t-aa+4444+.a*4 4
J. WINS Gleed in Topepa capital,


private citizens, both in Kansas and
elsewhere, have been inexpressibly |
shocked at the "lawless" career of
Mrs. Nation. She has spilled some
Intoxicating liquors, broken some
glass, and ruined some gambling ma
chimes without first buying and pay
ing for the same, and very likely a
jury of her peers will ultimately find |
in due form that she has violated the |
law and will in1ict due punishment. |
And, as said, number of public |
officials and private citizens palpitate |
with horror and breathe easier now
that the venerable mob-of-one is safe |
ly incarcerated. Perhaps we ought |
not to assume her guilty until guilt is
ascertained by regular legal process
this idea is strongly urged upon us in
the case of other alleged offenders
but for the sake of argument let us as
sumo that she has violated the law and
let us condemn her She is woman;
she is aged; she has been useful, law
abiding, law respecting citizen up to
this time: she has had great provoca-
ton: and yet in a republic, in free
country, under q government by the
people, it is especially necessary that
law should be respected and therefore,
in spite of her age, her sex, her blame
less life up to this time, let us give
her that measure of censure which is
due her under a government of law.
But while the bosoms of officials and
citizens are still palpitating, before
this keen horror of the desecrated
majesty of our statutes has wholly
subsidized, while public indignation
against Mrs. Nation and her methods
still runs high, wish to call attention
to the fact that divers well-known per-
sons have for number of years been
persstently violating the law and the
constitution in relation to the sale of
intoxicating liquors, and that divers
well-known officials have been per-
hitting and encouraging il; and that
while Mrs. Nation is at length safely
landed in jail, these Officials and
these whisky sellers are still at large.
When all this hot indignation at the
Joint smasher is turned in intensity
properly augmented onthe joint keeper
| dare not imagine his fate. The joint
keepers business is to promote vice,
violence and crime; to injure our
health; to destroy and waste our
wealth; to lay burdens on our chart
ties: to increase our taxation; and per-
haps worse than anything else to cor
rupt our politics. The joint keeper
kills more men and mains and dis
ables more men and tortures more
women and children than all other
criminals put together. He is like a
deadly contagious disease. He is ca
lamity in all its forms. The reason
why pcople have not yet fully recog-
nlzed this is that his work is slow and
hidden and indirect. All vices thrive
around him, all crimes go out from
him; but in general not instantly; the
seed is sown, the impetus given today;
the blight falls next year or ten years
hence.
Kansas law has merely recognized
the saloon keeper in his true charac-
ter. The law and the constitution for
bid this business land yet in some
communities he prosecutes his avoca-
ton almost unquestioned; and officers
of the law refuse to interfere.
If, in such communities, the joint
smasher is TO be censured by the pub
lie, what word can sufficiently express
the hot indignation and hatred due
the ioint-keeper?
If riots by gray headed women, Sun
day-school teachers, and church dea-
cons are to be lamented, what shall be
said of dull, sodden, chronic acquies-
cence in lawlessness; of secret combi-
nations between law breakers, officials
and political leaders for the protec-
ton of lawlessness; of the nullifca-
ton of the peoples edicts by brewing
and disti!li lg trusts working through
venal ofiice-holders and corrupt party
leaders?
For my part, lamentable as riot is,
would r. Their see riot on the
streets of Topeka every day for the
year, thanto seeit sink to the hopeless,
helpless condition of New York city
where riots may be rare where law
lessness is the accepted order and
booze and Doodle and official corrup
ton hold undisputed sway. In New
York and Chicago and in smaller
towns the criminal classes are pro
tected by officers of the law for money
Vice opens the legal machinery. This