The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-23
HEN PICKED KANSAS.

"A new political issue in Kansas has
produced ar interesting new title for its
followers 'Resubsnissionists' is the name,
and it describes those persons who are
persuaded that it is time for a resub-
mission of the prohibition amendment
to the people Of the state. In view of
the war levied by Mrs. Nation and her
allies on the existing Kansas saloons,
they argue that prohibition is not work
ing satisfactorily in Kansas. and that
the state liquor laws need revision. Ger
tainly there is much to support that
opinion To say that Kansas presents
just now an appearance Of being hen
pecked is not to exceed the simple truth.
A smile. beginning at Portsmouth New
Hampshire just over the Maine border.
extends diagonally across the country
to Los Angeles. Tt is the smile of an
amused nation which thinks that kan
sas. usual, is faithfully realizing the
-ad astra per asnera' of her state motto.
The legal status of the Kansas sa-
looms that Mrs Nation has been batter
ing is curious. A prohibition amend
ment to the states constitution was
passed. but after the United States SUI
preme court decided that no state could
prohibit the admission of original pack
ages of irtOxicants into its borders. it
was not difficult for KanSanS who want
saloons sprung up and nourished in the
cities that the legislature, repining a the
loss of revenue from unlawful saloons
which paid no license fees. provided, in
1898, that the Illegal saloons which com
piled with certain prescribed regulations
should be free from interference. except
that twice a year their owners should
be arrested ana fined. That gave Kan
sas practically a license system. The
constitution contains prohibition
amendment. which the legislature has
bound itself not to enforce against sa-
looms that comply with prescribed regu-
latiOns. Mrs. Nation supports the con
stitUtion, defies the legislature. terror
ICES the barkeeps. and twits the gov
ernor on not living up to his oath of
office. She is doing good worl0ein MAX
ing a disrepuLable condition as agoniz-
ing as possible. If anything can make
an opportunity for the resubmissionistS
1t VIII pc her efforts. The cure for Kan
sas in her present straits seems to be
to get prohibition out Of her constitution
and to get high license. into her statute
book Then Kansas communities that
want prohIbltiCu can have it. and COM
mUnities that want saloons can tax
them = arper's Weekly.
The above editorial from Harperss
Weekly is only one Of the many evil
denees of the manner in which the stu
alton in Kansas is perverted by the
eastern press and the sort of advertising
that is going broadcast over the country
as SANDER upon Kansas The state
ment that the legislature repining at
the loss Of the revenue from unlawful
saloons which paid no license fees. pro-
vided, ia 1898. that the illegal saloons
which complied with certain prescribed
regula tiors shall be free from inter
ference, except that twice a year their
owners should he arrested and fined. is
known to ever. Kansan to be a false
hood without the slightest excuse for its
existence. The people Of the country
hundreds Of miles away from Kansas, in
the east and west, the north and south
do not all know it. and that story has
been going the rounds Of the press to
be believed by many and to bring ridi-