Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-16
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS.

PRUHlbllIUh IN kRNoAo.
Although, of course, the end is not
vet. it appears that the crusade Of Mrs.
Nation is destined to have farreaching
influence on the liquor question In Kan
Sas.
People who have given especial study
to the prohibition question, have notic-
ed a. number of sdifferent problem
that have not been satisfactorily solved.
Take, for instance, town in which the
saloon business is we'll established and
LIQUOR drinkers are numerous. There
are always a few sober, right thinking
people who are ever Jealous in the
work Of reform. They see and appre-
ciate the evils of liquor drinking, and
seek earnestly to correct them. BY per-
sistent effort they gradually make
headway, until at last the conscience
of the community Is aroused to the
point at whicn it is ready to outlaw
the LIQUOR traffic. But even at this
stage there are still a large number
of people who have not yet been per-
suaded. Most Of these are liquor con-
sumers. Some are half-hearted prohl-
bitionists, and others are total alb
stainers who are not persuaded that
such of their fellowmen as desire
should be denied the privilege Of ruin
ing themselves with drink. Under con-
ditions like these, it Is natural that
there should still be encouragement for
the illegal liquor seller and also pro-
lection. It is difficult to secure strict
enforcement of law about the justice
of which there is much diversion of
opinion. At this point, prohibitionists,
figuring that they have done all that is
required of them, cease their efforts,
and the law is overriden roughshod by
the element that had opposed from the
first.
Such was the condition of Kansas.
The state is prohibition under It's con-
stitution. Unless there had been a
strong sentiment in the state, such
would never have been the case. Still,
there are many whisky drinkers In all
parts of the state, and where there are
whisky drinkers there are whisky SELL
ers. Little by little the illegal whisky
business developed it's places to as
great proportions as had ever been OBJ
tanned by the legal business. There, as
here and elsewhere, the law was gener-
ally winked at, until the really sincere
prohibitionists began to grow desper-
ate under the taunts of those of their
opponents who enjoyed the situation.
We have already referred to the cru
SADIE that was started by Mrs. Nation
as a lawless affair: but 1t should be
remembered that among most civilized
people right is even stronger than the
law itself. Kansans who are earnest
in upholding law and order. who recog-
nize that this is the only means or
safeguarding society, have realized
that Mrs. Nations crusade was right
GUS necessity. That Is why they have
Joined in it. and that is why it promts-
es to be successful.
From the dispatches being published
in the papers. 1t appears that the an
ti-tiger movement is spreading to every
part Of the state. and at this time 1t
looks as if it is going to make clean
sweep. We hardly think that the de-
sired result-the complete suppression
of the illegal sale Of whisky-is going
to be accomplished at this time. We
calculate that the tigers will be tenn
porarily suppressed. and that in the
course of few years. or months. may
be, they will be as numerous and as
bold as they were only a few weeks
back; but this crusade will do no harm.
1t will be a step upward, and make
smoother the way Of the next uprising
against the liquor traffic. The work or
the prohibition reformer is hard
one, and almost endless: but If perse-
vered in will win at last.