The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-01
IN THE FIGHT.
Ministerial Union Takes Hand
In Local Politics.
Urges Support Of the 1ndepend-
emit Candidates.
ISSUES OPEN LETTER.
Says That Situation in County
Is Critical.
OPEN LETTER.
Asks Assistance to Help Elect
Stahl and Stebbins.

The Topeka Ministerial union met AZ
the parlors of the Y. NJ c. A this morn
ing for the first time after the summer
vacat ton period. Stirring resolutions Of
fered by the committee on good morals
were presented and adopted. The re-
port follows:
Your committee on public morals has
nothing new to report concerning the
condition of affairs in the city in the
matter of enforcement of law against
the joints and gambling places.
THE mayor of this city has refused
to listen to all the appeals that have
been made to him to obey his oath OF
Office. A regular system of fines is in
operation with his open sanction and
approval The condition of things is
growing worse every day, and it calls
for the united expression and action of
every law-abiding citizen who has any
regard for the constitution OF the state
and any love for his home and the in
stitutiols that belong to our Christian
civilization.
Your committee makes no appeal and
has made none al any time to the mayor
and other officers to do their duty. We
do BOT believe in officers who have to
be urged to do their duty. We have
no faith in their desire to do II and the
only remedy we suggest is the union OF
every good citizen in Topeka and Shaw
nee county to elect such men to office
in this county as we know absolutely can
be depended upon to enforce the law as
the people want to have it enforced
ITO this end, under the direction OF
the committee saving in charge the
campaign for Independent candidates
for county attorney and sheriff, your
committee has drafted an open letter
to be sent to every minister and church
in the county. We ask for this letter the
endorsement of the Ministerial union
and your committee further urges upon
every member Of this body the use Of
| every particle of influence he possesses
with his own friends and church men,
bers in his own parish or circle of &C.
l Sr,In Il
| ent candidates as the most effectuaa
remedy for the shameful, dishonorable.
anarchistic condition that confronts us
| in this city and county at present We
| repudiate with all the strength of our
| convictions any system like the one
which is at present in operation, and
we declare it to be our firm purpose
| that we will do everything in our power
| to see that the present incumbents of
| office or candidates for office, who arc
| the friends of lawlessness, are defeated
| at the polls or supplanted by men who
| are fit to be the servants Of the const1-
| tuition and the people
I'VE call upon every man who loves
| deceney, who loves his family who has
| any care for tempted young manhood
| who believes in the sacredness Of the
| family relation and who loves little
| children to- unite in the common effort
| to cleanse our city and county of the
| present evils that not only threaten
| them but are actually at the present
| moment tearing them down and max
! ing them reproaeh throughout the en-
| tire state
CHARLES NJ. SHELDON,
u. T.. MCFARLAND.
| "A. NJ REYNOLDS.
Committee"
An open letter to the ministers and
pared by the Ministerial union and is to be
sent out, to the ministers of this county
| this week The open letter says:
| FRIENDS: The Ministerial union of To-
| peka indorses unanimously the action of
| the committee which has sent out the open
| letter to the voters OF Shawnee county.
urging them to support the Independent
candidates; Mr. L A. stebbins for county
at the coming election to be held Novem-
Pber &
The situation in this county is critical;
| the issue was never more clearly defined
| between right and wrong between anarchy
| and civilized government Owing largely
| officers to enforce the law and the results
that have followed to the county we make
| member in Shawnee county to support the
| Independent candidates who are men
known to be worthy of every confidence.
We ask the ministers throughout the
/ county to read this letter to their congre-
| cations and SO far as lies in their power
| to urge the support of these candidates,
| as necessary to our highest good We
| consider this action as religious as any,
thing the churches can do in the name of
| Christian citizenship
For the sake of your homes and your
| churches. for the sake of the boys and girls
| emit reign of Iawlessness In this county.
/ we urge you to act with us in supporting
will change the conditions which now en-
| danger the homes, the churches and the
general community throughout this coun-
/ Officers were elected at the meeting this
morning to serve during the coming sea-
President-J. S. GIendennins.
/ Vice Preside1t..E- A Finch
Secretary and Treasurer-W- R. Carter.