Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-06-19
A FEW REMARKS ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS

A FEW REMARKS ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS
The AGIrAToR has always advocated the en-
forcement of ALL laws-not excepting the pro-
hibitory liquor law. AS long as law is on the
statute books, it should be rigidly enforced.
But we do not like to see officials and others
make farce of law by pretended effort to
enforce it, as has been done in this city and
county recently.
A short time before the city election, the
usual Temperance" spasin struck the town 1T
nearly always strikes us during municipal
campaign), and the ministerial union was urged
to take the initiative and "clean out the joints
and drugstore saloons" The ministers met,
talked over the situation and decided to lido
something" We believe that the ministers
Cor most of them) were sincere in their efforts,
but they made sad mistake. They were in
duced to send to the headquarters of the State
Temperance Union, at Topeka, for detective.
In response, "a fellow who called himself Both.
am came, and remained for some time. He
was miserable, reputable-looking old bum,
and, Judging from his own talk, he Was just as
disreputable as he looked. For instance, 1t
is stated that he went into one business house
and asked one of the parties present II he could
"put him next' to some colored girl. 1t is also
reported that he exhibited ring which he said
he had taken from disreputable woman with
whom he had been the night before. Other
revolving stories are told Of this reprobate, but
we have mentioned enough to show his charac-
ter. One man, high in authority, said that If
Botham's stories are true, he should be sent to
the penitentiary for lite. And this is the ode
tective" who was sent here by the State Tenn
perance Union to help "enforce the law!"
As result of Botham's visit, some parties
left town, some were arrested and some were
not molested. One of these latter, it is report
ed, contributed quite literally to the detective
fund, and ESQ we are told by one con the in
side'') the "committee" (whoever that is) told
the county attorney not to disturb him. We
do not vouch for the truth of this, however,
only state what has been told to us. But if it
true, what right had the "comnttee" or the
county attorney to protect any man they be-
leved was violating the law? Why did they
not treat all alike?
Well. three cases we're tried in the district
court and three or tour were continued till the
October term Of the three which were tried,
there were two acqttals and one hung jury.
It is the general opinion that, i'll some of
these cases, at least, the prosecution was mere
spite work-some one trying to "get even."
Speaking of protecting some alleged violat-
ors, we have heard it reported that tie county
attorney was asked to take some action against
a party at Weds but he refused because this
party s'is one of OUR leading men, and the
leader in pushing the prosecution against Ca
TONI So, of course, he must be protected
This may not be the truth, but we do not
doubt it for one moment,
We do not claim that the county attorney
brought ALL of these prosecutions of his own
accord, for he didn't He was told by the ''com-
tnittee" that if he didn't get move on HIMSELF
thew would hire another lawyer-one who
would go after the jointists.
But, down at Colony, there is an old cripple,
who, report says, is making living by selling
liquor. The old chap has no ''pull, however
The other day, the county attorney issued
warrant for the old mans arrest and sent the
sheriff after him. When the sheriff got there,
he found that the old mans wife was very sick,
and in dying condition. The sheriff so in
formed to county attorney, who seut back word,
"Bring that man." This the sheriff refused
to do. Which was more humane?
**
In saving these things, we do not attack the
the law. We are as much in favor of the en-
Increment of the law as the most radical advo-
cate of the law, but we do hate to see officers
and others make a football of the law We
like to see people more consistent
BERLIN dispatch states that the Socialists
of Germany have gained great victory in the
:.L..,o election which has created