The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-19

paving stones cemented by the very life
blood of the suffering humanity at the
mercy Of the whisky habit.
When politicians tell me it is neces-
sary to tolerate this business because of
the revenue derived from it I say I do
not believe that it is. I have studied
the question in many states and cities
in towns of all sizes and under all con-
ditiOns. and I want to tell you I never
have found one grain of honest pros
perity where the saloons were permitted
to exist
In states where they have the license
system I have heard people laugh at
Kansas So I decided to come to Kan
sas and make an investigation for my
self When L go back to those liquor
states, ] shall have a sigh for Kansas
Because Kansas is as high above
those states as heaven is above earth.
Many of the young men in Kansas have
thought 1t is to think that the young
men have not the demoralizing influence
Of the saloon to lead them from the
teachings of their mothers.
when you place man in Office who
perjures himself by neglecting and in
tentiOnally refusing to enforce your IL
quor laws then your city suffers from
an anarchistic reign
There is but one crime that clamors
for license. You wouldn't think of
granting a license to murderers to ply
their trade. You wouldn't give robbers
the legal right to despoil the homes Of
/ HVui AlAlHtAlHs anu Why SLOAAA 1OA GAfS
a license to a thing that is more cruel
than all the others combined: the thing
which ruins more homes than all the
other evils combined?
The liquor dealer is ostracised from
good society. You have seen him forced
to ind his level in the lowest strata of
society He is an outlaw in the courts,
and still there are those who seek to
keep him in the community
Did YOU ever see the picture of the
young man who is taking his first steps
along the dangerous path of intemper-
ance2 They always celebrate on hoIl-
day. No matter what the holiday. 1t
may be Christmas. New Years. Fourth
of July Thanksgiving or Washingtons
birthday. but they feel that they must
get together after the office work is out
OF the way and tell some stories, crack
a few jokes. sing their songs and drink
oh. the hollow mockery of it all One
drink leads to another and they keep up
until morning, when they start up, sing
another maudlin song and fall against
the furniture Of the room in an effort
TO find the door. They stumble down
the stairs to separate. while some of
the boys who fear to go home to face
their mother, go to their office. or to
hotel or to the room of some Of the
boys who room and do not have to ac-
count for themselves to their mother.
You laugh at him as You see him
stumbling home. but don't forget that
he was a pure boy once at his mothers
knee.
AT this point in his life that boy does
one of two things: He is either dis
gusted and forswears the life forever
or else he goes on to the next degree
and the next until he sinks into a
drunkard's grave.
Some Of the people to whom I am
talking probably dropped into this meet
ing like buzzards to try to find places
to pick me 10 pieces. But those who do
and go out scOhing viii probably live to
see the day that they wish they coulc
come hack to this night and say with
me III register and vote for the men
who stand for law and order
Come now. you church member wo-
men. get out and register, and when
election day comes. if you are sick. so
sick that You have to be carried. go 10
the polls anyway and vote for step
in the direction Of taking the stigma Off
the fair name of your city
II wish that God might wake us up
to these things. Do your duty al the
election SO that the city viii go forward
another year in cleaner atmosphere.
assuming a cleaner tone. So that the
/ lcw-Hved. whisky sot ward heller will
be ashamed to show himself after cleo
tiozs."
Tonight Evangelist Williams viii ad-
dress his remarks to the railroad pee
pie particularly.
Another afternoon meeting viii be
held tomorrow, and the series will again
be taken up next Wednesday.
Saturday afternoon the address will
be to women only, on the subject Maid,
Wife and Mother" Sunday afternoon a
mems only meeting viii be held at the
] tabernacle at 2.30.