The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-30

citv az criminal cases originated y
Hutchinson, tor two years will be loss t IN,
1900, against 5000 to $4,000 for each W.
vehrs prlor under the Zine ssstefn O
allowing saloons to rim. Tax levie e. nave IA"
been reduced, although there was a spo
ola, ,evy Tor a publlc library. Tho police
foroa has been cut down, mad the towi
has been comparatively free from inc
criminal element. It ls further declared
that large portion Of the money orm ~
~ spent In snloons or lost IN gambling
| has gone into legitimate trade, nnt
merchants nl report Increased business
DurIne two years not q woman or chic
has complained that ther husbands III
fathers OF sons wages were spent II,
saloon OF gambling den.
This Is fne report and all tho more
significant because It comes from the
Mayor.
on the other hand, Mr.. Matsor points
out that III some OF the cities the prom.
bltion law has never been enforced, pns
that Joints are permitted, the Keepers
being hauled Up once every month ana
fined IN such an amount as would ofdl-
narlly represent the license tax. Tho pro- pro-
prietor violates the law with the full
Isnowledse and consent lot the officers,
and pays for the privilege in cash. In
some places It Is the custom to make
formal arrest OF the proprietor once q
month. He pleads guilty and Is fined the
regulation amount After paying the fine
he knows that lie will not be disturbed
for d month, and proceeds with his illegal
business without fear Of nlolestntion until
the regular time for his monthly arrest
Sometimes the offender never appears
in court at all but pays his fine to tho
officials, and they put It In their pockets.
In the county In which sallna is situa.
ted the prosecuting attorney has not
prosecuted a Joint keeper In three years,
for the reason that when he first came
into office he tried q few cases. but al
though the evidence was clear the jury
failed to convict. I'm COMMUNITIES where
the law Is openly violated and the seat
ment Is for the saloons" says the writer
"n1en who regard themselves as fairly
good citizens will perjure themselves as
Jurors and return false verdict In order
to protect an illegal traffic.
In such a situation 1t Is a foregone con-
cluslon that the law Is brought Into con-
tempt, and this, says Mr. Matson, Is the
worst feature. There are towns IN ran
ses,n he proceeds, "in which It is almost
impossible to convict a lawbreaker OF
selling liquor Notmatter how strong the
proof OF his guilt, at least one man OF
the twelve Of the Jury will stand out Tor
his acuuittal. The saloon breeds lawless-
ness. and the contempt for the prohibitory
law Inevitably spreads to other laws.
Kansas has a law against gambling which
makes the offense felony. punishable py
a term in the penitentiary, yet this Is as
persistently violated as the law against
liouor selling. Other statutes are viewed
in the same manner by those who have
come to regard the violation Of the pro-
hihtory law as an evidence OF smart
ness"
This is the fundamental objection which
wo have always urged against prohihl-
ton, especially State prohibition. It Is
impossible to enforce defiance of public
sentiment, and when such an attempt Is
made many people will not only violate
the law, but take pride In doing so. and
contempt OF law in one instance naturally
breeds contempt of law in others. For
that reason we favor local option. which
leaves this matter to be dealt with by
the people OF each locality. In this way
sentiment In every community can be
fairly tested, and II It Is in favor Of
prohibition. prohibition can be enforced.
Mr. NIatson makes 1t very clear, how
ever. that the state OF Kansas has bctu
benefited by the abolition OF the open
saloon There can be no doubt In the
minds OF any man who has studied the
question that the major part of the liquor
evil is In the open saloon, and we believe
that IL prohibltonlsts would direct their
efforts toward closing up the glded places
where liquor Is sold by the drink IN is
most enticing forms. instead Of trying to
prohibit, the liquor traffic altogether, they
would accomplish much moro Cor their
cause.