The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-06-23

WICKED men anu when luc source OF
their revenue was gone. they set to
work, at once to have those preachers
brought before The magistrates and
punished Tor interfering with other
peoples business. So these transient
meddiers who went about from one
place to another nosing into other peo.
ple's business got into trouble Very
similar things have happened many
times since.
The Ministers Alliance and about
15o citizens of Hennessey asked the
city authorities by petition TO enforce
the law pertaining to gambling. pros.
titution, Sunday selling, etc.
Whereupon some of the city author
tiles we're displeased at the preachers.
for "Butting in" or "nosing into 9TH
er peoples business"
So of course said petition was
tabled. At this time it was plain to
be seen that the Ministers Alliance
was considered merely a disturbing
element in the town in the eyes OF
some people.
Thus having been defeated in what
we knew was just and right, we ent-
cred into the battle more determined
than ever.
Not one of the saloons at this time
was running according to law.
In the month of September 1908,
James Coner and Geo. Stlghtz filed
their applications for saloon licenses
on illegal petitions. The Ministers
Alliance at once filed remonstrances
against the issue Of their licenses,
which compelled them to get legal pc
titions before they could get their IL
censes.
The next one was W. W. Parks,
whose license expired in Jan. 2, 1901.
His petition contained less than half
the required number of lawful petit
TONERS. A remonstrance was filed at
once, but the county commissioners
refused to hear the evidence. threw
it out. ard granted the license con
trary to the clear provisions Of the
law Immediately an appeal was Ia
ken to the district co'.rt, spring term.
Judge Irwin heard the case, and re-
versed the action of the commission
ers. and refused the license. Mr..
Parks Immediately circulated another
petition going over the same ground
for his petitioners, resulting in a lare-
er number of Illegal petitioners than
before and smaller number Of legal
petitioners. Again a remonstrance
was filed, and heard this time by the
county commissioners on its merits
and license refused.
Mr.. Parks took an appeal 10 the
district court. The case was heard
again by Judge Irwin and the decision
recently handed down sustained the
commissioners. Thus have the re
form forces Of Hennessey gained a
distinct victory in every instance dur
ing the last year, and have accomi-
llshed every thing they have attempt
ed This last case was of great Inn
portance and far reaching in its con
sequences and bearing on the anti
saloon fight in Okla. II had always
been held by our Co. authorities that
any taxpayer resident in the precinct
IN which the saloon was to be locat-
ed was a legal saloon petitioner and
have so ruled. The law distinctly
states that only taxpayers Of the ward
in which the saloon is to be located
are legal petitioners. We were told
by many, even temperance people
that il was no use contesting that
point. as we would be defeated and
have the expense and work for moth
ing. But nothing daunted, we went
on and gained the most important
victory for temperance and reform
ever recorded In Kingfsher Co.
doubtless. Ienceforth the saloon will
have 10 get it's 30 taxpaying sienera
IRON the ward in which il is TO be 10
Gated. instead Of going anywhere IN
the precinct, OF probably IN the whole
town. as they have been cSing. Il
proves that we can down the saloon II
we are bornd TO- II we can do this
much. we can do more We mean e
hehl il out on this line And ii shows
that we need not be alarmed at the
calamity howler in moral reform who
always raises the cry, you can't dc
anytnins"