The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-31
RAPS PROHIBITION
Secretary Taft DisapprOVes of
the Kansas Law.
Delivers His Address Before a
Large Audience.
DEVOTED TO HISTORY.
An Interesting Resume of ORA
matte Historical Incidents.
Reads Speech But Holds Atten-
tiOm Of Audience.
Leaves Today to Visit Post at
LeavenWOrth.

''There has been on the part OF
good Kansas people the strong con
viction that men and women can be
made morally greatly better by legis-
lation. such a feeling always pos
sesses an agricultural people of strong
moral conviction and lively magma
ton, but as cities grow and as the
population becomes more dense, the
truth steals over the clear-headed,
however moral and high-minded. that
there is a limit to the making or
keeping of people good by law, and
that when the law essays more than it
can really effect, public morals are
not improved and the authority and
sacredness of enacted law suffer.
This was what Secretary of War
Taft said about prohibition in Kansas
in his speech at the Auditorium on
Monday afternoon which formally
opened the Semi Centennial festivities
1t met with faint-hearted applause
made up of scattering hand-clapping,
and occasioned much surprise.
Mr.. Tafts speech was largely de-
voted to a resume of the dramatic
historical setting which frames the
birth of the territory and early child
hood of the state.
theme he wished to make paramount
and summed it up in the famous
quotation: MY country, may she
ever be right. but my country, right
or wrong" Loyalty, patriotism and
honor was the tri-theme of Secretary
Taft's speech and the fruits thereof.
Mr.. Taft read his speech, but held
the attention Of the great audience
present.
The secretary's address displayed
his judicial training. The speech was
almost like an opinion from the court
room; hearing a judge hand down
decision a subject which he has
had under advisement for some time.
First came the preamble.-<then the
resume of the factors which entered
into the case, and finally the opinion,
made spicy with a few choice COM
ments.
His expressions about prohibition
had an extra feature, in that Judge T.
F. Carver presided over the meeting
and is chairman of the Semi Centen-
nial committee. Judge Carver is one
of the most pronounced prohibitions
lists in the state and was instrumental
in bringing about the rule in the
state bar association to exclude intox-
icating drinks from the annual ban
Quets of the lawyers.
Judge Taft is an interesting man to
meet He has the beauty of an
Adonis, although he does weight 300
pounds according to the advance no
uces- That he is a drawing room ex-
pert even the most skepticaI Zvo11Id
=
not deny II he experienced a personal
introduction. But the secretarv,s de-
meanor changes quickly to that of a
stern, keen man of affairs if a real
serious problem is called to his atten-
ton He was found in the sitting
room OF M A. Lows private car after
dinner Monday at 1 o'clock waiting
Tor the line of parade to be made up
w nat more will you do on your
trip west than make a speech this af-
ternOOn - was asked of him
CD a or 20.
Piled.
For purposes of inspection?'' was
Very little inspecting.% he an
swered. Major Bell asked me to
look at the military school, That IS
one of Secretary Roots great instit1I-
uons and for which he ought to have
credit. Great appropriations are r7ale
every year to Riley and Leavenworth-
but extra money will be given this
year to the military school at the Iat-
ter place It is one of the most inn
pOrtant educational factors which has
ever entered into the life of the army
l most emphatically believe in aiding
It. and my visit there shall be for the
sPecIal purpose Of increasing its eff
ciency IN such ways as find pos
What about the talked of conbi-
nauon OF Riley and Leavenworth
heard so frequently a year. or so ago .;
was then asked
That is impossible" Secretary Taft
rephed- How could It be? Both
are uolng their work admira blv
ABOUT that there is no question, No
there IS nothing in such talk"
Judge raft held a reception in the
car until called to enter his carriage
a%lu % Idke place in the parade. Along
the route he was frequently cbeered
and responded with tipping of bis
hat and bows and smiles
At the Auditorium the sDaecb-p,o1--
ing took the form of a sort of .proeres-
siVe' affair. Governor Taft foII9[.(e5
Governor Bailey and was introduced bI,
him. His speech follows in f1n.
Mr. Chairman, Members of tbe fs,,v,7
Army and Citizens of Kansas.
/ deeply regret, as you must that +ba
engagements of President Roosevalt
prevented him from accepting the n.
Vitation of your committee to address
you at this time. No one could have
pointed out more forcibiy and more
usefully the lessons to be drawn from
this day we celebrate and its seoueIae
than he with his thorough knowledge al
our country's history and his discrfnlin-
attng appreciation of the Significance
of its important events. But he cO1llc
not come and as a poor substitute ht
persuaded your committee to accept
me. 1 appreciate the honor greatly b1l-
sympathize with you in your disap-
pOintnent-
1t would be difficult to select a day
and date more important and Signifi-
cant both from a local and a nationa
standpoint, than the day which we eel
ebrate here. It is 30 years to a day
since President Franklin Pierce signed
the Kansas Nebraska bill. We do no
meet to praise him, or the author O