The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-19
The BATTLE FIELD.
Topeka Chosen by Temperance
Union for Prohibition Fight.
Lawyers Engaged to Assist in
Police Prosecution.
DEPENDS ON RESULT.
Future Course of State Society
Is at Stake.
Existsnce..Hinges Upon Crusade
DEPENDS ON RESULT.
Existsnce.Hinges Upon Crusade
in the Capital City.

The State Temperance union is go
ing to make strenuous effort to aid
the Topeka police in closing the joint
and whisky drug stores. It's war
to the knife. The gauntlet has been
thrown down by the joint keepers and
the State Temperance Union has taken
up the gauntlet. No quarter to be
given or asked, say the temperance
people.
On the result in Topeka depends
largely the success of the statewide
movement which the union is making
in behalf of the course of temperance.
A campaign has been opened up in
Riley, Shawnee, Leavenworth, Miami,
Montgomery, Geary, Osborne, Phillips
and Sumner counties. With the fight
successfully established in these coun-
ties the forward movement will be
carried on into other portions of the
state. Topeka, however, is the pulse
upon which the temperance fighters
expect to gauge their hope for sue
cess. They won't say as much at
the temperance union headquarters.
I'VE have been told by outsiders,
said w. R. Dexter, secretary of the
union, today, that we should clean up
our own back yard first. We maintain
our headquarters here in Topeka and
wage our fight from this point. OF
late we have had a number of letters
with reference to the work over Kan
sas outside of Topeka and in the con-
tents of the letter the refrain has
been, Why don't you start at home
instead of trying to clean up things
outside We have decided. therefore,
that we would concentrate more of
our attention on Topeka
You expect to bring injunctions
against the violaters in Topeka ?" was
"wel. yes came the reluctant
answer.
How soon?" was asked.
Il don't care to answer that. 1t
would interfere with our success if we
should make public our plans came
the reply.
On further questioning Secretary
Dexter stated that something would
take place within the near future and
that J. K Coddfng, the attorney for
the union. would return to the city
next Monday Codding was in the city
yesterday to see about the injunction
case against Dave McRoberts and
Frank Barney of Rossville, which was
to have been heard in the probate
court yesterday. The case, however,
was continued until next Thursday.
The complaint against the two men
is that they have been guilty of selling
liquor contrary to law.
Mr.. Codding, the Attorney for the
union, has been fighting the liquor vio-
laters in his own county, Pottawat-
omie, for the past fifteen years and has
gained some valuable experience. He
was appointed year ago to the posi-
tiOn as attorney for the union, his eX-
perience in his former fights being his
great recommendation to the union. A
snort time since both Chief Stahl and
City Attorney Spencer came to the
union for aid in the fight being waged
in the city. City Attorney Spencer had
not the time to devote to the vigorous
prosecution of the cases and the union
therefore offered Codding'S service
which was availed of in the whisky
drug store raids
The idea of raiding the drug stores
was Chief Stahls own idea but the
method of securing evidence was the
idea fathered by the unions attorney.
1t is another safe guess that the union
will not wait long to carry on the work
against the drug stores. Nothing is to
be gained by a prolonged delay with
the remainder of state waiting on To-
peka. Secretary Dexter states that the
work will be commenced in each coun-
it. No premature campaign, but await
ing until the moment appears ripe for
action.
1.-The first thing to do is to drive out
the JOINTS said Mr. Dexter, land then
if we find the whisky drug store ap-
pearing in the field we shall operate
against that until every vestage of the
evil appears to be eradicat ted. Another
thing are doing is to secure the
services of lawyers who are exper-
fenced in the ins and outs of the law
as it applies to the prohibitory law.
With this corps of lawyers at our back
we can extend legal advice to each of
the communities whose attorney is en-
deavoring to keep the law inviolate
No. 1 won't say what Topeka lawyers
are in the corps"
Secretary Dexter intimated that the
fate of the Temperance Union mas
much as it concerns it's existence will
depend upon the outcome of the fight
which the union will make in Topeka.