The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-28
SHALL They DRINK
Lawyers Have an Exciting
Argument Today.
Question of Serving Liquor at
Their Banquets.
PUNCH WAS "SPIKED -
Charge Made by Judge T. F.
Carver Today.
Also That Annex With Strong
Liquor Was Maintained.
President Slonecker Defends
the Executive Committee.

To drink or not to drink-that is the
question.
At the morning session of the twenty
first annual convention of the Kansas
State Bar association the liquor ques-
ton figured largely in the business of
the meeting. At II o'clock, when the
programme had been completed and
the members were hunting for their
mats and Overcoats preparatory to go
Ing to dinner. Judge T. F. Carver, of
thls city. arose from his chair and in
emphatic terms denounced the action
of the executive council of the associa-
ton for providing Intoxicating LIQUORS
at the annual banquets of the associa-
non Judge Carver then made mo-
ton that the association instruct the
members of the executive council to
hereafter see that no liquor is served
at the annual bano11ets of tho aceooi., :
ton.
L have been a member of this asso-
cation for tWenty-one years. said
Judge Carver. and at all of the ban
quets which have attended during
tnat time a very strong preparation
called punch has been served and I
understand that sort of an annex has
been operated where those members of
Ihe ASSOCIATION who were not satisfied
with the punch could obtain that which
was more suitable to their tastes
I, myself, have had no trouble in
resisting these temptations but as you
are all aware there are many mem
bers of this association who have had
a long hard fight in endeavorine to
bring into subsection their craving for
strong drink and I do not think that it
IS right that we should offer them a
our banquets that which is likely to
undo all of the good that has been done.
There are many to whom one drink
means spree and they go home from
one OF these meetings in Topeka regret
ting that they ever saw the city In
fact know of several cases where
members of this association have been
taken home from our banquets, drunk
I think that the practice of serving
liquor at the banquets given by this
association is not in accordance with
the spirit of the laws of this state and
we as lawyers and representatives from
the courts of the state of Kansas should
not tolerate it for moment do not
know who has been responsible for
what has been done in the past but as
the banquetS come under the superVis-
ion of the members of the executive
council I move that we recommend
that body to see to it that no liquor is
served at the banQuetS given by this
association hereafter"
Judge Garver's motion was immed-
lately seconded by one of his supporters
but before the motion could be put to
a vote of the association Judge J. G.
Slonecker, president of the association
and also of Topeka, arose and spoke in
opposition to the movement. He said:
Il do not think that when this aSsO-
citation was organized it was with the
purpose of regulating or restricting any
of the members personal wishes or
opinions. 1t has been implied that the
members of the executive council are
to blame for what has occurred in the
past, and as I have been a member of
that body 1 want to say a word in their
defense.
1T is true that the provisions for
these h9nnnQfS eaff hNyt 10
members of the executive council, but
in justice to those gentlemen l think
the situation should be explained clear
ly. Heretofore anything which they
have done has been governed largely
by the opinions of the majority of the
members of this association. I do not
want you to infer from what l have
said that l approve of the custom
which has obtained heretofore and to
which Judge Carver has referred. In
fact it does not concern me one way
or the other. But I do think that it is
due the members of the executive
council that you should know that their
action in the provision of these ban
Quets has had the hearty approval of
at least 30 per cent. of the members OF
the association"
W. J. Costigan, of Ottawa. supported
Slonecker.
LIQUOR AT THE BANQUET.
When seen this afternoon and asked
If he thought the resolutions introduced
by Judge Carver this morning would
have any effect upon the banquet at
the Copeland hotel tonight, Judge. J. G.
Slonecker, president of the Kansas
State Bar association, said:
I do not know what effect Judge
Garver's resolution will have on the
banquet The resolution has not yet
been passed and will not be taken up
again until near the end of this after
moons session"
Mr. L. H. Perkins, chairman of the
executive committee is said to be in
favor of Judge Garver's resolution he
ing adopted but it is thought that in
spite of these obstacles, liquor will be
served at the banquet tonight. D A
Valentine said
Il cannot imagine how Judge Gar
Ver's resolution will affect tonight's
banquet Liquor may not be served
outright but I imagine that those who
want it will be able to get it.