The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-27
HE RAPs THE OFFICERS.
Correspondent Discusses the Prohibi-
tory Law in Shawnee County.

To the Editor of the State Journal.
Several months have passed since the
present city administration was forced
to make a change in the police control
of this city. Sufficient time has elapsed
to give Mr.. Stahl a fair opportunity to
demonstrate his ability to close the sa-
looms of this city and to enforce the or
dinances against vice generally In
many instances he has succeeded ana
many of the protected dens of Topeka
are no more, at least one thing is GER
tain, they no longer fiaunt receipts from
the city officials in the public's face
The saloons are still here. however;
not of course so outrageously bold IN
their operations as when they were as
sured protection but that intox1catlnS
liquor is sold all over this city Doth Dy
the drink and by the bottle cannot DC
denied. The HOP tea" emporium Is
the thinnest conceivable covering for sa-
looms that sell both beer and Wnlsky;
The joint drug stores are IN tneH Au'
glory. Admitted sales run INTO nun.
dreds and these form but a SINAI! par
of the sales actually made Ihere are
in Topeka today. pharmacists VINO
tended bar during the former ponce al,
ministration- Clerks are empty m 49, 1u
solely because OF their ability TO draw
gdesira BILE liquor trade. a NUMBER Oh
these stores make no pretense OF selilils
drugs. and their total legitimate sales
wage CT one of their bartenderS. Any
day one may observe the patrons OF
these stores lined up awaiting their
turns to go behind the prescription
case when that already crowded apart
rnent shall have served it's incum bent
multitude. There is not druggist IN
Topeka who makes 25 sales of whisky
for medicinal purposes in single
That the present chief of police is
honestly trying to enforce the law does
not admit of doubt However, ne mas
no support worthy of the name from
the temperance people. He may nave
their good wishes and probably their
prayers. but the things which ne en-
counters demands something more SUD
stantial. The temperance organizations
are rendering no effective ald- W nat
has become of the Committee OF Two
HundredT" At one time this organlza-
ton seems to have had some force out
now ii is evidently without form ana
vofd Where is that great mass of men
who a short time ago met in the AUDI
toriurn and resolved that the saloon
must go2 The mighty are fallen PUP
lie sentiment is dead 1t would appear
to the casual observer that the great
mass of business men are IN taNor OF
the open licensed saloon
Neither does there appear to be
much hone for the immediate future
StahI stands alone. The present city
administration gives him no active
support. When public sentiment forces
it upon him the present mayor mas
Welded reluctant acquiescence but II
lacks spirit Like a mechanical toy
when wound up. tortured and twisted.
he has clattered across the floor ana
done his stunt-until the spring run
down. The legal department has been
too busy with other things to reach
the matter of joints. The cOntagion
seems to be spreading and the Amity
CLUB goes free although the same evil
dence convicted Fritz Durein in the
district court. But the trial of a po-
litical club follows and the precedent
is established. When they face the
majestic law one need not be
prophet to foretell results.
There is no hope from the court
house crowd" The present judicial
reign is almost terminated The pres
ent judges efforts are county history
to be either condemned or praised as
you please. The incoming judicial ad-
ministration does not augur we'll for
the temperance hosts. Mr.. Dana at
tempted to run as candidate for that
office without making the liquor ques-
ton an issue but the temperance peo-
pie classified him against his apparent
will. They forced him to become the