The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-29
POLICY IS WRONG
State Temperance Union Not
Pursuing Right Course.
Doing Nothing But Beating Air,
Says Secretary Dexter.
HOCH is RESPONSIBLE.
Temperance Worker Thinks At
titude of Governor Hurts Cause.
Can Make No Headway Unless
Chief Executive Acts.

with Governor Hoch saying that
unless the local authorities do their
part he is helpless, I cannot see that
we are doing anything else but beat
ing the air. said Rev. w. L. Dexter,
secretary of the Kansas State Temper
ance union, this morning, who has
resigned as secretary of the union.
On Wednesday afternoon at 4
o'clock a meeting of the executive
committee will be held in F. D.
which time Mr.. Dexter's successor will
be elected.
81 quit continued Rev. Dexter this
morning, because 1 thought that our
policy that we are now pursuing will
not lead us to victory
What is that policy? ?" was asked
of him.
when the children of light of this
day and generation shall become as
wise as the children of the world,
cess" replied Rev. Dexter. THAT is
not original with me, but it fits
won't Governor .Hoch give you any
satisfactory answer?''' was asked.
well, have seen him number
of times" was the reply, land he has
always said that he would aid in every
way possible, that he favored the en-
forcement of the law and would see
that 1t is DONE
Did he ever say to you that unless
the local authorities do their duty he
was helpless 90 was asked.
NO replied Mr.. Dexter, but that
is the way the newspapers quoted
him. What are we to do in the face
of statement like that? What can
we do? We seem to be beating the
air. Are we making progress? None
that I can see. Look at this roll of
federal licenses granted in Kansas
since July 1. Here is an immense list
of lanes 1 have NOT counted them
yet, because 1 have not found the
time. Our policy is wrong that we
are working on. We will never gain
our point if we continue as we are
doing now.
Are you satisfied with the work of
the executive committee of the Tenn
perance UniOn?' was asked.
Yes" he replied, perfectly so. They
have aided me in every way they could.
But the law has not been enforced as
expected it to be by this administra-
ton
Rev. Mr.. Dexter refused to answer
further questions about the matter.
No" he said, don't ask me any more
things now. 1 don't want to talk about
them. / will issue a statement within a
week which will cover the entire mat
ter. I resigned voluntarily. + did so
because I believe that we are not sue
eessful. 1 am willing to have some one
else StCp iAAO lily HHOEH. MY statement
will contain elear-cut concise reasons
of why I have given up the place"
Mr.. Dexter came here from Caldwell
where he had a Methodist charge. He
has been secretary of the Temperance
Union for two years and has worked
hard. He has frequently called on Gov
ernor HOch and upon United States At
torney Dean to secure aid. Evidently he
has not been helped as he thinks that
he should have been and therefore he
Governor q
seems, however, to be his main reason
for resigning.
The Situation a Disgrace.
In this weeks issue of the Kansas Is
sue, published by the State Temperance
union, Mr.. Dexter has the following
drastic editorial:
The situation in Topeka at the pres
ent time is a disgrace to the state. The
law is being f1agrantly violated every
day in a hundred different places. Lii
quor selling, gambling and prostitution
are carried on with impunity and with
the full knowledge of the officials. How
can we expect to have things bettered
when We have man at the head of the
police force who plead guilty to ViOlat
ing the prohibitory law in Usage City
in 1898 and was sentenced to pay a fine
of $1,000 and serve a total of ten months
in jail2 At the time the arrest was
made the sheriff found some $4,000
worth of liquor on his place and it was
sentenced by the court to be destroyed
Mr.. Goodwin served a part of his time
and was then released with the under
standing that he pay his fine; but there
is no record that the fine has ever beer
paid.
When Chief Stahl was at the head
of the police department the attempt
was made in every way possible to tie
his hands. The chief himself was COM
PEELED to carry several cases to the
supreme court and stand the expense
in order. to get justice. He fought the
battle alone and was not rewarded fol-
his faithfulness. But the present CHIEF
IS to be rewarded for his unfaithful-
ness in the fact that the salary ha:
been raised from $1,000 to 1900 pei
year.
Governor Hoch. has a chance t.
show that the law can be enforced by