The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-16

These are the big places, and there are
about half a dozen of them.
Notwithstanding the fact that there
is no ordinance against selling booze in
Topeka, these clubs are still keeping
up the club front. The free-for-alI
joints have entered into the spirit of
the chase of the elusive nickel, and if
some ordinance is not framed before
long they will be selling on the street
to save the patrons the trouble OF
walking to a back rOom-that is if Mr..
Hungate will keep quiet. All the
liquor sellers are looking forward with
great interest to the passage of q new
liquor ordinance. The club keepers
because a majority of the councilmen
are club members-member of real
clubs. and the sellers argue that they
will not pass an ordinance with a club
clause in it.
It is a fact that the town is not much
"wetter' than it was before the SUI
preme court legalized the sale of intox-
icants. The police cannot make arrests
on liquor selling charges now, and seem
to be glad of it. as it entailed some
with all the white pine boards and
shelves nailed tightly to the
wall was raided. The dozen
or more jointists who have been
job have boldly called at the station and
claimed their wares. and even have the
nerve to kick if a bottle or bucket Is
missing. Chief Goodwin has been re-
quiring the jointists to sign a receipt
for everything they take away. There
viii be another ordinance some time,
and we VIII be pulling them again, and
this little slip may have something to do
with proving ownership the next time
this stuff is brought in" said the chief
a few days ago, as he filed away a re-
ceipt for pump. key and a bunch
Of glasses.
Just after election about two carloads
of fine joint fixtures were shipped into
Topeka and set up. Cherry, black oak
and other fine woods were exposed in
the shape Of bars and back bars. Both
the sheriff and chief of police seemed
to sort out the places with the best fix
lures, and they were the first to fall
Most of the fancy bars have either been
stored away in back sheds or in the
court house basement and their places
taken by pine boards or nothing at all
When Undersherin John Lucas raided a
place on lower Kansas avenue not long
ago, he found an ice chest which looked
like a modern fiat. It was too large to
haul away. so he tore it up with an axe
This was hard on the ice chest, which
was brand new and worthy OF a place
in any big Kansas City saloon. The
exodus of fine bars which occurred
along Kansas avenue that afternoon
was a sight.
The police department made 16 arrests
on liquor selling charges between the
passing Of Mr.. Stahl and the passing
away Of the ordinance. Mr.. Stahl, in
the few days between election, April 6,
and his retirement, April 10, made 10
arrests, but as he was in hurry with
them and didn't have sufficient time to
attend to the little side issues of secur-
ing evidence. the cases all went into air
in the good old way. 1t is just as well
that the cases were dismissed as the
whole crowd would have escaped when
the ordinance was declared unconstitu-
tionaL
Whatever may be the cause it is a
notable fact that there has been re-
markable decrease in crime lately It
may be true that the dearth of hold
ups and burglaries is dueto the manage
ment Of the city by the police depart