The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-29
Gan BE ENFORCED
c. W. TrIckett Discusses the
PrOhibitOry Law.
Tells How He Closed Kansas
City Saloons.
NOT ONE LEFT THERE.
Says There Isn't a Saloon in
WyandOtte County.
Peace Now Reigns Where Once
Vas Turmoil.
Tot ONE LEFT THERE.


Before entering upon a general dis
eussion of the Issues presented in this
campaign I wish to very briefly speak
of the efforts that have been made in
Wyandotte county for law enforcement,
and the results upon business.as around
the thoughts thus suggested 1 shall
cluster what shall say today.
/ was appointed assistant attorney
general for WyandOtte county on June
of the present year. At that time pro-
hibition had been a part of our consti-
tuition and laws for a quarter of a cen
fury. There had been several attempts
to enforce It with but little success,
and the opinion very generally prevail
ed that the law could not be enforced,
at least in the larger cities. was
urged by my superior officers to push
the contest to the limit. as they desired
the efforts in WyandOtte county to set
tie once for all whether the law could
be enforced.
In Wyandotte county is located Kan
sas City, Kansas, the metropolis of the
state with 10000 population Argentine,
a city of more than 10000, Rosedale,
city of more than 2, 900 inhabitants, be-
sides many smaller cities
At the time assumed the duties of
that Office there were 30 open saloons
in Kansas City, Kansas,22 in Argentine,
10 in Rosedale and IA in other parts Of
the county, not counting the drug
stores.
Kansas City. Kansas, is separated
from Kansas City, Missouri, by an
imaginary line and 1t was an easy mat
ter for the great breweries in the city
in Missouri to bring across the state
line at all hours Of the night their con-
traband goods.
As most former attempts had been
made with the criminal arm of the law,
and had failed, determined to employ
and test the civil arm of the law. I had
heard much in recent years about gov
eminent by injunction and it seemed
to me If individual interests could use
the injunction to protect their property
and rights the great state Of Kansas
could use it to protect the lives and
morals OF its citizens.
I found upon the statute books an act
declaring places where liquor was sold
or kept for sale, Or place where per
sons were permitted to resort for the
purpose of drinking as q beverage,
common nuisance. and that the same
might be abated and enjoined-
The court granted q. temporary injunc-
ton at the time Of filing the suit and
Of court and could be punished as such.
When I assumed the duties OF the Of
flee there were about is judgments Ia
ken by former attorneys, but no journal
entry had been prepared or fled in
the cases. Ny first official act was to
prepare and have the court approve
journal entry in these cases, providing
for q writ OF abatement A writ of
abatement Is a writ commanding the
sheriff of the county to go to the
premises and publicly destroy all in
toxicating liquors and saloon fixtures
found thereon.
I rad these writs executed to show
the power of the law. that violators
might take the hint, and we destroyed
some $4,000 worth of such goods ana
fixtures. But this did not seem to please
the saloonkeepers.
then started in to prosecute the par
ties selling for contempt Of court. From
one place we took six baFtenders, one
after another, and landed them in jail.
But this did not close the saloon. The
breweries promptly paid the fines, and
paid the salaries OF the bartenders while
in jail, and put others behind the bar
to sell 1 saw that life was too short to
close the saloons by that method. Some
thing else had to be done.
In seeking for more effectual
method I recalled that some three
years ago when the people of the Sixth
ward of our city threatened to destroy
bridge that seemed to impede the
flow of water and was liable to flood
that part of our city, that the railroad
companies went into the federal court
and enjoined the destruction OF the
bridge, and upon an affidavit being
filed that they believed the people
would disregard the injunction, the fed
eral judge ordered and directed the
United States marshal to take possess
sion of the bridge and put deputies in
charge thereof to enforce the order
and decree of the court It seemed to
me that If this could be done to protect
the property of a railroad company.
il could be done to protect the lives
and morals OF the citizens of this great
state Therefore I prepared and filed
with the court an application for an
order in ten test cases and presented
the evidence that at that moment the
hair Is
and hagrantly violated and asked the
court to take steps to enforce its or
der. We we're fortunate in having a
judge who had the courage to admin
lister the law without fear or favor in
the face of local adverse sentiment
After considering the authorities cited
he granted the application
This order closed the saloons.
Armed with 1t the sheriff went to the
saloon. arrested those violating the in
junction and when he left the prem
Uses the front and back doors Of the
building were decorated with a pad
lock Within three days some eighty
buildings were thus padlocked, and 1t
dawned upon the breweries that with
their fixtures thus in the possession OF
the sheriff under this order, awaiting
the day of final judgment when the
court sh ouid order them destroyed,
they were in a fair way to lose proper
ty of the value OF $4,000.
They Immediately themselves closed
all other joints and for days and weeks
every transfer wagon in the two cities
was pressed into service hauling fix
lures out of the state. It was no un-
common thing to see a street lined
with one team after another loaded
with bar fixtures making for the state
line
Thus ended a contest that was quick
and decisive. Today there IS not a sa-
loon in Wyaudotte county. Many of
the buildings wherein the Illegal traffic
was carried on have been rented for
other business and the remainder stand
idle. a silent monument TO the su
premacy Of law.
When the contest was comm enced
many OF our business T-en feared that
the closing of the saloons would have
q disastrous effect on business