Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-11-29
MAYOUST MAYORS
Attorney General Coleman Of Kan
sas Files Suits Against juno
tion City and Pittsburg.
FAILURE 10 ENFORCE LAW
Supreme Court IL Asked to Gust Of
nciaIs and Prohibit Cities From
Lioesing saIOons-GOv. Hoch
Pleads Innocence.

ANRSAog AANAA.p ROVs aHs AICOA AOj
General G. G. Coleman has filed foul
Prohibition" custer suits in the Kan
sas supreme court, directed against
the following persons and corpora
tons:
A. B. Klrkwood, mayor Of Pittsburg
Kan, F. W. o'Donnell, mayor Of juno
ton City, Kan: the City Of Pitts
burg. Kan, and the city Of Junction
City, Kan. All Of these suits are
similar to those filed by Attorney Gen
eral Coleman against W. W. Rose, Of
Kansas City. Kan.
The suits against the mayors are
to GUST them from office for failure
to enforce the prohibition law In their
cities. The suits against the munich
palities are to prohibit and GUST
them and their officers from the lille
gal process Of collecting licenses from
Joints. Each Of these suits gives a
long list Of names of owners Of 50.
looms. The proprietors of disorderly
houses are also listed. Both mayors
rrmrd in the proceedings are repubIl-
cans.
In all the cases filed Wednesday It
Is recited that the custom Of accept
Ing $50 a month from the jointists
and keepers Of disreputable houses
has been the common practice Of the
mayors and officers Of the two towns
for at least five years. It is shown
that each of the towns has an ordl-
unace which prohibits the sale Of in
toxicating liquors, except for medical,
scientific or mechanical purposes,
and that the ordinances provide PEN
llties for violations. The petitions |
vet forth that these ordinances are
wholly void and Intellectual in that
The officers Of the two cities accept
The payments Of regular fines or al
low the volators to pay a certain
amount as bail with the intention
hat this monety should be forfeited.
In speaking Of the suits Wednes-
lay night attorney General Coleman
laid:
"The Pittsburg and Junction City
Eases have been commenced because
he necessary facts in these CASE
have Just been obtained. These
cases are not in the nature Of cru
,ade, but have been brought because
he prostitution Of the law in those
,ities has become so fragrant as to
'e intollerable. 1t is the purpose Of
his department, in which I am at
liberty to say that my successor full
' concurs, to make 1t impossible for I
he officers Of these cities to enter
nto partnership with lawlessness
Without being in contempt Of the SUI
RENE court. The municipal profit
I the partnership being thus cut out
We believe the local and police off .
ers will be jealous to enforce the Il
Nv as was done In Wyandotte county
y Mr.. Trickett and Judge Holt
refer not to say at this time" said
Ir. Coleman, IN answer to the ques- 8
on. what II any other similar cases &
I'll be commenced?" n
GoyernorE. W. Hoch stated Wed G
esday night that he knew nothing =
bout the suits until they were filed; :
lat Attorney General Coleman had z
rOuRht the action on hts own resDOn- "
bility and had not consulted the 2
,vernor. Governor Hoch said that N
J far as be knew, the action was not n,
% beginning Of state campaign
sainst the "joints" and that II any
ore suits were to be filed he haj
I been informed Of the intention.
" Hoch was not in the city when - !.
e suits were filed. Z,