The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-03-30
Kansas VIII Danish Liquor.


Under the above heading in the
Union Signal, G. A Nichols says:
saloons in Kansas are making a
last fight for existence. The critical
point in the life Of prohibition, which
has been awaited for years, both by
its friends and its enemies has ar
rived. The prOhibitOry amendment IS
: undergoing its crucial test, and its
fate viii be decided definitely within
/ the next year.
When Edward ". HOch, the cOun-
try editor, took his oath as governor,
his avOwed purpose was to strike a
blow at the liquor power, which for
years has carried on its business in
certain Kansas localities in utter de-
hance Of the state law.
About that time, however, came
the long contest with the Standard
Oil company. Following this came a
troublesome condition Of affairs in
the state treasury, arising from the
failure Of a bank containing state de-
posts The governors attention for
several months was necessary to the
adjustment Of these matters Con-
Sequently the anti-SalOOn campaign
OF the state had been led to expect
but il now begins, TO the diSmay Of
the under world, and the chagrin OF
the county officers VINO either could
not or would not enforce the law.
Governor HOchs is going about his
sane way. Disappointing his enemies
he has not called out the militia IN
stead he has gone into the highest
courts of the state, and is beginning
to take away from deriIict county Of
hciaLs what they most prize-their
Offices.
THE first step taken was in Kansas
City, Kan, the stronghold Of the anti
temperance sentiment in the state
Through Attorney General Coleman,
custer proceedings against PrOsecut-
ing Attorney Gibson and Mayor Rose
Of Kansas City were started by Gov
ernOr HOch, because Of the persistent
refusal to close the 500 saloons OF
that city. The matter will come up
in the supreme court within few
weeks
This action Of the Kansas COVER
nor is warranted by section Of the
prOhibitOry law which provides for
forfeiture of Office when an executive
or prosecutor refuses or neglectS to
make proper efforts to enforce the
statute. This is about the only fea-
ture Of the law not passed on by the
higher courts, and If II holds good
in this instance, the day Of the sa-
loon in Kansas has passed.
IF the Kansas City custer plan is
upheld by the supreme court, the
next move viii be the application Of
the principle in every county Of the
state where there is need for it. By
the time the new plan If fairly nter-
ed upon, Governor HOch's term Of Of
flee will expire. He will be a candi-
date for a second term, and the peO-
pie Of Kansas then Will have a chance
to definitely decide whether or not
they want saloons.
If Governor HOch succeeds in this
move and is then allowed to serve an
additional two years in Office, all the
Kansas saloons will be ClOsed-every-
one comedies that
such a condition is precisely what
the liquor advocates are trying to pre-
vent. They are nearer defeat now
than they ever have been. Beaten in
their campaign to secure reSubmiS-
sion OF the prOhibitOTy amendment TO
the popular vote, expecting to be
whipped to a standstil in the forth
coming legal battle to test Governor
HOch's custer policy, their one hope
is to secure the election Of a liberal
governor a year from now
The temperance people expect to
win and 10 re-eleCt Governor HOch,
but the fight viii be to the death The
governor has started the game in a
modest way, but with a full under
standing Of what it means
Temperance in Kansas will either
stand or fall with HOch."