Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-09-28
KANSAS CITY AS A "CLoSED"
TOWN.


ing of the joints in this city and the
effect thereof. In reply | give the
following facts:
This city is the metropolis of Kan
sas, with a population of about 100.-
900. The inhabitants are largely wage
earners and represent every national
ity. We are located on the border,
only an invisible line separating US
from Kansas City, Mo. This city
ranks fifth in the list of manufacturing
cities of the United States.
One year ago there were 256 saloons
in this county. 200 gambling dens and
about GO houses of social evil. Today
! there is not a saloon, no open gambl
ing dens, nor disorderly house. 1t
is the largest city in the world without
these denes of vice, and as we have
now existed about twelve months with
out them, it affords a living example
of the fact that large city can grow
and prosper without such evils.
At the commencement of the contest
a large number of our people thought
I it would ruin business and destroy our
prosperity, but it has stimulated bus
mess in all lines. Our population has
increased at a greater rate than ever
before. The deposits of the banks
have gained by one and one half mill
ion dollars. The merchants upon our
streets have had to employ additional
clerks. The attendance in our public
schools has increased largely, and we
have had to employ eighteen additional
teachers. The teachers inform US that
this increase is largely of boys and
girls from twelve to sixteen years of
age, who prior to the closing of the
saloons were compelled to assist in
supporting the family. by reason of the
father spending his wages for drink.
The charitable institutions report
reduction of more than two-thirds in
the demand for aid. The Juvenile
court, which has the care of dependent
children. had but two applications in
the past eight months, while prior to
the closing of the joints, from eight
to lightweight children required some
assistance and aid each month. Prior
to the closing of the joints. we sent
from fifteen to twenty-five young men
to the reformatory every year. In the
| twelve months since the closing of the
saloons, we have sent but two. The
expense of prosecuting criminals has
been reduced $25, 900 per annum. The
expense for the police force has been
reduced as much more.
For the first time in % years the
court of common pleas in this county
opened its term of court the first Mon
day in May without criminal case.
The city courts, created for the pur-
pose of trying petty suits for the col
lection of rents and grocery bills,
which formerly were crowded wiz
black docket every day, have now
practically no business, for the reason
that people are paying their bills in
stead of being sued for them.
A year ago this city was trying to
devise ways and means to spare the
money to build additions to our city
jails. Today the doors of the city jails
swing idly upon their hinges, and we
have no use for those we have.
One year ago, not to exceed two
business men on the principal thorough
fares of this city would have favored
the closing of the saloons; today there
are not two who would favor opening
them up, showing a wonderful revolu
ton in public sentiment. Twice since
the saloons were closed we have held
city elections, at which the issue was
presented to the people, and at each
election the people have indorsed pres
ent conditions. Every banker is loud
in praise of the present situation; the
city is clean; crime is at minimum
merchants prosperous, real estate ad-
vancing.
This city is the experimental sta
ton of the world. If Kansas City,
Kan, can close its saloons and keep
them closed, and if the closing of them
produces prosperity, happiness and
contentment. then it is reasonable to
presume that such results will flow
from like policy in other cities
c. w. Trickett, Kansas City, Assist
ant Attorney General, in The Congre-