The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08

evil is that of prohibition. The deca-
llogue, which in its majestic sweep I'M
cludes every form Of evil. is prohibit
tory code and an infalIible guide.
Thou shalt not is the proper attitude
of government toward every recog-
nized evil That the saloon is an evil
is now almost universally recognized.
Not a single good thing can be said
always an enemy to society and to
good government; it is a disturber of
the peace: it is a prom otter of strife |;
1t is fruitful source of crime: it is
the devils best recruiting camp; 1t inn
poses more burdens of taxation upon
the people than any other agency in
existence; no human interest is sacred
to 1t; it voluntarily obeys no law; it
desecrates the Sabbath, and refuses
to close its doors on this holy day ex-
cept when policeman with righteous
orders from some courageous mayor is
on that beat; the Fourth Of July appeals
not to its patriotism. for it has none;
1t debauches childhood in definance
makes day lurid with its profanities
and night hideous with its orgies; it is
everywhere and always an anarchist
Every license law, high or low every
law to which reference has been made
above, is proof of popular estimate OF
its baneful character, for no such laws
restrict and restrain legitimate bust
ness. Our prohibitory policy is not,
repeat. QUESTIONED dS Il matter OF DT1n-
ciple. Its wisdom is only questioned as
a matter of expediency. This is the
battle-ground of thought on the SUBJ
ject But 1 must ever believe that in
the final analysis, wrong, alone. is in
expedlent, and that ultimately some
means can always be found to make
any right thing practicable. Relative
ly (and every thing is relative in this
world) the prohibitory policy has been
a great success in this state. 1t has
q hanafif cd
morally and financially to-the people.
Viewing it from the highest altitude.
can heartily revoice the following SEN
timents of one of my abIest predeces-
sors Gov. John A Martin, who in q
public address said:
''I have never made any secret of
the fact that 1 voted against the pro-
hibitory amendment and / cannot
therefore be suspected of a desire to
vindicate my own original Judgment
when declare, as l do, that in my
opinion this state is today the most
temperate, orderly, sober community
of people in the civilized world. real
lie fully the force of this statement
and am prepared to sustain it here or
anywhere"
Viewing it from a lower plane, from
it's economic side, believe it is equal
ly worthy of Endorsement I do not
believe there are any people on earth
relatively more progressive and pros
porous than the sixteen hundred thou
sand people who constitute the popu-
lation of Kansas. Our per capita
wealth is. over ninety dollars-nearl
three times the average in the United
States-and nowhere Is wealth more
equally distributed. IA poorhouse is al
most a joke in Kansas. Saloons are
not commercial necessities. All the
money that goes into their ti1ls is just
so much taken out OF legitimate bust
ness channels; 1t is just so much loss
to the legitimate merchant. The reve-
nue. from this source is not necessary
to the permanent prosperity of any
town: it is a hindrance to 1t; It de-
bauehes public sentiment, debases
public morals, and icorrupts official
channels; it destroys town pride, one
of the first and greatest essentials to
town building; it makes the saloon the
center of political influence and the
most potent factors In manicipal gov
eminent. The dev1f never Invented
bigger lie than that revenue from IL
legitimate sources is necessary to the
financial success of any town or city.
Such a contention Is an insult to any
community in Kansas. Wherever this
theory finds Endorsement by local au-
thorities, Doodle and graft and extrav-
agance follow naturally and inevita bly,.
Many local illustrations of the fallacy
that revenue from this traffic is neces-
sary could be given, but will cite on
ly a few. Mayor David H. Shields OF
Salina says:
-
this spring (19o6) business. men of Sa-
lima saidsfhat businessmen be ruined
and the city bankrupted, but, accord
ing to the city treaSurer,s report for
fund of the city at that time $3,416.9O.
The same. report for this March (1906)
shows $7,769.49, an Increase of over
"a 900, and this in spite of the fact
that the city took in over $4,000 from
the joints the year before and less
than $1,000 this year through legiti-
mate fines. The merchants claim that
this has been the best year in the his
tory of Salina. More goods have been
sold and more business done than In
any twelve months of the city's expert
ence." '
A great many of the leading bust
ness men of Kansas City, Kan, cher
ished the same de1usion cherished by
the business men of Salina, but the 200
joints in that city have been effectual-
ly closed, and yet it is almost the uni
versal testimony that the city was
never SO prosperous. Kansas City.
Kan. is the largest city In the state,
and / believe 1T is the largest city in
the world without an open saloon.
There has been wonderful revolution
of sentiment among the business men.
who are prospecting as never before,
and who attested their faith in this new
and wise policy by electing a law and
order mayor at the recent city election.
The people of Kansas City, Kan, have
a splendid opportunity to make their
city the most noted city in the world
by steadfastly adhering to the wise
policy under which they are now MAX
ing such gratifying growth in every
realm CT civic Importance, and other
cities would do wei to catch this in
lection, for it is in. the air. In this
great accomplishment too much credit
cannot be given to Attorney General
c. q. Coleman. to the assistant attor-
ney. general. Mr.. G. w. Trickett, and to
the presiding Judge, Hon, w. G. Holt. !
In q recent address MIR. Trickett said:
when l first mo"ed upon the dens
Of vice two leading bankers, in COM |
pany with three prominent merchants. |
called unon me TO nrot est against clos