Middletown transcript., 1907-10-05
TEMPERANCE IN KANSAS
BY c. y. TRIcKETT, KANSAS CRY
ssisldsit a tsos9sea General

Assistdsa As4ssg General
lam ii receipt Of your request for a
statement with reference to the closing OF
the joints II this city and the effect there
Iof. In reply / give the following facts:
This city il the metropolis OF Kansas,
with population Of about 100000. The
Inhabitants are largely wage-earners and
represent every nationality. We are
located on the border, only an invisible
line separating us from Kansas City. Mo.
This city ranks fifth in the list of manu-
featuring cities of the United States.
One year ago there were 256 saloons in
this county, 200 gambling dens and about
60 houses Of social evil. To-day there is
not saloon, no open gambling dens, nor
disorderly house. 1t is the largest city in
the world without these dens of vice, and
as we have now existed about twelve
months without them, it affords living
example OF the fact that large city can
grow and prosper without such evils.
At the commencement of the contest
large number of our people thought it
would ruin business and destroy our pros
perity, but it has stimulated business 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 million dollars. The
merchants upon our streets have had to
employ additional clerks. The atten-
dance in our public schools has increased
largely, and we have bad to employ eigh-
teen additional teachers. The teachers
inform us that this increase is largely Of
boys and girls from twelve .tosixteen years
of age, who prior to The closing of the sa-
looms were compelled to assist in support
ing the family, by feahens of the father
spending bis wages foa drink,
The slaaritable institutions report re-
ductio 4 Of more than two-thirds in the
demaad for aid. The juvenile court,
which has the care ofdependent 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 reformatoIy every
yeark In the twelve months since the
closing ofthe saloons We have sent but,
two The expenses Of prosecuting criminals
have been reduced s2t, 600 per annum.
The expense for the police force has been
reduced as much more.
For the first time in twenty-five years
the court of common pleas OF this county
Opened its term OF court the first Monday
lin May without a criminal case. The
city courts, created for the express pur.
pose ottrying petty suits for the collection
of rents and grocery bills, which former.
ly were crowded with black docket
every day, have now practically no bus
iness, for the reason that people are pay
ing their bills instead of being sued for
them.
A year ago this citv was trying to de-
wise ways andmesns to spare the money |
to bp2d additDns to our city jails4 To-
day the doorsrof the city jails swing idly
upon their hinges, and we have no use
for those we have.
OAelyear ago, not to exceed two busi-
ness men on the principal thoroughfares
of this city would have favored the clos
ing Of the saloons; to-day there are not
twowho would favor opening them up,
showing wonderful revolution in public
sentiment Twice since the saloons were
closed we have held city election, at which \
lie Isl he was presented to the people,
and at each election the people have in
lorsed present conditions. Every banke
is loud in praise Of the present situatioI
he city is clean; crime is at minimuI
prosperous, real estate ae
This fity is the experimental stat :,
.he wos sld. If Kansas City, Kan. fan
,lose its saloons and keep them d sed,
md if the closing of them prs ncesA |
happiness and content bent.
hen III reasonable to presuI that
.uch seF Is will flow from likelpoliey
n othe arge cities. /