The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-18
BERKELEY, CAL, LIKE TOPEKA
Former Topeka Man Compares the
Cities in Berkeley Newspaper.

Out in California the people are to-
vote on a proposition submitted by the,
legislature to move the state capital
from Sacramento to Berkeley. Berixe-
ley Is the seat of the state university.
and is nearer the center of the state.
In the Berkeley Independent OF.
March 6 appears the following COM
munication from william F. File.
formerly of Topeka:
To the Editor:
For those who fear the moral effect
of the removal of the state capital to
Berkeley. 1 have a word of encourage
ment and the good example of a capt.
tai city without a saloon.
Topeka, Kansas, Is a city of $4,000
Inhabitants, and since 1884 has been
so firmly intrenched in it's prohibition
principles that no change of admin
istration of either city or state has
been able to bring back the open sa-
loon or to allow for any length of time
the running of blind pigs" The con-
stitutional amendment prohibiting the
sale of liquors went into effect in June
1880. The old saloon element was in
power in the political parties and con-
trolled in city affairs to such a degree
that for the first four years but little
Roadway was made against the liquor
interests. The first enactment of the
legislature under the amended con-ti-
tuition was deficient; and convictions
were consequently hard to secure. The
people, however, were thoroughly in
earnest, and demanded of city and
county officers the enforcement of the
law.
During the four years of partial fail
ure the public conscience was being
educated, and at each election the cam
d1dates We're required to take higher
ground. Finally, the old machine was
turned down. and a new deal in CITY
aHalrs came about in the election OF
Bradford Miller, the son of a Presbv-
terrain minister, for mayor. With him
came into office a set of councilmen
VINO mad conscience and courage AMI
VINO could not be made to bow To the
brewer and saloon keeper. This was
IN 1852. That year Kansas had an
accident In the way of governor Click
was elected instead of st. John. and
the anti-prohibitfonists rubbed their
hands in glee. To make matters worse.
vacancy occurred in the district
judgeship of Shawnee county, and Gov
ernor Click appointed John Martin an
anti-pro hibitionist, to the bench. THE
governors purpose was to defeat pro
hihition in the courts, and to make IL
ridiculous in the eyes of the people,
and sooner or later to secure the re-
peal Of the law and a resubmission of.
the constitutional amendment.
Imagine the surprise of all when
Judge Martin decided against the sa-
loon keepers, and visited the severest
penalties upon the offenders.
Two campaigns have been waged
against the prohibitory law, but no
legislature has been able to secure
enough votes to accomplish this. The
law has been strengthened, and is now
as we'll enforced throughout the state
as any other law; and Topeka, the
capital, is the best example of a we'll
governed, thrifty and growing city
that there is in this country.
lived there ten years. and was well
acquainted with its conditions.
Where else will you find a city Of
that size in which eighteen policemen
and marshal are sufficient to main
tain the peace? Or place of that
size in which there is not a case to be
tried in the police court on a Monday
morning. In ten years it grew from
900 to $4,000. This was from 1884
to 1894. They were years of almos
complete elimination OF me liquor
traffic.
have written this to show that the
people of state capital need not suf-
fer debasement on account of the
laws who administer them. It IS
a fact that after Topeka became a
"dry town" the tone of the legislature
and the state officials was raised. Con-
sidered as a whole, / doubt IL there
have been anywhere better or moro
intelligent men in positions of trust
and power than those of Kansas DUR
ing the past twenty-four years.
and a sufficient length of time in
Berkeley to become acquainted with
the spirit of its people. I wish to say
that Topeka and Berkeley are very
n early alike They are Of about
the sair~ population. In virtue
and intelligence they are both on
high levels; and when Berkeley be-
comes the state capital the legislative
districts will be far more careful to
send their best men to represent them
than they have been in the past. And
the same idea will prevail in selecting
state officers.
Berkeley has been forgotten by the
map-maker, given the go-by by the
builder of time tables. But she has
been patient, and her patience and her
eentleness have made her great. The
best governed and most democratic
CITY in California is but coming into
her own. when she becomes the seat
of government.
WILLIAM F. FILE.
Berkeley, March 4. 1907.