The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-07
RAP MAYOR DAVIS
Ministerial Union Passes Some
Severe Resolutions.
Call Attention to the Report of
Judge Hayden.
UP TO CITY'S HEAD.
Say That Executive Is RespOm-
sible for Conditions.
Council to Legislate Against
Immoral Shows.

evening to try to pass an ordinance
forbidding the production of immoral
shows in the city, though it is doubt
full if any immoral shows have been
given.
The Topeka Ministerial union met
| this morning and decided that the i'm
moral shows are properly not a por-
ton of the ethics of the city and de-
cided to ask members of the council
| to vote for the resolution of Council
man Sinner calling for the passage of
an ordinance forbidding shows of this
character.
Councilman Green was waited upon
other members of the Ministerial
union and asked to give his support to
Councilman Sinners resolution.
The Ministerial union scores this
port of the committee on public
morals of that organizations: 1--WE
wish to say distinctlvely that Mayor
Davis, according to the best knowledge
which we can secure, has failed to do
his duty as the highest city officer, and
it should be recognized by every good
citizen that he has failed
The committee says further:
Hayden of the juvenile court, made
public statement before the school
teachers in convention here, which your
committee thinks is of SO serious a
unnoticed. In an address at the First
Presbyterian church he said that many
children were brought into his court
charged with being drunk, and also
said, I have had boys brought into my
court time and time again, who were
under twelve years of age. charged with
being drunk. Two girls that 1 have
sent to Beloit within the last two
months were found in dance halls and
houses of ill-fame. Neither of the girls
FL 1irfa Ijrfh dos
When questioned one of them said that
from ten to twenty girls to her knowl-
edge visited the place nightly, and that
there were number of such places on
lower Kansas avenue. We should have
law making it punishable by forfeit
lure of office for city officer TO allow
places to run, such as joints, gambling
houses and houses where children VIII
be allowed to frequent He says, The
chief of police says to punish the boys
for drunkenness by sending them to
the reform school 1 say, Mr. Chief
of Police, punish the fellow who sells
the liquor
'These statements, as published in
the daily papers, are vouched for by
Judge Hayden, as containing facts
which he is ready to verify IT this
is the condition in the city, it Is con-
dition which ought not to permit any
minister or church member to keep
silence, and ought to arouse the right
eous indignation of every decent man
and woman in this city. Your com
mittee does not think the chief of po-
lice is the principal person to call to
account. The official head of this city
is the mayor. He is the man who has
authority to give orders for the closing
Of these places. If he does not know
where these places are, as ne mas at
different times claimed, 1T is his duty
to follow up the knowledge which 9TH
ed people furnish him. Your committee
believes that the mayor or TINS city is
guilty and that he is the one person
who is most guilty of all of not doing
what lies in his power of putting an
end to the conditions vouched for by the
nudge of the Juvenile court
''The committee from TINS union
which waited upon the mayor rev
davs after he was elected, over year
and a half ago. received a statement
from him in which he said he did not
know what his policy was going 10 pc
in regard to the enforcement OF the
nrohibitory law in Topeka. When ne
was asked what his policy would be IL
he saw thieves carrying away groceries
from his wholesale house at the 1ool
of Kansas avenue, he said, with con-
siderable impatience. that the TWO
ouestions were not similar Your COM
noittee fails to see any difference be-
tween two laws which are upon the
statute books of this great common
wealth when it comes to the matter OF
enforcement 1t is no more a crime
grocery store than it is TO carry on
saloon business in Topeka. Both are
crimes and both should be prosecuted
with equal celebrity. The mayor has no
option in the matter and when he re-
fuses to enforce the law against joints.
gambling houses, and houses OF i'll
fame he is q law breaker himself
Your committee believes it is the duty
of every decent man and woman In
this city to place the responsibility for
the disgraceful condition of affairs up
on the one man who is authorized by
the law to give orders to the chief OF
police and we wish to say distinctly
that Mayor Davis, according 10 the
best knowledge which we can secure.
city officer, and it should be recog-
nized by every good citizen THAT he
has failed and the burden of at least
mart of the responsibility for the ruin
of these boys and girls lies at his door.
He can not escape it by claiming ig
norance of the facts in the case. If he
gives orders to the chief of police for
chief refuses to obey. the mayor has
full authority to remove him and ap-
point some one else.
siYour committee is not making any
attempt to suggest a remedy for the
present conditions. We are simply stat
the case. The only remedy which seems
possible to US who are otherwise help
less is for all the people to rise up the
next election and put into the office of
BILE regard for the law. a man who
would but dare to prostitute his office
in any way whatever, a man who would
look with horror. as our present mayor
apparently does not look, upon the de-
struction of these little ones Whether
he ne nT11c 7f Tnrn Io arn 10 r71 all