The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-24
KANSAS COMAENT
THE sPoTTER.


That it is possible to enforce the
prohlblt1on law without resorting to
desplcable stratagems and disreputable
agents is evidenced by the situation in
Emporia, which is dry as Sahara, and
has been made dry without such de-
vices.
In their zeal to close the joints, the
authorities in various part of Kan
sas have engaged spoilers. The spotter
is a bird of prey who Is regarded with
contempt IN all parts of this country.
Whether he rides in a railway coach,
keeping tab on the conductor, or in a
department store, watching the girls
with eagle eyes to see that they don't
embezzle thimbles or spools of thread /:
or in a business office, adroitly making
note of it when one of the clerks is
three seconds late; wherever he APP
pears, he is looked upon with disgust
and hatred, and when the conditions
are favorable he is mobbed.
No matter how good or virtuous the
cause in which he may be working
for pay-the sneak is detested Of men,
and the cause suffers by his connec-
ton with it.
The spotter who has figured too
frequently in anti-joint crusades pre-
tends to be a jolly good fellow with
ten thousand dollar thirst. By ming
ling with such citizens as may be spit
ting cotton, he discovers the location
of a favorite family joint. and goes
tuCIS, Inviting I'LL VINO may De present
to step up and have something; of
course "the house" must also partake
or refreshments, for he's a jolly good
fellow, which nobody can deny. OF
all the hail-fellow-well-m individuals
in the world. the genial spotter seems
the grand master. He pays for the
drinks, and looks at his watch, and
goes away, and swears out a COM
plant against the jointist, and then
hunts for fresh victims.
The hiring OF such people may land
an occasional jointist in Jail, but it
will be found a bad policy in the end.
It will tend to create sympathy for
the imprisoned jointist, and tolerance
of his misdeeds. And it is not neces-
sary. Violaters of the prohibition law
may be run down and punished with
out the use of such instruments as
spoilers.
In this connection 1t Is pleasing to
state that a spotter at Junction City
is in trouble. He bought refreshments
of a jointist who, upon being arrested.
had the informer gathered in, charg-
ing that he was as guilty of violating
the law in buying a drink as was the
seller of the same. The point is an in
teresting one and will be fully thrashed
out in court.-Emporia Gazette.
UNFAIR LEGISLATION.
Another sample Of unfair railroad
legislation: The railroad commission
of Texas is busy signing equipment
orders for the roads of that state. Here
are the orders for the Gulf. Colorado
& Santa Fe: Fifty locomotives. 20
passenger cars and 5000 freight cars
for 1908; 80 locomotives, Is passenger
cars and 1000 freight cars for 1909;
6 locomotives, passenger cars, and
1.750 freight cars for 1910. Do you
believe the members of the Texas rail-
road commission are smart enough to
see ahead two years or more, and
know the needs of the railroads Of the
state? Isn't 1t another illustration OF
anti-railroad fanaticism? Texas. like
Kansas would scarcely have been on
the map had 1t not been for the rail-
roads.-Atchison Globe.