The Topeka state journal., 1908-08-27
Governor Fort Warns Atlantic
City What to Expect.
Will Have a Closed Sunday One
Way or Another.
EITHER MARTIAL LAW
An Extra Session of the Legis.
lature, or Both.
Old Fight Between Legal Au-
J thOrity and Public Sentiment.

Atlantic City. Aug. 27.-Governor
Forts startling proclamation created
a sensation here. His drastic atti-
tude on the subject of violations of
the law was the sole topic of conver-
sation everywhere. The grand jury
is meeting again today at Mays Land
ing. the countyseat and much curios-
| ity is expressed regarding the outcome
| of the body's deliberations. A week
ago the grand jury after much DELHI
Grafton handed down but two indict-
| ments against alleged violators of the
Sunday liquor law, other charges be-
ing postponed. The following Sunday
was declared by observers to have
| been more wide open" than ever be-
fore. Members of the grand jury and
Atlantic City officials declared that
there would be no indictments or en-
forcement of laws against Sunday Ii
quor selling and gambling until after
the close of the season. AS a severe
storm is prevailing and summer Wis
| itors are leaving the resort in great
numbers, it Is possible that the grand
jury may conclude that the season Is
closed.
1.-The sheriff has made no effort to
enforce the laws relative to selling Ii
quors on Sunday the proclamation
reads, THE chief of police will make
no effort to enforce those laws or the
laws against gambling and immoral
houses and lewd women unless SO or
dered by the mayor and the mayor re-
fuses to so order. Therefore I, as gov
ernor of the state, propose to see that
the laws are enforced and to that end
will ask the legislature for power to
remove delinquent officers and other
wise enforce the laws.
Choice of Remedies.
1.-TWO methods suggest themselves
as a remedy when the officials refuse,
and the courts of law are powerless to
punish the wrong doer-
First to call out the militia and
police the city with soldiers and close
up the Illegal places by the military
arm of the state. This amounts to de-
claring martial law. AS the execu-
tive of the state l dislike to order such
extreme measures without an appro-
priation to cover the expenses first
made by the legislature or some great
emergency.
"Second. call the legislature to-
gether to grant an appropriation to
cover the cost of the militia in case
of its being called out or to enact
legislation to place the drawing of all
juries in the hands of an independent
commission that fair men may be
selected for this city; and, also to
authorize the governor or the courts
to remove, after hearing, officials who
wilfully and perversely refuse to do
their duty.
This address to the people of the
state is issued that the violaters of the
law at Atlantic City and the officials
who stand by and refuse to prevent or
punish such violators may be warned
of the fact that in case of their fur
ther refusal to enforce or obey the
law the legislature will be convened to
meet the emergency.
eff a successful effort is not made
by the officials and citizens of Atlantic
CITY to enforce the Sunday law against
the sale of liquor beginning on Sunday
next, August 80, I hereby by this pub
lie statement notify the citizens of the
state that / shall forthwith issue a
proclamation calling an extraordinary
session of the legislature of the state,
that legislation may be enacted under
which the laws of the state may be en-
forced in all places and equally upon
all the people in the state and I call
upon ali good people in the state with
| out regard to party creed or citizen
ship to take steps to voice their sentf-
ments upon the all absorbing
issue now before the people of
| the state. namely, shall the laws or
the state be obeyed?"
For two years or more the citizens
| league has been active in obtaining
| evidence against alleged law breakers
This evidence according to the league
| has been ignored by the various grand
| 1ur1eS. IL is IHc CuStOit loi thC 81 anu
| jury to meet in the fall after the sea-
son is over and act on the cases pre-
sented The members of the jury
usually make no secret of their lack Of
| sympathy with efforts to curtail the
| privileges of pleasure seekers who fire.
uuent the resort. Joseph Salus, the
| foreman of the present grand jury, re-
| Gently declared in an interview that al
| though he was a teetotaler he favored
an open Sunday because the business
| interests and the patrons desired it.
| This is practically the sentiment OF all
the city and county officials with the
| exception of County Prosecutor Gold
| burg, who recently created sensation
by publishing a list of gambling houses
and denouncing the city officials for
| falling to enforce the law.
The term of Mayor Franklin H. Stoy
| is about to expire and there has been
a hot fight over his denomination. Re-
/ Gently it was announced that this op-
| position had in a measure subsided and
/ that Mr. Stoy would probably be re-
nominated.
] Last Sunday after an unusually large
| number of people had participated in
| the pleasures of the resort Mayor Stoy
! declared that 1t had been great day
/ for Atlantic City and pointed proudly
| to the general good order which pre-