The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-05-08
A CITY OF 100000 PEOPLE, ONE
YEAR WITHOUT SALOONS.


First District.
Hon. C. w. Trickett, Assistant At
torney General of Kansas, furnishes
the following facts concerning the
closing of saloons in Kansas City
Kansas.
This city is the metropolis OF
Kansas, with population of about
100000. The inhabitants are large
ly wage-earners and represent every
nationality. We are located on the
border, only an invisible line separ-
ating us from Kansas City, Mo. The
city ranks fifth in the list of manu-
featuring cities of the United tSates.
zone year ago there were 256 sa-
looms in this county 200 gambling
dens and about so houses of social
evil. Today there is not saloon
no open gambling den, nor disord-
erly house. 1t is the largest city
in the world without these dens OF
vice, and as we have now existed
about twelve months with out them,
1t affords a living example of the
fact that lareg city can grow and
prosper without such evils.
cat the commencement of the con-
test large number OF our people
thought 1t would ruin business and
destroy our prosperity, but 1t has
stimulated business In all lines.
"Our population has increased at
a greater rate than ever before.
"The deposits in The banks have
gained by one and one-half million
dollars.
1.-THE merchants upon our streets
have had to employ additional clerks.
"The attendance in our public
schools has increased largely, and we
have had to employ eighteen addi-
tional teachers. The teachers inform
us this increase Is largely of boys
and girls of from IL to 16 years of
age, who prior to the closing of the
saloons were compelled to assist in
supporting the family by reason of
the father spending his wages for
drink.
"The charitable institutions report
a reduction of more than two-thirds
in the demand for aid. The juve-
nile court, which has the care of
dependent children, has had but two
applications in the past eight months
while prior to the closing of the
joints from eight to 8S children re-
quired aid and assistance each
month.
Prior to the closing of joints we
sent from Is to Is young men to the
reformatory every year. In the IL
months since closing we have sent
"The expenses for prosecuting the
criminals have been reduced $685.
900 per annum. Expenses for the
police force have been reduced as
much more.
For the first time in rs years the
court of common pleas of this coun-.
ty opened its term the first Monday
in May without a criminal case
"The city courts, created for the
expresspurpose of trying petty suits,
for the collection of rents and gro
Gerry bills, and formerly crowded with
black docket every day, have now
practically no business, for the rea-
son that the people are paying their
bills instead of being sued for them.
Zone year ago not to exceed two
business men on the principal thor
oughfares of this city would have
favored the closing of saloons. To-
day there is not two who would
favor opening them.
Twice since the saloons were
closed we have held city election at
which the issue was presented to the
people, and at each election the peo-
pie have Endorsed present conditions.
Every bank is loud in praise of the
present civic situation. The city Is
clean, crime Is minimum, mer-
chants prosperous, real estate advan-
cling.
This city is now the experimental
City, Kan, can close It's saloons and
keep them closed, and If the closing
produces prosperity, happiness and
contentment, then it is reasonable to
assume that such results will follow
like policy in other large cities"
The above article in pamphlet
form can be obtained of Mrs. C. e.
Brainard of Payette, Idaho, for zoe
per 100, and will be very useful to
the legislative committees.
The chairman of the First District
legislative committee is very proud
of the fact that Idaho Falls held
the first convention in the state and
that those delegates go pledged to
use their efforts at the state conven-
ton to have local option plank
inserted in the platform.
Sincerely.
MAUDE CAMPBELL.
Chairman First District.
+ !. 1.
The st. Anthony Women's Literary
club were favored with visit from
our district president, Mrs. Reesor.
at our last regular meeting.
She spoke in very interesting
way of the club woman, as a factor
in the public life of the community,
touching on Mrs. Decker's idea, of
women adopting club work as pro-
fession. She also spoke of the dis
trict legislative work. About TWEEN
ty-five women were present. Refresh
ments were served.
While In st. Anthony Mrs. Reesor
was the guest of Mrs. Chas. C. Bow
erman. IA
We realized that the president of
our district federation can do much |
mr. off Il l~l@