The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-10
paddock" Trickett Discusses
His Work in Kansas City.
Girls Helped Him to Close the
Joints.
HE WAS OSTRACISED.
Even Friends Avoided Speaking
TO Him.
Business Benefited by the Clos
ing of Saloons.


That a strict enforcement of the
Kansas prohibitory law in Kansas
City, Kan. the largest city in the
state, has been of great benefit to the
material wealth and the moral condi-
tons of that city, was the gist of the
address of c. w. Trickett, assistant
attorney general of Wyandotte county,
which was delivered at the First Con-
gregationaI church Sunday morning,
in connection with the Temperance
union rally in the city. 1t is due en-
tirely to the efforts of Mr.. Trickett
that the joints were driven out of that
city and in his address yesterday
morning, Mr.. Trickett gave a sum-
mary review of his fight against the
Kansas City Joints. telling of all the
steps that had to be taken in order to
put the violators of the law. deter
mined though they were out of busi-
ness. He did not however tell as
much about the fight as he usually
does but merely alluded to the differ
ent stages and finally to the stage
when he had to put padlocks on the
buildings in order to get them out of
business.
When Mr.. Trickett was introduced
by DR.. Francis l.. Hayes, pastor Of the
First Congregational church, he ex-
in church. and especially in taking
the place of the regular preaching
services. IT may say something that
might wound the sensibilities of
some one. but if 1 do you must re-
member that 1 have been speaking in
Illinois and Missouri" This prema-
ture apology on the part of Mr.. Trick
EFT was evidently uncalled for as his
speech contained nothing objection
able.
The early part of Mr.. Trickett's adj
dress was characterized by a review Of
the workings of a government of the
Republican type where the will of the
majority rules. He told of the supre-
macy of this rule and of the failure of
every attempt to go against the
wishes of the majority. The attempt
of the confederacy to secede was cited
and compared with the efforts of the
special interests as the liquor inter-
ests were designated. =
Mr.. Trickett's determination to follow
up the jointists Of his city until they
were put out Of business came after a
consultation with Governor Hoch and
Attorney General Coleman. THAT con-
ference came soon after my appoint
ment," said Mr.. Trickett, ''and gave me
the cue for my work. Governor Hoch
said he wanted one more effort to be
made in order to determine whether
the brewers and jointists were above
the law and could nullify it as they had
been doing. I went out from the meet
ing with these two gentlemen with one
determination. short and f1ercely con-
tested fight. It had to be done quick
and could not be delayed. There could
be but two results, a speedy victory or
a. Waterloo"
The people of Kansas City during the
campaign. which resulted in the clos
ing Of all the joints in the city while
they probably thought absolute prohi-
bition there was all right were still
towards in that they did not have the
nerve to back up their opinions and
would lend Mr.. Trickett no encourage
ment- There was only one church out
of 60 in the entire CITY," said Mr..
Trickett, which would preach temper
ance from the pulpit. After my ap-
pointment l was about the most avoid
ed man in town. Even my friends hated
them would cross and walk on the other
side if they saw me coming. They
thought that the joints ought to be put
| out of business but they were ashamed
to own it. People were afraid to speak
to me. fearing that they would openly
be accused of aiding in the closing of
the joints. People often called me UP
over the telephone to tell me Of their
good wishes for my ultimate success.
When I asked them their names. they
would hang up the receivers fearing
that should they divulge their names
they would be found out by some
friends on the other side of the ques-
tion. They were hypocrites and hypo-
critics are the most despised beings in
the world.
MY only confederates in this fight, -
continued Mr.. Trickett, were mem
bers Of the various young peoples So
cieties in the city, and especially the
young ladies. In one instance a dele
cation Of girls from the various
churches came to me and asked what
they could do. 1 didn't think they
would do anything and to get rid Of
them 1 put them to work. They were
to watch every block in the city and
report If any liquor went into the
block One call at the telephone at 3
O'Clock in the morning from q young
girl resulted in the apprehension and
arrest Of violator, after he had un-
loaded a hundred cases of beer and 40
barrels of whisky. Before daylight the
entire out was reposing in the coun-
ty jail
The closing part of Mr.. Trickett's
address was devoted to recounting
the benefits of the closing of the sa-
looms to Kansas City. "At first" said
Mr.. Trickett, many business men
came to me and complained that the
closing Of the saloons would ruin
| business, that men would go to Kan
| sas City to get their liquor and while
there would do their trading. It was
| not long until they were telling a diff
| ferent story as business had been ben
| efitted instead of injured. Bankers
of Kansas City, Kan. tell me that the
deposits have increased two million
] dollars Shoe dealers tell me of in
creased business and especially In the
| childrens and women's departments.
Read estate dealers claim that three
times as much property has been sold
| to the Iaboring classes than before the
closing of the joints. Reports show
| that in 1906 Kansas City. Kan, led
| the country in the percentage of in
crease in buildings having gained 207
per cent over the previous year. More
people moved into Kansas City. Kan.
than into Kansas City, Mo. Instead