Williams news., 1910-04-09
EFFECT OF PROHIBI-
 TON IN KANSAS CITY
From the Denver Post.l

City, Kan. Globe, w. R Wagon CT, has issued the following reply to the "Drys" as to the success of prohibition in Kansas. especially Kansas City:
 To the man who will take the pains to ride over the various busi- ness streets of Kansas City, Kan, this wonderful story of prosperity in that city looks like a fanciful dream. The writer has recently in vestigated these conditions and finds that there are not only few, but hundreds of vacant business buildings in Kansas City, Kan. While the saloons were in full blast it was extremely difficult to secure a location for any sort of business enterprise. Buildings for rent were at premium, and persons seeking even office space had been known to go to Kansas City, Mo-, becau use of the fact that the desired floor space could not be obtained on the Kansas side. Now there are in the neighborhood of 400 vacant busi- ness buildings in Kansas City. Kan, and Argentine. one of the suburbs, and many other buildings i which are occupied are bringing such low rentals that they will hardly pay the taxes for the year.
 PREMIUM ON PERJURY
 There is no exaggeralion in the statement that all these buildings stand tenantless, and have been in | in that condition ever since the saloons were driven out. The num- bers and location of 23O of these buildings are availab ble. That pro- hibition does not prohibit is evi- denced by the fact that in the month of December, 1907, there were filed with the probate judge of the coun- ty in which Kansas City, Kan, is situated, affidavits showing, in round numbers, 5000 sales of liquor by druggists. These sales may range from a gill to any number of gal Ions. From the number of sales one might we'll conclude that Kan sas City, Kan, is an exceedingly unhealthy place and that liquor is the panacea for all ailments, or that perjury is conventional crime in that city. for with each sale an affidavit was made by the purchaser that he was ill.
 CITY FUNDS ARE LOW
 The laws of the state permit drug gists to sell liquor to any man who will make an affidavit that he has some ailment for which whisky or beer is supposed to be good. and he can secure either without any any trouble. The ahidavits for sales made in Kansas City, Kan, are returned to the Wyandotte county probate judge each month and the affidavits do not represent one in twenty of the actual sales made, but they indicate that there is now being consumed a vast amount of intoxicating spirits aside from that which is purchased in Missouri.
 Aside from the fact that this vast number of buildings are va cant the city is now in arrears $139, 800 in it's general fund. From this fund the police and fire de- partments are paid. Prior to the closing, there were collected, in the nature of fines from the saloons, between $8O,0CO and $1OO,OOO an. nually. These fines went into the general fund of the city and the money thus collected was ordinari ly enough to pay the police and fire departments and left some over to pay other city employees.
 POLICE FORCE DEFEATED
 When the saloons were closed this revenue was lost to the city and in consequence of this loss the police force was cut to less than half of it's former number and as a result of inadequate police protec tion 13 murders were com mitted September, 1906. and December, 1907, and that this unsafe condi ton still exists is evidenced by the fact that from February 1, 1908. up to February 13. 1908. 12 persons reported to the Kansas City, Kan , police that their homes had been robbed. (This last statement is from the Kansas City Star Times,