The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-07
Topeka is BETTER
Ministerial Union Reports on
Moral Conditions.
License Conditions Would Be
Much Worse.
4 RAP AT BILLIARD.
Called to Account for Statement
Il About Liquor Drinking.
Eli of Immoral Shows at Thea
tiers Discussed.
RAP AT BILLIARD.

The committee on public morals of
tie Ministerial union submitted the
FLOWING report today.
We wish to say first that even I'M
Or the condition of a mayor who is
Vce president of a liquor organization
tie city of Topeka is Infinitely better
If under our prohibitory law than any
1hisky ridden town anywhere in the
forld that we know anything about.
tatements have been submitted to
iembers of this committee that on
he average forty barrels of liquor
Rch day come into this town at pres
mt through the railroads and express
lfices; that is, liquor in bottles packed
n barrels. But even if this is true, it
an infinitesimally small amount
compared with the quantity that would
tome in under any kind of saloon Ii
kense conditions.
Bearing this fact in mind, the COM
tnittee, however, wishes to say that it
Is the general impression gained from
conference with those who are closely
in touch with. the affairs of the city
that while the town is not what would
he called wide open" in the sense
that there are any flagrantly open
Joints there is a feeling on the part
present administration offences against
the prohibitory law are not being
watched with the same zeal as under
an administration avowedly in sympa-
thy with the law itself. This goes
without saying. If the mayor of the
city expressly says he is not in favor
of the prohibitory law and if he is an
officer in an organization whose prin-
cipal business is to nullify the law, it
stands to reason that law breakers will
take account of that condition and act
accordingly. No matter what any man
says he can not enforce in the same
way and to the same extent a law
with which he Is not at all in sympa-
thy. The police officers under him, and
every other officer must of necessity
work in an atmosphere which is more
or less Indifferent to law enforcement,
and it certainly is a curious condition
of affairs in this city, where we are
certain a majority of the law abiding
people will consent to have as the head
of the administration a man who has
sworn at the same time to enforce the
laws of the city and state and the
rules and regulations of a liquor asso-
citation. How he can be faithful to
both of these organizations at the
same time is a mystery to plain think
ing people.
The committee also feels that it has
right to deny the assertion which
has been made, if it has been made by
the mayor of this city, that 80 per cent
of this population is addicted to the use
of liquor. 1t is an unfounded asser-
ton, and it has no foundation so far as
We can ascertain in any facts that can
be obtained.
We have no resolutions to offer con-
corning any definite course of action
under these present remarkable con-
ditiOns, so far as the administration of
this city is concerned. But We express
the opinion that when the time comes
the voters of this city will do their
utmost to place in office man who is
in complete sympathy with the law of
this state, and who has no other oath
of Office which in any way contra
diets it.
Condemns Immoral Plays.
Your committee would also call at
tention to the fact that while probably