The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-29
TOPEKAPUT RIGHT
Mass Meeting Declares Senti.
ments on Prohibition.
mayor BILLIARD Himself Occupies
a Front Seat.
ADOPT DECLARATION.
Asserts That People EAre Fav.
Orable to the Law.
City Executive Called On to Re.
sign His Office.

A crowd of 1000 people attended this
prohibition mass meeting In the Audi
torium Friday night. Only when a
vote on resolutions was called, did the
crowd realize that it was divided in
sentiment The opposition was first
manifested during the course of c. x.
Holidays speech. There was a good
working majority favoring a recall of
Mayor Billiard and the adoption of pro-
h1btt1on resolutions and serious oppo-
sition was side tracked.
Rev. F. L. Loveland and Attorney
captain ]. G. Waters produced the
greatest enthusiasm in the courses of
their speeches. LoveIand's talk was
especially pleasing to the prohibition
element in the house. 1t remained for
from the man who said 90 per cent of
Topekas population use LIQUOR
It was nearly $3.50 before s. H.
Allen, as chairman of the meeting.
called the gathering to order and the
speakers began to express public and
private opinions of the town MAYOR.
Mayor Billiard had arrived early and
ne occupied seat well to the front of
the house. At times Mayor Billiard
laughed; and there were times when
his face flushed with anger. He did
not join in the applause or uprisings
and did not vote.
Judge Allen stated his sorrow that
Topeka'S mayor was not factor in
making prohibition a success in the
state. Then Allen talked of current
issues. Billiard and the distillers have
declarations that read just alike" he
declared.
c. K. Holiday caused an explosion
of Billiard sentiment when he told of
the situation in Missouri. "Over in
Missouri a gallant fight is being made
for state wide prohibition, and up un-
til week ago the chances were more
than even that prohibition would win.
Utterances made by men in the city
of Topeka have been printed broadcast
saying that prohibition in Topeka and
Kansas is not a success" Here HoIIi-
day was interrupted by a cheer for Bill
lard which was followed by handicap
ping. Billiard fdgeted and appeared
embarrassed. Holiday did not notice
the interruption. 'T want to say that
sort of thing is hurting prohibition in
Missouri and the people of Kansas
should set the state right" Holiday
then read the following declaration of
principles:
Declaration of Principles.
We, the citizens of Topeka and Kan
sas in mass meeting assembled do here
by proclaim:
Ffrst-That there is not saloon in
existence within the borders of Kan
Second-That the prohibitory law Is
as well enforced in Kansas as any other
| law on our statute books, and far bet
ter enforced than any high license law
| in any other state.
Third-That the influence of the pro-
| hibitory law of Kansas is moral and
| beneficial as is evidenced by the clean,
enterprising and up to date cities of
Kansas, which have prospered and are
now prospering under the prohibitory
| law.
F5urth-That we take it for granted
that no American citizen, whether he
| er, has any regard or love for the sa-
| loon. Hence we realize that the cru
cial tests as to the merits of prohibi-
ton must be: First: Is prohibition best
for public morals? Second: Is prohi-
bition a financial success?
| FIfth-As to prohibition being a great
| help in the uplift of the morals of the
people-the answer of Kansas is: That
hasa doctrine been preached and prac-
/ ticed that has been more beneficial to
mer and women.
Sixth-As to prohibition being a fin
ancial success, the answer of Kansas is:
That the capital stock of prohibition
| is unlimited and that it is way above
par and still soaring-that there are L.
| 100000 prohibition stockholders in this
state-and that the steel trust and all
other trusts in the United States COM
! bined-are not to be compared with
prohibition, when 1t comes to declaring
and disbursing dividends-for prohibi-
| tion in Kansas pays a dividend from
10 to 100 per cent every weekly pay
day.
Therefore we of Kansas proclaim
that. as financial proposition, prohi-
| bition is directly and indirectly the
greatest and only safe and sure great
rich scheme in all the world.
| Seventh-We send greetings tonight
to our sister state. Missouri, in her
gallant struggle for statewide prohibi-
ton.
But we admonish all good Mis-
sourians that if they would be free,
they themselves must strike the blow.
We also tell them, and all the world.
to reject utterly any and all attempts
made by interested parties, or by
Iwhomsoever they may be made, to per-
suade them that prohibition in Kansas
is not a good thing.
| We of Kansas, assembled here in
the capital of the state tonight, un-
hesitatingly and uncquivocally an
nounce to all Missourians and all the
world that prohibition is the best
thing that ever happened to Kansas
financially, morally and every other
way-and that all that is necessary to
make Missouri blossom and bloom as
a rose is the adoption by the people
of Missouri of statewide prohibition al
the polls in November next.
E. L. Copeland, treasurer of the
Santa Fe railway, talked of prohibition
from the railroad mans standpoint
He said in part:
prohibition has done more for the
railroad men than any other law on
the statute books. 1 remember in the
early days in Kansas history when the
lliquor traffic cost our road thousands
of dollars. Today we do not employ
men who use liquor-and this is made
possible only by the prohibition in
Kansas. Our men give better servic'
when they do not use liquor and the
roads have banded together and will
employ only men who shun the sa-