The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-01
BEER PRICE HIGH.
Since Investigation 81 Has Been
Added to Cost of Keg.
Foreigners Complain at Arrest
Saying They Buy Protection.
WHERE DOES MONEY GO
Officials Deny Getting 1t and
Jointists Refuse to Talk.
Perjury to Be Charged Against
Stubborn Witness.
WHERE DOES MONEY GO

Columbus, Kan, Sept. 1.-Who gets
the protection" money raised by the
liquor dealers to prevent prosecution in
liquor cases? That is the question T.
T. Burr and Frank Lindsay, attorneys
for the state, are atten- pting to an
swer now
Raids upon joints have resulted in
the capture of some interesting docu-
mentary evidence that may lead to
more custer suits against public Off
/ cials. The documents reveal the fact
that since the first of last January,
when Governor Stubbs and Attorney
! General Dawson turned attention to
! Cherokee county, a charge of 81 has
been added to the price of every keg
of beer and so cents for each case of
beer. The foreigners who have been
arrested say that this extra charge is
protection fund"
Who gets the money?
When the officers began the crusade
in dead earnest and the joint keep
ers realized that a new order of things
! had been Instituted they complained.
Something Wrong Somewhere.
no. no. That is not right" ex
claimed one foreigner as he stood by,
under arrest, and watched the spoil
ing of his goods II pay for my pro-
lection. They tell me everything is
fixed. Now you take my money and
destroy my property. That is not
right
One after another made the same
complaint, but when questioned they
refused to tell the details of the ar
rangement or give the name of the
persons to whom the money was paid.
Finally a woman was arrested for
running a joint. She told the sheriff
that the increase in the price of beer,
which took effect January 1, was the
method by which the protection fund
was raised. A tax of S 4 for every keg
and so cents for every case of beer,
considering the volume of the traffic
up to August 1, would result in very
dignified sum.
The question that the two attorneys
for Kansas are asking is whether the
foreigners who have been running the
joints have been gold bricked' or if
there IS actually ''melOn" that is cut
each month for the benefit of those
who have promised the joint keepers
protection.
Maybe 1t Was for '.IIps.,
I'VE are going right after this in
formation" said Mr.. Burr, and we OK
pect to get it. We know that when
we first started our campaign the
jointists received tips from some
source. Possibly this was what was
called protecting them But now that
the Joint keepers have found that they
are not getting what they are paying
for we anticipate explosion of facts
some day that Will reveal a startling
situation -
The members of the old organization
of the analgamated order of joint de-
tenders in Cherokee county are III a
panic They do not know where the
lightning will strike next. It never oc-
CURED to them that the clean up would
be SO thorough as to affect the gentle
mems agreement heretofore existing
for the purpose of foOling the people
who believe in law and order and at
the same time permitting the 'wets" 10
have their own way.
An illustration of the thoroughness of
the campaign is found in the case of Il
business man of Columbus An in
QUESTION was held by the attorneys for
the state to ascertain where liquors
were sold. The business man testified
under oath that he knew nothing about
a certain place under suspicion. Others
testified that they had been in the
place and that they saw the business
man there. Now the business man Las
been arrested for perjury, which means
that if he is convicted he will be COM
PEELED to face more severe consequences
than though he were a violator of the
prohibitOry law.