Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-22
DRIEST STATE IN
THE COUNTRY
What Prohibition Has Done For
the People Of Kansas
Statement BY GOVERNOR

Prohibition the Best Business Asset
Of state-Replies to Whisky Crowds
Infamous LIes-penIes That Pau
perIsm and Crime Have Increased
and Poverty Stalks Upon the People
Kansas is the driest state In the
union from the point Of view OF the
liquor traffic. Kansas has fought the
traffic to the last ditch and not even
the drug stores are allowed to dis
pense liquor. The law is better en-
forced in Kansas than anywhere else
The testimony Of the Governor OF
that state oAght to be as well received
as the tales of irresponsible people
or the paid partisans Of the brewers
and distillers.
Governor Stubs Of Kansas has
gone on record as follows:
I have never made a prohibition
speech in my life. am practical,
plain.speaking business man and
while regard the moral and senti.
mental sizes Of the question as con-
shutting its strongest claim on So
ciety for support, I propose, to q
very large extent, to discuss the sub
ject from a cold-blooded, economic
standpoint. In other words, am CO.
ing to present 1t to you as sound
business proposition.
When / was a candidate for gov
ernor in 1908, I made the campaign
for my nomination and election on the
proposition that II elected to this
Office every saloon, joint and place
Of every kind whatever, regardless OF
the sentiment of the community, had
to be closed. This proposition was
made in my campaign speeches to the
saloon men in wet communities as
we'll as to temperance people; stat
ed publicly all over Kansas-in Pitts
burg in the mining districts as well
as in the localities where the law was
enforced-that any man who estab-
lished himself in the saloon business
in violation Of the laws and constitu'
ton of Kansas would be regarded the
same as any other outlaw, and all the
power and force of the state govern
ment would be used to punish and
destroy his business.
VIoIators Of the Prohlbitory Law Are
Sent to Prison.
This does not mean that we have no
violations Of the prohibitory law, for
II there were no violations such a
law would not be necessary. 1t does
mean that the prohibitory law in
Kansas is as well enforced as other
criminal statutes, and that when men
violate It they are arrested, convict
ed and promptly sent to prison.
The United States government has
taken a step which will aid material
ly in stamping out the irresponsible
bootlegger and whisky vender, who
now is the principal violator OF the
proh!bitory law In Kansas. Under d.
rection of President Taft the Attorney
General of the United States has or.
dered U. s. district attorneys In dry
territory" not to compromise with
men who violate the internal reve,
nue. laws by permitting them to pay
fines, but to prosecute them and send
them to Jail for a reasonable time.
I want especially to impress the
fact upon your mind, that while Kan
sas had substantial prohibition for
twenty.eight years, 1t has had abso.
lutte prohibition only since May, 1909
as previous to this time, liquor was
allowed to be sold through licensed
pharmacists. for medicinal, mechani,
cal and scientific purposes. Abuse Q;
this privilege led to dissatisfaction
and the last legislature wiped out all
exceptions and made the state abso.
lutely dry. Before they could sell in.
toxicating liquor, these pharmacists
had to obtain an internal revenue
stamp, and 1t is upon this circum.
stance in part that the agents and
spokesmen Of the breweries and dis.
tilleries are trying to deceive you by
showing the number Of so-called H.
censes issued in Kansas last year.
A further explanation Of the num-
Der OF licenses issued In Kansas is
found In the method Of handling vic.
lators OF the Federal stamp law.
When our state officers arrest man
for selling liquor they notify the in.
ternal revenue officers, who come to
him at once and collect Fedora! H.
cense tax, often times finding the man
In Jail. This man Is then quoted by
the breweries, distilleries and saloon
men of other states as a saloon
keeper in Kansas. when in fact he is
either In pail, paroled during good be.
havior, or under injunction never to
engage in liquor selling in our state.
Under our state law the finding o!
a Federal license stamp In place
fitted I'D for the sale Of intoxicatiI:
LIQUORS Is prima facie evidence OF
violation Of the prohibitory law, and
I challenge the brewers and distillers
10 show one internal revenue liquor
stamp posted In a saloon or joint In
Kansas.
Prohibition 10 the Best Business Az.
set Of Kansas.
While I am not an expert In the az
fairs of the local government Of st.
Louis, I venture the assertion that
conditions which are due largely to
the saloon and kindred evils Of 80.
ciety constitute your most disturbing
and distracting problems. Usually
cities having an amLi,.o. to solve
such problems commission delega
lions of its wisest and best citizens
to investigate the treatment OF these
problems by other communities. Af
chief executive Of my state 1t would
give me great pleasure to welcome
delegations from st. Louis to Kansas
for the purpose Of showing them the
result of prohibition. We have had
commissioners from Canada, New Tea
land, England and Australia and even
now the governments OF Italy and
Russia are investigating our methods
Of dealing with this evil. the great
est social and governmental prob
lem on the face of the earth today.
~ wisdom should cause YOU to send