The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-23
ToPEkA's GREATEST ASSET.


Topeka's greatest asset as place
where it is most desirable to conduct
enterprises of all sorts. large and
small, and for men and women to
make their homes lies in the fact that
it is free from saloons and their pro-
totypes, the illicit joints. There are
those who will scott at this statement
There are scoffers at everything. But
their scoffing in this particular will not
change the situation. They will insist
that the prohibitory law i; violated
here. They will say that much beer
and liquor is consumed by Topekans
who have it shipped into the state
from outside sources. These state
ments are undoubtedly true. There
are also violations of all the other laws
on the statute books. And regardless
Of the prohibitory violations, the fact
remains just the same that there are
no saloons in the city. Neither are
there joints, except of the transient va
riety, as they are driven from pillar
to post by the county and city off,
Gals who are charged with the admin
istration of the law, and who have
achieved such fine success in enforcing
the prohibitory law during the past
few years.
Prohibition has. received few
kr ocks of late in various sections of
the country at elections participated
in. by the people and in gubernatorial
messages. But in most of the-pIaces
where prohibition is held up to be a
failure, it has not been tried very long,
not sufficiently long to give it a thor
ough test. not sufficiently long for the
production of it's fruit. And it's chief
fruit is the abolition of the saloon.
Wherever this has been brought about,
the community thus blessed has -four
ished like green bay tree, Its people
are happy and contented. It's homes.
and especially among the working peo-
Pile, are comfortable houses, not
novels.
Attention has been called in these
columns to the fact that had it not
been for the absence of saloons in this
city. the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway company would have long
since reduced its shop plant here and
moved it to a more convenient place
on its main line, instead of charging
it to such an extent that it is now a
permanent Topeka institution. So
much money has been invested in it,
that there is no danger it will ever
be moved away. 1t will continue to be
enlarged from time to time. And if
this mammoth institution is conducted
in a more satisfactory manner in To-
peka because of the city's freedom
from saloons, and the other dens of
vice and gambling holes that are en-
gendered by them. SO is every other
business enterprise in the city where
few or many young and older men in
all kinds of trades and callings are
employed. These facts are becoming
known far and wide throughout the
country. and they are going to be re-
sponsible for future growth of To-
peka as an industrial center that will
be little short of remarkable.
And because these things are so. it
is regrettable that the chief executive
officer of the city should be a man
who is not in sympathy with prohibit
ton, who believes it is detriment to
a community and a commonwealth.
Mr.. Billiard is, no doubt a most con-
scientious and honest man. and he has
discharged his duties as mayor in
generally satisfactory fashion in all
particulars, even to seeing that the
prohibitory law is well enforced. But
a man who holds to his views in re-
spect to prohibition, even though they
be personal views which he does not
permit to interfere with the discharge
of his official duties, is not suited to be
mayor of Topeka, a city whose chief
asset is to be found in the fact that it
is saloonless and jointless.