The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-13
GORDON COMES BACK.
Preacher Makes Savage Assault on
Mayor and Police.

Mayor Billiard stands before this
community as a perjurer, having bis
tered his soul by breaking his oath,
was the accusation of the Rev. Robert
Gordon in speaking before a packed
house at the First Baptist church Sun
day evening.
1.-THE mayor has said that although
he did not believe in the prohibitory
law he would enforce it SO long as II
remains on our statute books.
There is absolutely nothing to be
gained by refusing to tell the facts. Let
in the light Publicity may mean peni-
tence-penitence may mean pur1hcatlon.
THE mayor, seemingly is among
those who are opposed to this program
He says 1 have slandered the city. One
can't SANDER a man or a community
by telling the truth. With a beautiful
almost angelic spirit of self-sacrif1ce he
pleads that he be made Scape goat,
if there must be vicariouS suffering
st wonder if it can be that the old
gentleman has forgotten the communi-
cation he sent around the world mali
ciously slandering this city and state?
The fact is apparent that we have at
the head of our city a man who has
caused the people a sense of pain and
humiliation.
1.-The good citizens of this city must
be mortified, abashed, distressed with
deep sense of guilt at the thought of
the sort of man exalted to the highest
municipal office. No doubt he has many
commendable qualities, but that is also
true of the very worst characters. He
is man who judged by his own words,
as reported in his retort to my last SER
mon. has made the devils choice, 'evil
be thou, my good I read a list OF 62
names of persons holding federal liquor
stamps, either wholesale or retail or
both. These 50 persons I called unde-
sirable citizens. The mayor responds
by saying the list is several years old
dug out of the dust somewhere and
that the current list, he thinks, con-
tains only eight or ten names. His
memory is poor and his judgment is
worse. That list of 50 names with four
more added that have been reported
since last Sunday. naming IS, is fresh,
crisp and up to the minute. Every one
of them is operative and effective until
midnight of June 80 next. This is not
matter of my word against the mayors.
1t is a question of the mayors word
against the federal authorities.
Good citizens of Topeka think of
it. I wish 1 had time to run down the
onous. They are so much alike. w.
F. Lake had his permit revoked. J.
w. Patterson convicted of violating the
prohibitory law. Frank Raynor, many
times convicted. Katheryne Tassell,
notorious. A. B. Williamson, jointist
ana gambler 1nOS- SIuInp ran Out OI
town by former administration; re-
turned on election of Billiard. That is
the type that our mayor calls good
citizens. You know that with our pres
ent prohibitory law our best druggists
have no use for a government stamp
and do not own them. They would be
ashamed to have their names on that
list with Infamous crooks.
81 suppose there has been a pellmeH
procession of good citizens to the Office
of the federal authorities anxious to
their names on the mayors honor roll.
Sincere, Mayor Billiard? Think of
enga ging jointists and beer guzzlers to
enforce the prohibitory law. Think of
hiring crooks and criminals to secure
decency and order. It is preposterous,
outrageous, execrablel
ST say it should stir the blood of the
good citizens. If this does not stir up
something, there'll be another injection
of something stronger.
The only answer the mayor makes
to these serious charges is that their
efficiency was shown Sunday when one
of them lost his life in the line of duty.
I have never said there were no good
men on the police force. I have asked
why these execrable characters. whom
have described, are on the force. As
ministration gave the chief gold
watch the other day for his heroisn. 1
honor any man who does his duty in an
hour of danger I cannot join with
those who would today throw a mantle
of glory over this unfaithful official. I
know too much of his past record and
of his present character. A prominent,
this week that he believed if the mayor
had Sifted the whole state of Kansas