Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-07-31

81 = political issue. Three.fourths Of the
state was overwhelmingly In favor Of the
new order Of things, and the new counties
Of tbs vest gradually settled mp with
people sttrastsd 10 Kansas In no small
degree by the abolition Of the liquor busi.
ness. The entire western section Of the
state has consistently supported the law
and strengthened II, from first 10 last.
Some Of the counties in the east, contain.
ins large cities, being out Of sympathy
with the law and having no hope Of ~
repeal, gradually developed an anomalous
system Of high license, which they vers
able to do by slscting judges, sheriffs,
county attorneys and city officers willing
to nullify the state law, BY refusing u
enforce II.
TIE License Filming System.
This system was merely the imposition
Of monthly hnes for violating the Law,
and was In vogue for many years In Ateh
ison, Lsavenworth, Kansas City, Fort
Scott, Wichita, CoReyvllle Independence
and Junction City. In a number Of other
towns the wet and dry forces were alter
Aately victorious. Such towns were some
times wet and sometimes dry-with all
the actual features Of the conditions
where local option IL sanctioned by state
law Thus II happens that although We
have had the prohibitory law for thirty
years, We have also had, right IT home,
the experiment Of high license in fact
and thoroughly tried out side By aide
with prohibition.
Compulsory Teaching Of the e.
fects Of Alcohol Upon the Hu.
man System.
But during these years there was an.
other law on our statute books, Of which
scarcely anybody took cognizance, but
which was faithfully obeyed; and which
In time developed force and power to
sweep the last vestige of the licensed
saloon into the Missouri river. It was
only a little statute, never printed with
the liquor laws, but which you must look
for in the laws relating TO the regula.
tion Of common schools II was enacted
in 1888 and requires that instruction
shall be given in every public school and
TO every pupil, concerning the evil effects
Of alcohol Stimulants upon the human
system. Children take as readily to this
kind of instruction as they do to stories
of Blue Beard and Jack the Giant Killer,
Every man, woman and child In the
state under 40 years Of age who has at
tended a public school in Kansas has re
ceived such instruction.
And the procession Of this class, pos
ssssed Of this instruction, keeps coming
into the social, business and political
life Of the state, and it will abide with
Us. And 80 il Is that our prohibitory
law, like the moral law, homestead law
and the law Of marriage, will abide while
Kansas endures. II is, in my judgment
in no more danger of repeal than the Ten
Commandments or the Sermon on the
Mount.
End Of the Filming System.
In 1906, my predecessor, Attorney
General Coleman, determined that the
time had come to make an end Of state
federation of the fning system in the wei
cities. He appointed a brave and tai
ented lawyer-Charles W. Trickett-a'
special prosecutor for Kansas City, the
largest city in Kansas; and commenced
an custer suit to forfeit the office Of th'
mayor Of that city for exacting licenC'
fines from the saloon keepers and falling
to enforce the law. Other suits wer'
brought to GUST other derelict ofhcerI
and to restrain and enjOin the city gov
ernments from sxacting licenses for thu
sale of liquor under the guise of the I'm
ing system. The contest was waged with
fury and bitterness, but only one result
could follOw-the triumph of the law
This was followed by brilliant and effect
i've work on the part of Attorney Genera
jackson, who followed Mr.. Coleman
whereby the wholesale brewing com
panies which, through the long years o
law defiance in the wet cities, had &C
Quired large holdings in Kansas, wer,
hustled out of the state In short orde
by the supreme court and given strOk
Of Kansas justice with plenty Of fine
and costs for good measure. They won
come back.
A Police Problem Now.
Since then the enforcement of the Law
has been = problem Of police. Localities
there are still where the county and cit.
officers are not in sympathy with tn
law, and won't turn hand to help en-
force it except Just enough to keep clea
Of IN custer suit by the Attorney Genera
for neglect of duty; but nowher
throughout our borders is there an opei
saloon; nor can even a secret saloon oT
crate in Kansas for thirty minutes ate
the facts concerning cts location come t
my desk.
That there is some Illicit selling Il
Kansas is undeniable. 1t will continu
in sporadic manner SO long as men ar
willing TO take the risk of going to jai
II caught, and 50 long as federal Judge
permit GHeu courts 10 ne a refuge ~
petty crooks who pretend to be engage
In interstate commerce. Our laws do no
and no state law can prevent men frer
bringing in liquors from other ststSl
NOR from drinking liquors thus procured
Congress can forbid this traffic into pre-
hibition territory, and such bill is MOI
pending and every voter can assist us b
writing TO his congressman to favor thi
bill,
Some Of the Results of Prohibition
in Kansas.
But what Is the net result of thirt
years Of Prohibition That is the ties
Of It's value. How has the state and it
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