Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-09-04
Shephedstwm Jefferson Thursday September 1913


forced in all parts of the State only within
the last five years, that has helped Kan
sas to flaunt a two hundred-million bank
account in the face OF partial crop fail
ue; that relieves her Of spending much
time, strength and money on paupers,
criminals, insane and feeble minded;
that gives her people the best OF chances
for living and the fewest excuses for
dying.
II is this defiance OF what other States
have legalized as necessary" evil that
has helped to make her citizens the rich
est per capita in the country and the
richest of any agricultural folk in the
world; that has given her permanent
school fund of 100000 and has re-
duced her illiteracy TO an almost negligi-
Bile quantity.
II is this insistence upon what the slaves
of custom always have sneered al as "im-
practical" if not impossible, that has
helped to give her balance of more than
million and quarter in her State treas
ury and no bonded debt, save $4,000
held by the permanent school fund; this
alone makes possible the statement that
9S per cent of her 1000 school children
never have seen saloon.
For even when the liquor interests Sue
ceeded in evading the law in many in
stances and boasted that prohibition was
a failure in Kansas, government statistics
showed that the average annual con-
sumption OF intoxicating liquors in that
State was 81. .48 per capita, while in the
nelghboring State OF Missouri, where the
whiskey ring ruled, il was $24 per capita.
In other words, the average KanSan
had lust so 81 more TO spend on food,
clothing, education and entertainment
than his average neighbor across the
Kaw. And just about that much more to
save on doctors, nurses, fines, iailS, poor
houses and insane asylums. And now
that the United States supreme court has
upheld the Webb law, prohibiting liquor
shipments into legally dry territory, Kan
SaS is enabled to enforce legislation that
will virtually eliminate intoxicantS from
her borders.
Again and again il has been said pro-
hibition is a failure in Kansas; that when
the older generation responsible for its
adoption passed over the reins OF gov
ernment to its sons-and daughters, for
Kansas has recognized women'S right as
full citizens-KansaS would "come back
TO her senses"
That this prophecy was without foun-
dation is best evidenced by the following
statement from Attorney-General Daw-
son:
The last two sessions OF the
legislature answered these false
prophets by passing the most
drastic prohibition law in the
world, killing the drug store sa-
loon, making il impossible even
to cure snake bites by the liquor
treatment and absolutely clapping
down the cid" and riveting it
on.
They were not satisfied by 60
ing this far, but showed their ap-
probation OF the benefits OF state
wide prohibition by making it
felony for the fellow who viola
ted the law a second time. And
have just lately received from
the warden at the penitentiary a
reception one" Red Mercer" who
was sent up from Barber county
as first consignment TO serve
nine years for violating the new
prohibitory law.
The law that sent him there
was made by these tow-headed,
one-gaIlused boys who grew TO
manhood on the Kansas prairies
without ever having seen sa-
loon.
Yes, something's the matter with Kan
Sas. OF what il is there can be no doubt
in the mind of any unprejudiced observ-
er. And in view OF the effect in the Sum-
Hover State, there is little wonder that
an increasing number Of persons believe
that this nation will be past the most dan
gerous rocks in IFS course when the thing
A.. = To..a1 L tI,o
ter with every square mile of territory
from Eastpor TO San Diego and from
UToIIa NUoIIa N Kev Meet