The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-29
SPEAK UP. MIR. BOYD.

1t is certainly incumbent on Rep
resentative Boyd, of Republic coun-
ty, to acquaint the properly consti-
tuted authorities with the names of
the men and women of this city who
have come to him and told him they
can't pull us for selling liquor be-
cause the chief of police stands back
of u.s. If Topeka is the 'wettest"
town on Gods footstooI, Mr.. Boyd
seems to have an excellent opportun-
ity and the necessary information to
discharge the full duties of his Kan
sas citizenship by assisting to dry 1t
up bit. should he hold to the belief
that the city authorities would turn
a deaf ear to him, there is a sheriff
and q prosecuting officer in this coun-
ty who have sworn to do their duty
in these very premises, and the peo-
pie of Topeka have every confidence
that they will do so whenever the
chance presents itself.
But how ridiculous, as matter OF
fact, is the assertion of Mr.. Boyd that
Topeka is the "wettest' town on Gods
footstooli There are many towns OF
the size of Topeka where there is a
licensed saloon on almost every cor
ner and a few speak easies' sand
WICKED in between them. Presumably
Mr.. Boyd intended to convey the IDEA
that Topeka was an exceedingly wet
town for prohibition state. If. how
ever, a man cannot express his IDEAS
correctly and clearly on such simple
proposition as this, there is no good
reason why any of his remarks should
be accepted with undivided creoehce.
And issue can also be taken with MT.
BOYD on the "wetness" of Topeka LOT
a town in prohibition territory, If that
is what he meant. 1t is as dry as
the sahara in comparison with some
of the other towns in Kansas. To-
pekans can remember when this city
was "vvet' 1t wasn't so many years
ago And they know that it has neen
"dry." practically speaking, for some
time. and just as dry under the admin
istration of Mayor Billiard as 1t has
been under the rule of his immediate
nredecessors. Undoubtedly there is
beer and liquor shipped
into Topeka each day, but most OF IL
goes direct by express companies anu
freight to the consumers. There may
be a joint or two or three or more
hidden away in the town. There are
bootleggers plying their trade. But
the amount of beer and liquor actual
ly sold in this way in Topeka each
day is of the minimum variety, IN
deed. And if Mr.. Boyd thinks the
present police force has not been
active in rounding up jointists and
bootleggers he might look up the po-
lice court records, and also the district
court records where are listed the ap-
peals from the activities of the police
in enforcing the prohibitory law and
Furnishing it's vfolators.
1t is to be presumed that Mr.. Boyd
cannot be subpoenaed for examination
bv the Shawnee county attorney, be-
cause his utterances on this important
matter were made on the floor of the
house and under the protection that
is accorded to members of the iegis-
1ature. 1t wasn't SO long ago that
Topeka newspaper man was arrested
because he refused to divulge to state
the name of a town and
the place where he said he had seen
beer sold over a bar. Mr.. Boyd's in
formation is far more important He
says that men and women have ccme
to him and told him that they are
selling liquor in Topeka with police
protection. 1t is no more than rea-
demand that Mr.. Boyd take
the necessary steps to expose fully this
unpard enable condition of affairs. If
the people of Topeka could vote on the
question, Mr.. Boyd would be surprised
at the tremendous majority that
would politely request him to do so.
And if he doesn't do SO, it will be per-
fectly fair to assume that he was talk
ing through his hat, and for such
fame or notoriety as such startling as
sertions would naturally bring him.