Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-26

| lier'S Weekly by Walt Mason. III gives
an idea of the class of information on
! the subject that is finding place in the
best magazines and newspapers:
| For six years Kansas has been en-
gagged in demonstrating that prohibit
ton does prohibit. The antibooze
| laws have been on the books thirty
years, but until six years ago they
were enforced spasmodically or in
spots. Now and then governor or
an attorney general would rear up and
create a loud noise and a few jointists
or bootleggers would be run down and
cast into loathsome dungeons, but
these little fiurries didn't amount to
much. The enforcement of the pro-
| hibitory law depended largely upon
local sentiment. When that sentiment
was strongly against saloons in any
community, that community depended
upon the hydrant for refreshments; If
the sentiment favored saloons, John
/ Barleycorn conducted himself in the
most braZen and impudent way
Seven years ago the Kansas towns
along the Missouri River all had open
saloons. There was no pretense of
complying with the law. There were
| more saloons in Atchison, for in
stance, than in any high license town
of equal size, and they were conducted
| with greater freedom, remaining open
until all hours of the night, and being
almost free from any sort of official
regulation. Sumptuous free lunches
were set up In these places. Similar
conditions prevailed in the mining
towns of the State. And when the
| saloon keepers were so overworked
handing out foaming fiagons to the
proletariat that they suffered under
the strain, the druggists came to the
rescue with magnificent chivalry. The
way the Kansas druggist toiled behind
his prescription case seven years ago
was caution to galley slaves.
A Man With Red Hair and Back
bone.
1t is no wonder that the gifted edi-
tors of the Brewers Year Book made
fun of prohibition in Kansas. They
had splendid opportunities for satire,
and made the most of them. Their
venerable and favorite argument that
prohibition increases the sale or
liquor was hard to combat. the way
Kansas was behaving herself.
Then Stubbs was elected Governor.
Stubs is man with red hair and a
backbone and lot OF cranky notions.
One of these cranky notions is that
laws should be enforced. When he
was candidate he announced that he
would close the saloons and joints II
he had to call out the militia to do IL.
other candidates had talked in the
same way many times. and old John
Barleycorn merely winked his star
board eye, while his fat paunch quiv-
cred with merriment And the able
editors of the Brewers Year Book
were greatly amused, and looked upon
Stubs as the great American humor-
LIST.
The Popular Sport Of Hunting Boot
legsers.
Stubbs was elected, and with him an
Attorney General who was fond of ex-
ercise. and the two of them got pusy
without wasting an hour. Also iet
fanatics got into the Legislature, anu
they began passing the most drastic
laws against booze sellers ever heard
of in any civilized country. All
branches of the State Government
worked together in harmony TO the
same end, and the pursuit OF pooueg-
gers and joinists became as popular III
Kansas as fox hunting is in England
Selling booze became the unpardonaoie
crime. and there was no respite VI
nenentbe for the man guilty of IT. lie
was chevied across country with "a
talIyho and a hoopla. The hrst OF
,ense meant a county-jail sentence
and a big fine. The second meant
term in the penitentiary.
The saloon doors were closed WIN
such a slam that the hinges broke anu
the ioinists consulted their iaihiiy
musicians and found that change Oh
air was necessary to their neai'n.
County attorneys and other o'iiciai'
who were inclined to be Negligent III
the nursuit of booze sellers were sum
moned to Topeka, and when they re-
turned to their offices they were GOV
cred with a cold sweat and they OF
tended no more. Never before was
there such a campaign against pooze'
4 .nd In few weeks the lid was DOWN.
u,ron, that day to this Kansas mas
boon discourse cement to the cultureo
aaitors NJ the Brewers Year BOOK.
/ THAT annual volume no longer sparkies
Nth tests concerning prohibition IN
xorsas The work appears to have
/ lost the spirit of optimism that once
made If a favorite fireside companion
There is no place in Kansas wnere
4 ,iouor is openly sold; and If there is an
coca sional secret joint, the owner Is
doing business in fear and tremoiihs'
and no will go to the penitentiary
sooner or later.
The laws governing drug stores are
as drastic as they could be maze, anu
the learned pharmacist has the fear Oh
God in his heart. He no longer sens
Peruna or Hostetters Bitters as :,
beverage, and he has no tonic Oh us
own compounding that causes the con
gunner to go forth and try to whip
policeman.
4 Nav and then bootlegger emoarhs
In business in a sequestered alley ou'
before he has succeeded in building ul
4 a good family trade the officers ee'
him. 1t takes SO much time and trou-
! Bile to get spirituous drink in Kansas
that even the most enthusiastic oooze
4 fan will drink from a garden nose