The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-01
Death Recalls Dramatic In
cident in Fight For
Prohibition.
HOW KANSAS WENT DRY
First State Wide Vote Taken
at Suggestion of the
Brewers.

0LATAE, Kan, Sept. I.2John P.
81 John, o candidate for the presidency
on the Prohibitio ticket in 1884, twice
governor OF Kansas and one Of the
most widely known temperance adyo-
Ecesep in the United States, died here
kontght He was SO years old and had
zen falling In health since heat
Pefration two months ago while on
l. beading tour.
lin Pierce st. John was one OF the
mist Widely known temperance advo-
Gates ID the United Stated. He was a
c1udIdate for President on the Prohibi.
f|0u ticket In 1884, and served two
51Ems gas governor of Kansas-1879.
1889 during which Kansas became a
Prohibition state.
Describing the fight for Prohibition
IA Kansas, Governor st. John once
The brewers had only themselves
(. 70 blame for Prohibition in Kansas.
The first step toward a statewide
increment was at their suggestion.
III. Fiery, q minister, introduced in
the House high license and regula.
<<4kt0AA4s ~ pIOOu O 6OOu CuduC6 VI
/ passage. To defeat 1t, the brewery
gents suggested the people be given
m opportunity to vote on statewide
purpose Of the brewers to submit pro.
htbition at all. But the coup to kill
the high license bill killed the saloon
81 Kansas.
THE prohibitory amendment was
admitted to the Senate and passed.
The House was to kill 1t. The brew
err had It all figured out. Enough
members favored high license, but not
prohibition. they believed, to defeat
any attempt to submit the proposition
to the people. The brewers guessed
wrong about public sentiment.
Every influence was brought to
bear on House members by the brew
erps was governor, but couldn't
keep out Of the fight Violating all
precedent ! left the governors office
TO hAlp fight the battle on the House
A0or.
The day fer the vote came. The
ealleries were packed. The politi-
cinns tried hard to avoid a vote by hid
mi. The Sergeant-at-Arms was busy
xopnding them up and bringing them
into the chamber. Finally the voting
{ mas begun. The silence was intense.
We needed one vote to get the neces-
sery tWo-thirds to carry the PROPOSE
& tom We did not know how to get it.
AllRtsonce Mrs. Greaver (the wife of
( one OF the members) started down the
htsle to her husbands desk. She stop.
ped before him, and Selling his hand
n hers, pleaded with him.
For my sake, for the sake of your
children. she cried, change your vote.
Dot for my sake, for my sake, no mat
ter what you believe
G3reayer changed his vote, while
the building shook with cheers"
Born at Brookville, Ind, February
% 1888, st. John served as a captain
aud lieutenant colonel In the Civil war,
and settled in Kansas. where he be.
came g member Of the state senate.
HeS became q political factor when he
Won q fight to displace United States
Senator Samuel E. PomeroS. Pome-
roy and st. John had been personal
friends, but the latter became dis.
pleased with the way Pomeroy Con-
Quoted himself as a senator, and there.
upon championed John ]. ingalls,,
Pomeroys opponent, who won. This
y made st John a leader and resulted in
sselection as governor.
He was called traitor" when he
deserted the Republican party and be.
came q candidate for President on the
Prohibition ticket in "a. During his
campaign he was burned or hung In
etflgy more than 500 times. He was
twice shot at, but unhurt. Many Re.
publicans attributed the defeat of
James g. Blaine for president to St.
Jphn's entrance into the race.
m 1912, Notwithstanding his ad.
ganced age, he stumped Kansas for
woman suffrage, declaring that wher,
wpmensha the vote they would have
prohibition. In 1914 he campaigned
5nsthe east for prohibitions estimating
that;up to that time he had, altogether.
travelled $4,000 miles and delivered
800 speeches In behalf Of the prohi.
bttion cause.
When he was in the Kansas capitol
he tnaugirated the first water ban.
puetsg with the result that liquor has
been under taboo in the Kansas state
house ever since.