The Mena weekly star., 1916-09-07
JOHN P. ST. JOHN IS DEAD.
The End in 0iathe to Kansas First
 Prohibition Governor.

Olathe, Kas., Sept. f.-John Pierce St. John. ex-governor of Kansas and a nationwide figure for prohibi- tion's cause. died here at GAO o'clock last night, after an illness of two months caused by heat pros tration June 20. At that time Mir. St. John was in Jetmore. Kas., where he was engaged in a 90-day speak ing tour for temperance organi- zation. He cancelled the remainder of his engagement and returned to 0lathe. but recovered sufficiently to attend the Prohibition national con- vention in St. Paul. July IS, i9 and 20 On return home he stopt at Shelbyville, H., July g, where he made his last address before a chautauqua audience.
 Governor St. John took to his bed shortly after his return from St. Panl and weakened steadily. For a week preceding his death he was unconscious the greater part Of the time. At 5:i5 o'clock yesterday aft ernOon his real estate partner, M. V C. Parker. was admitted to his lbOilt. ttONtIiVI Nt. 1Vuh lfAOE- nized Mir. Parker and in parting said "Good-by Martin" lie then feli into sleep from which he did not 1waken.
 John Pierce St. John first be- came a political factor in Kansas as a leader of the fight on United States Senator Samuel C. Pomeroy of Atchison. Pomeroy and St. John were friends. but the latter champi- oned Pomeroy's opponent, the late John J. Ingalls,. The issues were bitterly fought Ingalls won. St. John became a leader i'll Kansas Re- publicanism, where he could do his greatest service to the state, m lighting thru the prohibition amendment to the state constitu- tlon. In his administration Kansas became dry"
 MT. St. John served two terms as governor of Kansas, 1879 to 1885. Years afterward. in describing the prohibition fight, he said;
 "Ihe brewers had only them selves to blame for prohibition in Kansas. The first step toward a statewide movement was at their suggestion. Mir. Fiery, minister, introduced in the house high H. cense and regulation bill. It had a good chahce of passing To defeat It brewery agents suggested the people be given an opportunity 10 vote on statewide prohibition. Of course it was not the purpose of the brewers to submit prohibition at all. But the coup to kill the high license hfil xllla1 thx itA It0nEaC
 The amendement was submitted to the senate and passed The house was to kill it. The brewers had it all figured out. Enough members favored high license, but prohibition. they believed, to de- feat any attempt to submit the pro- position to the people. The people guessed wrong about the public sentiment.
 Every influence was brought to bear on house members by the brewers. l was governor. but could not keep out of the fight. Violating all precedent, I left the governor s office to help fight the battle on the house floor.
 The day for the vote came. The galleries were packed The politi- clans tried hard to avoid voting by hiding. The argeant-at-arms was busy rounding them up and bring ing them into the chamber Finally the voting began The silence was intense. We needed one vote to get the necessary two-thirds to carry Inc proposition We did not knaw how to get It. Suddenly Mrs. Greav- ser, wife of one of the members. started down the aisle to her hus- banu's desk She stopts before hfnn.