The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-17

fifty-second and last meeting of the
Kansas State Temperance Union.
The above statement, followed by
the appointment of a committee of
five with powers to act, to confer
with the similar committee of the
Kansas branch of the american Anti
Saloon League, marked the beginning
of the end of the most famous prohi-
bition organization in the world. 1t
ended a stormy session this morning.
The details of the dissolution were
settled at the committee conference
this afternoon at the Y. M. c. A. AS
the result of the conference the K.
S. I. U. passed over its assets, amount
ing to more than $4,000, and obliga-
tons amounting to $2,700, and tossed
its fifty years of experience into the
discard.
The members agreed to the appoint
ment of out of the state man for
the SUPPLEMENTARY of the merger or
ganization. Two provisos were insist
ed upon: First, that the work of To-
cal law enforcement will not be neg
lected in Kansas in the interests Of
national legislation and that the league
will recognize and cooperate with the
Kansas w. c. T. u, two things which
are not the policy of the organization
in its work in other states. That much
was saved out of the wreck of the
K. S. T. U.
A Stormy Session.
Before the tacit agreement of the
union to its dissolution was made
stormy scenes featured this mornings
session of its final session. Delegates
to that convention reminded the or
ganization that the interests of the
Anti-Saloon league were primarily to
raise money, of it's disregard of law
enforcement and its refusal to recog-
nize the w. c. L. u. 1t was pointed out
that the assets of the union were five
times as great as those of the new
league.
The fight on the K. S. T. U. was
started primarily because they were
not getting enough money out of Kan
sas. Kansas was emphasizing the work
in Kansas, and was not providing mon
etary ammunition in the state,'' was a
statement made in the meeting.
THE bootleggers will rejoice in the
downfall of the union,'' one member
state. superintendent Russell of
the national anti-saloon league told us
in our convention two years ago that
Frank M. Stahl was the most efficient
superintendent in the matter of law
enforcement of any prohibition society
in America. But he said that Stahl
was not a money raiser, and that is the
crux of the whole matter and the rea-
son why last summer they refused to
consider our society any longer a
member of the national league
we never will get another superin-
tendent like Stahl.' the member con-
tinued The law enforcement work
has necessarily to be kept quiet and
few Kansas citizens are aware of the
immense good done in this department
of the work. Also we refused to sur
render our right of electing our own
superintendent last summer, which is
another reason of the war The
league wants to appoint its own friends
to the jobs
Stahrs magnanimity received high
praise at the meeting conference of the
two committees this afternoon, and
resolution of commentator of his
nine years service with the union will
undoubtedly be passed at this even
ings meeting.
New Superintendent Picked.
The national league headquarters
have already selected superintendent
for the one-month-old Kansas branch
of the Anti-Saloon League, which alb
sorbed the Kansas organization today.
He is the Rev. w. H. Berwig. assist
ant superintendent of the Texas
branch of the Anti-Saloon League.
Dissatisfaction with the actions of
the league is general in the union but
it was unanimously concurred that
the cause should be given first con-
sheraton"
Ton1ghtS meeting is the last or the
last convention of the historic K. S. I.
u, which since 1866 has labored for
state and national freedom from the
liquor evil. 1t will be held at the First
Baptist church and is open to the pub
lie.
The men on the committee from
the union who conferred with the ex-
ecutive committee of the Kansas
branch and agreed to the dissolution of
the K. S. 7. u. were:
DIR. Locke, pastor of the Euclid ave-
nue. NJ. z. church, chairman; D. F.
Shirk, secretary of the Kansas Child
ren's Home society; Richard Norris,
field worker for the union; the Rev.
Bernard Kelley; Mrs. Mary Hobbs and
Mrs Mary Sibbitt of Wichita. The lat
tee representing the interests of the W.
c. T. U. The executive committee of
the other organization was composed
of the following: Chancellor Frank
Strong, of the State university at Law
renee; Dr. o. G. Markham, dean of
Baker university at Baldwin, chair
man; the Rev. Julius Smith of Bald
win; Ex-Governor George Hodges; and
DIR. s. s. Estey, the Rev. S. b. Anderson
and the Rev Martin Luther ROby all