The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-13
Crawford County Citizens Send
Petition to Governor.
Pray for Relief and Exemption
From Bone Dry Law.
1T HAS BEEN THEIR DAILY DIET
Wine and Beer Was a Part of
Their Real Household.
Under Any Circumstances They
Want Better Water!

Hundreds of men and women in the
Crawford county mining district today
appealed to Governor Capper for re-
lief from the bone dry law. They are
denied their beer and wine. They can
not drink the water. So they have ap-
pealed to the governor in big, bulky
petitions asking for relief.
There is no misunderstanding the
things the men and women in the
southeastern Kansas mining camps
want. They want their beer and
wines But if they can't have beer
and wine. they demand that the state
provide them with pure, wholesome,
drinkable water Governor Capper
made a plain, flat statement that he
didn't propose to order an exemption
or exception under the bone dry liquor
law. The water question Will be turn
ed over to the state board of health.
Men and women with names that
should he sung rather than pro-
nounced, signed the petition asking for
relief. Ninety-fiVe per cent of the
signers on the two bulky petitions, are
foreigners.
Their Daily Diet.
These men and women recite that
they have been accustomed to the use
of wine and beer in their homes
They have looked upon these liquors as
a portion of their daily diet, they as
sert; and went to beer and wine large
" because the water in the mining
camps-possibly good for baths and
laundry purposes-is impossible for
use in the human stomach. The hun
dreds of men and women who have
been forced to drink this water thru
legislative enactment are bitter and
do not hesitate to express their resent
ment.
Both petitions today came from
Franklin, little mining camp in
Crawford county. Women. as well as
men. signed the petitions to the gov
ernor Similar petitions are being
prepared in other mining camps in
crawford county, it is asserted, and
another bunch of petitions is expected
at an early date from mining camps
in Cherokee county.
The petitions were sent as a result
of series of public indignation meet
ings Men and women in the mining
camps held Sunday afternoon meet
ihEs They gathered in the town halls
and talked over their troubles and
complained because the legislature had
trampled on what to them seemed a
personal privilege and right.
Threatened a Strike.
Several weeks ego, when the bone
dry law became effective, the miners
in several camps threatened to call d
strike unless the law enforcement Of
ficials forgot to enforce the bone dry
provisions. The strike was averted
But the muttering and resentment are
still there.
IF the water in some of these
camps is not good, the state will see
if Something cannot be done about it, -
said Governor Capper Il will turn
the complaint over to the state board
of health. OF course the state cannot
and will not make an exception to the
provisions of the bone dry law or limit
the extent of its operation"
In the meantime Crawford and
Cherokee county officials must worry
along with the rather foul smelling.
vile tasting water from the foothill
springs. And if they simply can't get
along without a little beer or wine.
they must go to Missouri and take
their drinks before they return to
Kansas.
They might boil and filter the water
like many in Topeka.