The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-06
Bone Dry Law Supposed To APP
ply to All Glasses.
Not Intended To Hit the Poor
and Ignore Wealthy.
BUT IT OFTEN DOES THIS
Churches Aroused Over Wichita
Silk Stocking Case.
BristOw's Paper Criticises the
Leniency Shown Hussey.

Kansas did not write her bone dry
liquor law that the small fry violators
should go to Jail and the rich and in
fluential might evade the law and
pose as reformers in their home COM
munities. That is the attitude of the
Kansas daily and weekly press regard
ing the action of the attorney generals
office in dismissing the Hussey case in
Wichita.
Thousands of dollars have been
spent by the state in prosecuting liq
| Sedgwick county. There are a NUM-
Der of men in the state penitentiary
today for selling liquor in Sedgwick
county. Others are in the county Jail
and others are awaiting trial. But j.
NJ. Hussey-rich club man, prominent
merchant, influential in politics and
active in church and reform works
| free and his twin six Packard touring
| car has been returned to him Yet
Hussey was arrested with 100 quarts
which he had receipted for at the
freight depot and which had been sent
to Kansas branded ''olive OIL
Churches Take a Hand.
Hussey's case has attracted much
attention in the columns of the Kansas
press. 1t is attracting more attention
among church workers and temper
| clubman goes free when rare wines
are found in his possession and a man
| without power, influence or wealth
goes to the penitentiary for the sale of
restrained comment. And much of
| this comment is not favorable to the
new style method of enforcing state
| liquor laws.
Court records show the Hussey case
was dismissed for want of prosecu-
-ixyfa 6ax hnf Inc
| to be called for trial. The case was
dismissed by Cliff Matson, assistant
attorney general, and the action was
approved by R. ]. Hopkins, attorney
general. Altho the wine was in Hus-
sey's possession at the time of his ar
rest, it was stated by Matson that he
| dropped the case because he was not
sure the jury would convict. Hussey
was also given his big touring car
| which had been confiscated by the
state.
Salina Stirred Up.
Joseph L. Bristow, former United
States senator and until a year ago
chairman of the state public utilities
commission, carried a chara
editorial comment on the Hussey case
in his Salina Daily Journal. The fact
that Hussey is a neighbor of Governor
Allen in Wichita and that the attorney
general himself dropped the case did
not seem to appeal to Bristow in the
least.
Bristow wants to know if the en-
forcement of the state liquor law is
really for, the prosecution CT the man
without money or influence. Many
editorials carrying similar references
to the action of the state have ap-
peared in the daily and weekly papers
This is the Bristow editorial and cap
ton:
Law for the Little Man:
When the prohibition laws of Kansas
with their several amendments were passed
it was not the idea of the legislators that
these laws were intended to be invoked
only on the little fellow. That this has
been done from time to time in the past
there is every reason to believe. Some
wealthy and large offenders have escaped
entirely. or got off with little fines while
prison.
The time for that has passed. man
is guilty or not guilty of violating the
prohibitory laws only as evidence indi-
Gates. But the fact that the man is
wealthy, is influential or has a pull should
not constitute evidence.
A sensation has been caused by the
alleged refusal to prosecute a bone dry law
violator in Wichita. The newspapers at
Topeka declare the evidence is plain Ten
full cases of liquor belonging to the man
wealthy citizen of Wichita And now, the
newspapers of Topeka say, despite evil
dence. the journal entry in the case shows
that the case was dropped on motion of
the attorney generals office-"for want
of prosecution sixteen days before the
date assigned for trial.
National prohibition is near. but it is
mistake to believe that the fight has been
completely won. The price of prohibi-
ton is vigilance. 1t is hard to win friends
for cause, no matter how good. when
only the small violators are punished. The
citizens of Kansas, leaders in prohibition,
demand fairness in these matters.