Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-02-05

becomes the most alluring and fas-
chatting OF the indoor sports. Aud
beating prohibition Is game Tat Is
always In season and can be played
anywhere man denied his liquor
Dy law merely redoubles his efforts
20 secure II.
We lived some eighteen years IN
the capital city to which we have
hitherto alluded. II was and Is q
fine, clean, outstanding town, much
above the average Of it's kind In gen
eral intelligence and culture. It Is,
AZ one may use the term, located un-
der the gun. The eyes OF the
state always are upon 1t, and three
sets OF public officials, state, county
and city, all with authority to en-
force the prohibitory law and few OF
whom are averse to playing to the
gallery on the issue, function at Its
very back doors. But the people
never quit drinking, There was lIqu-
or In probably 20 per cent OF the
houses. Due to the state Of public
,seiS, iiIment, the ''hooeh' was elimin-
ated from public dinners some ten
wears ago. But at private dinner
or entertainment OF any kind one
met the same brands OF intoxicants
encountered at eonvivial affairs held
I'm tiie "wet" areas. The only diner
ence was that the flow was likely to
be litffe more generous, the dispo-
sition heing to drink up the visible
supply and trust to luck or ingenuity
to secure another. A dancing clob
famous for its champagne punch had
n waiting list from the date Of its
in 1897 until II was dis
solved by mutual consent OF its mem
bers when America entered the war.
During the era of prohibition IN
the state two or three generations OF
girls and boys were born, grew TO
womanhood and manhood, built nests
nnd settled down to rear broods OF
their own. 1t was the boast OF the
of prohibition that these
girls and boys had never seen sa-
loon. And probably that was true
in degree. But about the usual per
cent or them learned to drink ana,
when they came to have homes Of
their own, served the customary APP
petizers and emolients to those who
came TO visit them. During all the
wears Of prohibition the legislature
Of the state, session by session. drew
the coils Of legislation a little tight
or upon the traffic In booze. In
hhe end II passed the bone dry act
which made possession Of the minut-
est quantity OF liquor prima facie
erideilce Of law violation and sub
hected the offender to fine and lmprf
sonment. There was more drunken
mess in polite society after the pass
age of the "bone-dry' act than at
any period during the less rigorous
Of the law They say
dhe young "fast set, which has come
into recognition during the last two
or three years, is the hardest drink
ing fast set" the town ever had.
one Of the best jokes in connection
with the passage Of the "bone-dry :
law was con" the social club which,
on the occasion Of each session of the
legislature. opened its doors to the
Legislators. Many succeeding legisa-
lures accepted the hospitality Of this
club. which Glanced to be the handi
est place in town for stranger 70
get 4 drink The one in question
was hard drinking legislature
Habitues Of the club expressed the
opinion that 1t has consumed more
9iquor than any previous legislative
body in the history Of the state. Just
before 1t adjourned il passed law
making possession of liquor punish
able by a fine of 500 and thirty days
IN the county jail.
Constitutional prohibition should
be easier to enforce than the statu-
tory article. The source Of supply Is
thoked. But ms one who has had ex-
berience. we wish the government
officials upon whom the job lof law
enforcement IS wished much JOY
Men are willing to fight for their
country. They are anxious to fight
for liquor