How it Works in Topeka, Kas.
March 7, 1889Crime Rapidly Dwindling Away— A Splendid Record—Not a Failure by Any Means.
There is one particular in which Topeka leads the world. As the metropolis and capital city of Kansas she in the van of progress in the great campaign against life-destroying, crime-promoting liquor. This is one of the most notable features in Topeka’s prosperity and among her chief inducements held out to those in the East who contemplate moving their families to the Western country. The statement is made on the authority of Hon. Charles Curtis, the prosecuting attorney, that no other city in the world of like population is so free from crime as Topeka.
The enforcement of prohibitory law began early in 1885, in 1884 there were 223 criminal cases before the district court of Shawnee County, of which 147 were whisky cases. In the term of court beginning this month there will be but 12 criminal cases: Two for robbery, 1 for grand larceny, 4 obtaining money under false pretense, 4 embezzlement, and 1 gambling house. Only one of these twelve cases is in any way is caused by or connected with liquor. In the September term just closed a phenomenal fact appears; not a criminal case being on the docket. In the face of this brief recital of facts is it necessary to add that prohibition in Kansas is a success? The decline of crime in Shawnee County has been so plainly the result of the prohibitory that there can be no possible doubt about it. A brief statement of the working law is given below.
In January,1885, there were 100 open saloons in Topeka. On February 14 every one had been closed, and remained closed from that date until 1886, when one was opened, but felt so promptly the heavy hand of the law that it shut up again at once. Since 1886 not a single open saloon has been known to exist in the city. The entire industry has been killed off and sent to its long reward; only its footprints remain on the sands of the past. This total suppression of the traffic has only been accomplished by vigor and diligence. During 1886 and 1887 persons were frequently arrested for keeping “joints” and every one so arrested pleaded guilty, and suffered the penalty, the costs of trial in each case being paid by the county. In 1886 there was some little trouble with the drug stores, a large increase in their numbers being registered as soon as the law against saloons was enforced. In that year the number of drug stores in the city went from 36 to 40; at present the number is 12 to 14. Even the joints are completely bottled out, not a “bootlegger” remains to ply his traffic. This fact is largely due to the fact that not a single acquittal has been gained in the courts in the last four years. It is scarcely necessary to add that no liquor is sold in or about the many hotels in the city. The entire business is annihilated.
The sudden falling of criminal prosecutions after the defeat of the liquor dealers is to be seen from a few statistics. The first grand jury in 1884 returned over 125 indictments. In the seceding years the following were returned: 1885, 60; 1886, 30; 1887, 19; 1888, 21; seven of these last being for gambling and six of druggists for selling bitters. A gradual decrease also appears in the number of prisoners serving sentence in Shawnee County jail, only three prisoners now being confined. In 1884 there were 26. In the last four years too, there has not been on trail a murder case in which liquor was in any way connected. In 1884 thirty-four prisoners went from the county to serve terms in the state penitentiary; in 1888 there were but six to go.
It is needless to say anything more, except to add that although the city has doubled in population in these four years the police force has remained stationary and policemen are growing fat from lack of work to do. Persons who were violently opposed to prohibitory law now admit that it has been a blessing to the city. Speaking of the closing of saloons, County Attorney Curtis said recently: “At one time there were 140 saloons open in Topeka; their average sales were not less than $30 each, which would make $4,200 daily for liquor; this amount came largely from the working people; today there is not $1 of that amount spent for whisky. Where does it go? It goes for food and clothing for children and wife. I know of scores of instances where families were suffering for food because their father gave his wages to the saloon keeper. Now they are living in a cosy home of their own; they will have all the necessities of life, and a few of the luxuries; the children who were once poverty-stricken and living in rags are now attending the public schools and the father will tell you he was saved by prohibition.” —- Topeka Commonwealth
source: Advance Argus
location: Greenville, Pennsylvania
