The Good Citizen from Topeka, Kansas • 1

TIbe oob (Lititen. No. 1. TOPEKA, KANSAS, FEBRUARY 15, 1900. VOL.

II. platform was regarded as one of the ablest speakers in the east. He is not a reformed drunkard, but has been a temperance man all his life, and is an elder in the Presbyterian church. For the past fifteen years he has spent his entire time in lecturing for temperance; mainly in Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Dakota. He introduced his Total Abstinence Pledge at his meetings and secured over 50,000 signers.

Many eminent men pronounce him the equal of the late John B. Gough. Mr. Rankin has had phenomenal success during the short time he has been in Kansas, electrifying his audiences with his lectures, and securing large numbers of signers of the Total Abstinence Pledge. Mr.

Rankin will commence his meetings in Topeka on the 4th of March, and will spend the entire week in North Topeka at the churoh. On the eleventh of March he will lecture at the First Methodist church, and the icmain-der of the week al the First Christian church on Topeka avenue. This will be the week that Rev. Chas. M.

Sheldon edits the Topeka Capital, and he will have a reporter present each evening, and take a full report of the meetings. Hon. A. C. Rankin.

A. C. Rankin, who comes to Topeka under the auspices of the Good Citizenship Federation, was born on a farm near Plumville, Indiana county, July 21. 1849, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and is a descendent of the early settlers of western Pennsylvania. He never secured the advantage of a collegiate training and is a self made man; having farmed, lumbered and did other rough work until his eighteenth year when he came to Alleghaney City, and learned the work of stove moulding.

He quickly advanced from the position of prentice boy to foreman of one of the largest shops in that city. Mr. Rankins abilities were soon recognized by his fellow workmen who repeatedly elected him to positions of honor and trust in councils of Organized Labor, both local and national. At the age of twenty-five he discovered that he had talent for public speaking and became possessed with a burning desire to investigate and study the great questions that affect the material, social and moral welfare of mankind, and soon after his appearance on the W. C.

Ralston, President Good Citizenship Federation of Topeka: I see by an item in the State Journal that the houses of evil resort are to be closed. Judge Magaw has so stated. How can the city expect to close them by raiding them once each month and imposing a fine of only a few dollars on each keeper and each inmate. If our officers know where to find them once a month why not keep after them and rid the city of such a nuisance and if our officers know that our prohibitory law is being violated at such places why are they not arrested on that charge? I also see by the Capital that there has been a raid on the same old joint keepers. This has always appeared strange especially since the Good Citizen has furnished a list of thirty-six joints with the names of the proprietors and bartenders.

I see that they were able to give bond and that the bonds were signed by our business men of the city. Now I am at a loss how to decide which is the better citizen, the jointist or the man who will go on his bond. Can we ever expect our city to be any better and cleaner if that work goes on? A Reader of the Good Citizen. February 9, 1900. Our New Treasurer.

J. F. Snyder, the popular treasurer of the Federation, was born at Natividad, Monterey county, California on May 10, 1869. Though living in such an auspicious clime, within twenty miles of where the broad Pacific ceaselessly rolls her huge waves upon the Californian shore, he early became dissatisfied and in 1871 took up his itinerancy for the fabled El Dorado. One year of Nevada life and seven residence in Iowa, convinced him that the land he was seeking remained still unfound.

In 1879 he sighted Kansas, and knowing full well that he had reached the promised land, settled upon a farm in Osage county. For four years he was clerk of the Osage County Co-operative association, at Overbrook, Kansas. In the spring of 1898, coming to Topeka, he entered Doughertys Shorthand school and began the study of the Brief System. Immediately upon completing the course he secured a position with the Metropolitan Life Insurance company, which position he resigned on January 1, 1900, to accept a better one with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Lnsurance company. Mr.

Snyder belongs to that class of men known as the Married Men; and when he returns home in the evening, his days labor oer and catches sight of three baby faces, and hears the sweet tones of childrens voices, he is filled with renewed vigor to strive at all times, and at all places, to make Kansas the best state, and Topeka the cleanest city that the coming generation may grow up in security. noodys Christian Citizenship. Mr. Moody one day said to a Christian friend living in a town to which he 'had just come for special meetings: What is the prospect about the election next month? said his friend, I dont have anything to do with politics; my citizenship is in heaven. Mr.

Moody swiftly replied: Better get it down on earth for the next sixty days. Mr. Moody practiced his own preaching in this respect, particularly in one instance, when he was notified during absence from home at revival meetings that there was danger that the law re-lusing to license saloons would be repealed in Northfield. He hurried home at once, and drove about early and late getting prohibition votes by personal interviews, not only in the village, but alt out through the surrounding country. On election day he was a veritable Jehu driving his two horses to their utmost speed and endurance, bringing in voters from the farms.

When the town meeting convened in the evening to hear the report of -the vote, Mr. Moody feeling sure what the result would be, and fearing some public compliment, quietly stole away; but, when the temperance victory was announced, an Irishman, whose vote he had won by kindly argument, arose and said, "I move the thanks of this town to the Honorable Mr. Moody. The Christian Endeavor World. and ordinances whose protection they enjoy.

Mrs. Chase is a non-resident, but a large owner of good properties on Kansas avenue, who has been a persistent renter of two buildings to jointists and today 410 Kansas avenue is occupied by an old and very persistent offender. The Good Citizen hopes that all owners of property rented for prohibited immoral purposes may be led to see that this is an act of disloyality to the city whose privileges they enjoy, and that they will in future absolutely refuse to permit the use of their premises for any illegal or immoral traffic whether specifically prohibited by ordinance or not. They should be as much interested as anyone in reducing taxes by reducing crime. The Topeka Industrial Institute.

Few of the people of Topeka are aware of the splendid work done for colored young men and women by the Topeka Industrial institute, located at 1725 Kansas avenue, under the efficient management of Prof. Edward Stephens and wife. At the kind solicitation of Prof. Stephens two members of the federation visited this institution on February 11, at the regular Sunday afternoon class hour at 3 oclock. In addition to the regular exercises of the hour, Mr.

and Mrs. J. Albert Davis and their little daughter gave a short musical programme consisting of selections on the organ by Mr. Davis, a vocal solo by Mrs. Davis and two whistling solos by their daughter.

The visiting members of the federation explained the work of their organization. A pleasant and profitable hour was spent and the exercise were thoroughly enjoyed by every one present. The visitors were shown through the institution and gained some idea of the nature of the work. There are forty-three students in the institute. Of these eighteen are boarders.

They came from different parts of Kansas and from without the state. Prof. Stephens arranges so that students can pay half of their expenses by their work, but if they are unable to pay the other half themselves, he has them come anyhow. They receive instruction in the necessary English branches. They are taught printing, carpenter work, harness making, shoe making, tailoring, dressmaking, cooking, farming and various other lines of work.

They have a vocal chorus and a ladies brass band of fourteen pieces. Professor Stephens is a highly educated man and is well fitted to be the head of such an institution. He received the degree of A. from Edinburgh university, the degree of A. from a university in Paris, and the degree of Phd from a university in Geneva, Switzerland.

He is greatly interested in the federation work, and the members of the federation have a standing invitation to visit the institute at any time. It is to be hoped that they and other good citizens will avail themselves of this opportunity and thus give Prof. Stephens help and encouragement in the noble effort which he is making for the uplifting of his people. Our readers will remember that the last issue of the Good Citizen contained the statement that The Anheuser-Busch Brewing company is represented in the city of Topeka by Moeser. Dick Brothers Brewing company is represented by the same party.

It will also be noticed that when jointists are arrested many of their bonds are signed by Ed Moeser. All of the jointists whose bonds are thus signed receive their liquor from the cold storage plant of the Moeser Ice company. Four beer wagons supply the liquor to the jointists whenever it is called for. Probably the most of the beer sold by jointists in Topeka is furnished through the instrumentality of this ice company. If the members of this company persist in aiding and abetting criminals and in helping to trample under foot the laws and constitution of our commonwealth, good citizens should decide whether they will patronize law abiding ice dealers or those who are aiding the law breaking class in their vicious work.

Political Policemen. If the railroads find it to their interest to prohibit the use of alcohol in any form by their employes, how much more important is it that policemen should be strictly temperate for they of all men i need to be constantly in full possession of every faculty with power to decide and act quickly. No man should hold a position on the police force of this city unless he is strictly temperate in his habits, of good moral character and entirely free from entangling alliances with prohibited vices, in addition to the necessary qualifications of judgment, decision, alertness and courage. The chief himself should be such a man and his men should have no restrictions placed upon them in the discharge of their duties as defined by the city ordinances and rules. There are a few such men among the rank and file of our force today, but too many are appointed for purely political reasons and the city must suffer from the friendliness of its officers toward criminals who can vote and get votes because the interests of a political party demand it.

Mayor Drew unquestionably came into the office with the desire and ambition to give the city a good, clean administration and while he has made an improvement over his predecessor he has been handicapped by politics and political debts and the friend of this political boss and of that one that must be taken care of. Marshal Ramsey has some excellent qualifications for the position he holds, but the shrewdness as a politician with whicn is generally credit'd has not extended ti, his dealings with the citys most vicious element No one ever accused him of showing his land to a as lie did to the joiiuists last summer who not only seemed to know what was in his hand but in his mind as well whenever a raid was contemplated. The leakage of information was serious and oft repeated, but the marshal seems incompetent to locate it. At least no one has yet been called to account for it. The city needs a shrewd marshal quite as much as it needs a shrewd politician.

Its citizens need protection from the vicious and criminal just as much as the politicians need their votes. But wnat better can we hope for so long as we elect or appoint misfits to important administrative offices seemingly to win a victory for our party, but really to serve the selfish interests of some aspiring statesman, who must have offices as rewards for his most active adherents. We all hate the political boss, but we serve his purpose by bringing politics into the administration of our corporation and yet, we are such a practical people Renting to Jointists. Four of the jointist on the list published in January issue, conduct their business in properties owned by four large property owners of whom better things are expected. Topeka has done very well by Mr.

Jewell and he surely can not afford to take sides against the city and permit a iointist or gambler to ever again occup. the upstairs rooms of 724 Kansas avenue. Mr. Snattinger has prospered in Topeka and accumulated a large amount of property which is entitled to the same protection that the property of the humblest citizen receives. Does the few dollars more rent the jointist can afford to pay justify him 'in permitting a crime manufacturing business to be carried on in the rear of Klauers cigar store at 526 Kansas avenue, thus increasing the cost of protecting property and citizens from the criminals he is helping to make, for if the tenant is a jointist the landlord is a co-jointist.

Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Nichols are also beneficiaries of Topekas growth, and their large property interests receive the same protection, that all other properties receive. Now that they have come into the possession of the Branner building they certainly can not afford to be co-partner8 with criminals by renting the basement at 523 Kansas avenue to jointists. They owe like other property owners respect to the laws dissipation are not assets but serious liabilities.

Here are three platforms erected by three distinguished citizens. Every good citizen can heartily endorse them. Put in contrast with these the platform of our city marshal as put in practice. Vice is a necessity therefore should be promoted by a license in the form of a fine or the platform of the sheriff as practiced by him: Please let me alone and Ill let you alone, or the platform of the county attorney or 'he platform of a minority of our city councilman, Foster vice as a source of revenue by imposing a license fine. Vote-lets.

Seven councilmen to be nominated. These will control the destinies of your city for the next two years. Show your interest as a stockholder in the citys welfare by expressing your choice at the primaries. Ask every candidate where he stands as to franchises, parks, and whether he is in favor of protecting the home or in favor of licensing vice and immorality at the expense of the home. Every woman in Topeka should express her preference for or against the licensing of vice in the city for revenue at the expense of its young manhood, and womanhood, and the happiness and prosperity of all its citizens by going to the primaries February 24.

Dont pledge your vote for then the candidate votes you. Cast a freemans vote and if there is any pledging let it be on the part of the candidate. Put him on a platform and make him declare where he stands. Vote for men for municipal offices who will serve the city not for an individual who claims the city owes him an office because of party service. Put business into your vote, if you want a council for business.

Vote for purity. The great majority of Topekans are against licensing vice. Let them say so at their party The flood Citizens Platform Endorsed by Ex-President Harrison. The idea that a mayor or chief of police is at liberty to permit any law or ordinance to be violated is monstrous. We choose executive officers to enforce laws and not repeal or suspend them at their pleasure.

It is subversive of our system and destruction to our social order to ailow our executive officers to choose what laws they will enforce. What sort of a condition of society would we have if no man obeyed the law and no officer enforced it unless he liked it? To find fault with an officer for enforcing the law, is to repudiate our system of government and to vote against a candidate because he is pledged to enforce the laws is to associate ones self law breakers. President Hadley of Yale says: The creation of a double standard of morals for public and private use is the perilous fact which we must face today in the United States. It is the result, declared President Hadley, of a defect in public judgment rather than in individual character. Ex-Governor Adams of Colorado says to young men: Nothing costs the community as much as bad habits, idleness and immorality.

Vice never sleeps. Idle hours are dangerous hours. The spirit of selfishness should animate business men to support the Young Mens Christian association. It means less taxation. Had we Christian association rooms where now are places of dissipation, immoral resorts, gambling dens, it would cause a financial revolution.

There would be no call to seek new sources of revenue. There would be no deficit to embarrass state officers and institutions; there would be a less tax and yet ample funds for every good work not counting the unmeasured gain in morals, manhood and happiness. Jails and asylums would lose their tenants. No man ever got rich or happy in dissipation. Gambling is not prosperity.

These places of temptations and.