USA > Kansas > A standard history of Kansas and Kansans, Volume II > Part 25
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As the fight over temperance legislation grew the activity of the tem- perance cohorts increased. Reports coming in from over Kansas show that this activity was by no means confined to the larger towns of the state. A correspondent to the Commonwealth from Salina says that "the mayor, marshal, council, police, Temperance Union and preachers are stirring up the saloonaties until you can't rest." Newspapers friendly to temperance were asked to copy notices of the different activi- ties, reports of meetings, announcements, et cetera. The churches were sponsoring petitions praying for an amendment to the "Dram Shop Act," in accordance with the recommendation of the Governor's message. The State Temperance Union was working along the same line. In the early stages of the fight feeling was divided as to the advisability of a prohibitory amendment. By many an earnest worker in the cause, it was thought to be too radical, that the time was not ripe for so arbitrary a measure ; that an amendment to the dramshop act would be much more likely to receive the sanction of all public opinion. But that was the weak spot of their reasoning. The radical measure was their one hope and the leaders saw it. The dram shop act, being apparently the most logical thing for the Legislature to undertake to strengthen, the liquor interests had concentrated their forces upon it; they had such an amend- ment beaten almost before it was introduced. The jump of the temper- ance element to a constitutional amendment looked to the liquor dealers like weakness, and in a most complacent manner they refused to take it seriously. There were two chances to defeat it after its introduction in the Senate-the House and finally the people. And the dealers put great faith in the people. The introduction of the constitutional amend- ment into the temperance fight was an astute political move.
VICTORY IN THE LEGISLATURE
The fight in the House was close and intensely bitter. Both factions were busy. The liquor dealers were active with influence, whisky and petitions, everywhere doing what they could. The temperance workers were just as industrious. The "banner temperance town of the state, Hutchinson," sent up a delegation to, according to the anti-newspapers, "bulldoze the dram-shop aet through the Legislature." The delegation consisted of L. A. Bigger, J. V. Clymer, Hiram Raff and Henry Hegwer. and were a decided addition to the temperance wing in the fight. Gov- ernor St. John was often seen on the floor of the House counselling with the strong. and urging the weak to support the Senate Resolution. Wives of members came from their homes to urge their husbands to vote for it, and the final victory has very properly been credited to these women, who at the last moment caused their husbands to change their votes. The Resolution was messaged to the House on February 21st ; on the 26th it was reported from the committee on Temperance with the recommendation that it be passed and was read the third time and put on passage on the 5th of March. A call of the House was ordered and a stiff fight was put up by members opposed to the Resolution, but the
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feeling of the members in favor of it was strong enough to override all oppositions and on final roll call the vote resulted in 88 for the Reso- lution, 31 against, and 10 absent or not voting.
REVIEW OF FORCES THAT HELPED
It was a tremendous victory for the temperance people, and the causes entering into it can best be realized by a brief survey of the newspapers during those days of bitter fighting. Through them a glimpse is given of the varied and continuous activities of the temper- ance interests. Of their concerted action and their astonishing organiza- tion, carried on through a fight of over a year and a half to the final vote of the people on the prohibition amendment in November, 1880. The aggressiveness of the liquor faction can also be followed, and one can but marvel at their loose organization and their lack of foresight and political acumen. That they did not realize in time the sincerity of the movement opposed to them, and the deep seated sentiment that actuated it, is the only conclusion to be drawn.
The churches had always been a strong influence in the temperance cause. During revivals, the week of prayer and other religious meetings temperance had had its share of discussion. As a moral issue it came well within the province of the church to aid in the regulation of the liquor traffie where possible. So it was not surprising that the churches of Kansas should strike hands with the various temperance organizations in the state and bear their part in the fight now at hand. Especially did the churches in Topeka make strenuous efforts during the legislative session of 1879. Temperance meetings were the order of the moment. At the Methodist church in Topeka, the pastor, Rev. J. E. Gilbert, on January 5th, spoke on "What ought the State Legislature to do in behalf of Temperance?" At the close of the meet- ing seventy-five persons remained to confer as to some mode of action. Names were given to form a nucleus for the work and it was found that all the churches in the city were represented. The newspaper account of the meeting is interesting: ". . . several ladies and gentlemen tarried to consider what might be practicable in reference to legislation on a prohibitory law. Several persons made brief remarks, and though there was not an exact agreement as to the best plan of action, there was quite a unanimity of feeling that aggressive measures should be adopted at as early a day as possible. Accordingly it was agreed that Mr. Gilbert should confer with the pastors of other churches in the city and arrange for a meeting on Thursday evening to consider this all-important subject. A committee of three was appointed to act upon the subject under consideration, and report at a meeting to be held at the M. E. Church on Sunday evening next. Rev. Mr. Gilbert stated that at that time there would probably be good speakers from abroad. It would appear from the exhibition of feeling at the meeting that vigorous efforts in the city and state in the cause of temperance are foreshadowed."
About this time there was being sent out over the state from a
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Chicago publishing house a little book entitled "The Blue Ribbon Workers" by James M. Hiatt, containing sketches of the lives and acts of reformed drunkards who were then in temperance work. This volume met with a good deal of success, and was calculated to bolster the weak and help along the feeble in the temperance movement; and while a small thing in itself, is indicative of the never ceasing effort of the temperance reformers.
The Woman's National Christian Temperance Union assembled in convention at Baltimore, passed a resolution suggesting that a month of prayer be held and asked that pastors in all churches be invited to preach a temperance sermon during that period. January was the month determined upon, and it was very generally observed through Kansas. Thus were the churches and other organizations already beginning to get hold of individuals and prepossess their minds in favor of any stringent temperance legislation likely to be enacted.
The Union Temperance meeting at Topeka was a successful event, and the "pastors of the various churches were present, and took an active part in the discussion of the best means of bringing. about prohibition in this state." A committee was named, having as one of its members the chief justice of the state, to "consult and adopt the best method of framing a petition to the legislature in relation to changing the dram shop act." At all of these meetings, and they were held weekly thereafter, out of town speakers were present and music was a great feature.
The executive committee of the State Temperance Union met in Topeka on January 14. The resolutions adopted at the meeting embody the recommendations in Gov. St. John's message and in the form of a petition were to be presented to the Legislature, after being circulated throughout the state for signatures. The members of this committee were men of some prominence in Kansas, J. H. Rice, J. B. Abbott, Albert Griffin, W. A. H. Harris, D. Shelton and others. A committee of three was appointed to organize the temperance elements of the state for work. Temperance lecturers were to be placed in the field by the State Temperance Union, and they were to hold meetings throughout the state. Murphy Temperance clubs and Phalanxes of Temperance Volunteers were to be organized. It was also resolved to hold the annual Temperance Campmeeting and continue it 12 days, Messrs. Rice, Shelton and Harris were named as a committee on the Campmeeting.
By this time temperance was a live issue in Kansas, lecturers from out of the state were invited to address the Legislature. George Calder- wood of Ohio accepted such an invitation for the evening of January 24th. An andience of 150 persons gathered in Representative Hall. A report of the meeting says: "From the great number of absent members, it is but fair to presume that they are not all in full accord with the temperance enthusiasts of the day. Mr. Calderwood is a pleasant speaker and indulges in many of the familiar expressions of the modern temperance lecturer. He is in favor of a prohibitory law, and on the adoption of such a law, favors the right of the fair sex to exercise the Vol. II-15
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election franchise. The lecture was well received as was evi- denced by the applausc."
Gen. S. F. Carey was granted the use of the hall of the House of Representatives for a temperance lecture on the evening of February 5th. Temperanee mass meetings were held frequently and were, to quote from the reports, "marked with great enthusiasm."
The newspapers discussed at length the various measures before the Legislature, and in all the discussion but little space is given to bills
AIRS. DRUSILLA WILSON
[Copy by Willard of Portrait in Library of Kansas State Historieal Society ]
on the subject of temperanee. The activities of the temperance organiza- tions are duly chronicled, but prospective legislation along that line is not noticed until the latter part of February, when the fight was almost won.
Early in February the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union held a meeting in Topeka; the speakers were Mrs. M. B. Smith. president of the Union in Kansas, and Mrs. Drusilla Wilson of Lawrence. Rev. Gilbert presided. This meeting was so largely attended that there was standing room only. It was held in Costa's Opera House, one of the largest halls in the town. From the beginning women took
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an aggressive part in the temperance campaign. A great deal of charity work was undertaken, prayer meetings and temperance meetings were held and an attempt made to establish coffee houses, but with rather an indifferent success. Many of these women had been among those who had worked in the "Woman's Crusade," who had gone into the saloons praying with the barkeepers and the patrons. They knew the weak points in the operation of the dram-shop law, and they were aware of all the evasions in its enforcement. Such women were no mean enemies to the liquor traffic.
A word should be said in passing of a very unusual woman who did much for the temperance cause-Drusilla Wilson. With her husband, Jonathan, she settled in Lawrence in 1873, just as the "Woman's Cru- sade" was taking form. She became identified with the temperance workers of the town and was made the president of their local Temper- ance association. In her diary she says "It was undertaken with many misgivings on my part lest I might not do justice to the cause, but this crusade was an inspiration of the Holy Ghost, sent from Heaven to arouse action in this great work." Her account of her work is of great interest, and should, but for its length, be repeated here. She was a speaker in constant demand, and with her husband traveled over the state holding mass meetings and circulating petitions. She says: "We started from home in this work the latter part of November, 1879. Completed the campaign and got home the evening before election in November, 1880. . . We traveled in our carriage during our cam- paign work over 3,000 miles, held meetings for the Amendment, organ- ized a number of Bands of Hope and gave a number of Sunday School talks. She was 64 years of age at this time. Mrs. Wilson died at Carmel, Indiana, June 9, 1908.
Late in February the Rev. J. E. Gilbert announced the prospective visit of Francis Murphy to Topeka. He says: "As he is my personal friend, I feel prompted to utter a word in his behalf to prepare the public for his proper reception." Mr. Gilbert was one of the most earnest temperance workers in Topeka. He was a brilliant man, and not a little of the success of the temperance campaign of 1879 might be attributed to his advice and work in the beginning. Other clergymen were helpful but Mr. Gilbert had in a high degree what would be called at this day, efficiency. He had great executive ability and was one of the strongest organizers in the local camp of temperance workers. He came to the Topeka M. E. Church from the east and remained a little less than three years. He was a man in advance of his time even in a broader field than Topeka, so it was not surprising that he should return to a larger conference. Never of robust health Mr. Gilbert did not live long; he died in Washington, D. C.
The days of the Legislature were by this time few and at last Senate Joint Resolution Number 3 had reached the House.
The Commonwealth of March 6th had this to say on its passage there :
The most exciting and interesting item in the House since the Sena- torial election, was last night during the consideration of Senate Joint
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Resolution 3, proposing an amendment to the constitution relating to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. Requiring two thirds of all the votes of the House to pass it, its passage was stubbornly resisted; at one time the friends of the measure despaired of their ability to push it through, and began to change their votes, saving the point to move a reconsideration of the vote; but as the members slowly came in and cast their votes in the affirmative, it became apparent that it was possible to pass the resolution. Changes were again made and finally the result was announced, yeas 88, nays 34; the friends of the measure than gave way to an expression of their joy at the result, which was only suppressed by the speaker's free use of his gavel.
ORGANIZING FOR THE ELECTION
After the adjournment of the legislature there was a noticeable decline in temperanee activities. The visit of Francis Murphy to Kansas was the only occurrence of note following immediately on the adjourn- ment. A Topeka paper of March 11 says of him: "This wonderful man has come and gone. His first appearance in these parts was last Sunday night he addressed some 1,200 people, including a large number of prominent citizens from all parts of the state. He certainly is a speaker of great force. . . . We imagine he is more like Paul of old than any man that ever aseended the rostrum since the days of that mighty apostle. We can no longer question that he will be a powerful attraction to the Grand National Campmeeting which will very likely take place at Bismark Grove (Lawrence) next September."
In the latter part of the month an excursion to Gove county under the auspices of the State Temperanee Union went out over the Kansas Pacific Railway from Kansas City to Buffalo. The excursion was for the special benefit of Francis Murphy and there went with him a number of prominent people, J. H. Rice, Dr. Callahan of Leavenworth, the Gleeds, Charles and Willis, one on the Kansas City Journal the other on the Lawrence Standard, Prof. M. L. Ward, S. J. Gilmore, Mr. and Mrs. Presby, J. C. Ilebbard, several clergymen, and newspaper representa- tives. The trip was one extended temperance jubilee, at every stop there was an address and songs. Gen. Rice was one of the most fiery speakers; he indicted the "monster rum" as the "sum of all villainies in Kansas," and he said "seed has been sown during this tour that may bear rich fruitage during the season." It is unnecessary to add that he was right.
The early summer of 1879 was spent by the temperance people in getting all in readiness for their campmeeting which was to be held at Bismarck Grove, August 15 to 27. Early in August newspapers began to publish articles and editorials against prohibition, no great degree of feeling was displayed, but it was rather made light of, none seemed to regard it seriously enough to show real excitement, the general ery was that it would be impossible to enforce any laws framed under such an artiele in the constitution.
The Campmeeting was advertised widely, the "cold water brigade are soon to assemble with Francis Murphy and other celebrities" was
.
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heard on all sides. On August 12th the Topeka Commonwealth pub- lished an editorial on "Temperance and Politics," it deplored the attempt to make political capital out of the approaching temperance campmeeting. It insisted that there was no intention among prominent members of any party to make prohibition or anti-prohibition a party shibboleth. The article warned Republicans that the question of the constitutional amendment must be kept ont of the party platform. The Commonwealth was not in favor of prohibition bnt discussed the matter in a sane, quiet way. The main argument against it being that it could never be enforced, and a law not enforced was a detriment, and in some instances, a menace to the morals of a community. The editorial closed with this statement: "Gov. St. John and other state officers have a perfect right to go to the Bismarck meeting and there advocate their views, and to undertake to make political capital against those who do so, will injure those who do it." This last was ealled forth by anti- prohibition papers threatening all state officers who inclined to tolerate temperance views or temperance workers.
CAMPAIGN FOR THE AMENDMENT
The opening of the temperance Campmeeting was a loudly-heralded affair. Gov. St. John made the address of welcome. There were speak- ers from many states: George W. Bain of Kentucky, a widely known temperance speaker; A. B. Campbell, then of Illinois, later of Kansas; Rev. J. E. Tilton and J. J. Hickman of Kentucky, Elias Johnson of Brooklyn, N. Y., J. E. Letton of Louisville, Dr. Gibbons of Colorado, Mrs. J. Ellen Foster of Iowa, and Ada Van Pelt of Nebraska. Besides all these was the great stellar attraction Francis Murphy, who was accompanied by his son, a prepossessing youth and already developing powers of oratory not unlike his father. They were just back from a great campaign in California. Of local speakers there were Miss Amanda Way, a woman of very pleasing address, a friend of Drusilla Wilson, and like her, a power for temperance work; Gen. J. H. Rice another well known worker, a newspaper man and a vigorous speaker. As a special feature four Indians were brought from their reservation in the Indian Territory, and spoke at one of the meetings.
The great day at the Campmeeting was August 26th, when the attendance was estimated at 25,000 people, and when they were obliged to take turns at listening to the speakers. Much had been done to make Bismarck Grove, attractive fountains had been put in, a great tabernacle built capable of seating 5,000 persons, and lighted with gas made on the grounds from the "new automatic Batty process." At that time the Grove was under the management of the Kansas Paeifie Railway Com- pany, and was a popular resort.
The music was a special feature of the Campmeeting, some of the finest bands in the state were there. The Rev. Robert Brown of the Leavenworth Conservatory of Music had prepared a singing book of a hundred pages for use. Ile was in charge of the musie and he took with
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him his entire choir from Leavenworth and had as an assistant Prof. A. B. Brown of the Springfield (Mo.) Conservatory of Music.
A Military Day was held during the progress of the Campmeeting and military companies from over the state were in attendance. Special excursions were run to Bismark Grove from various points and every- thing possible for the success of the meeting was done. Some newspapers kept special representatives in tents on the grounds, while others were content to write up the meetings at long distance and headed their descriptions "Whaling Whisky."
A church encampment followed the Temperance Campmeeting at Bismarck and many of the prominent speakers remained to make tem- perance speeches there, and to later fill dates in the smaller towns and outlying country districts of the state.
The result of such a temperance meeting as that held at Bismarck would essentially give a great impetus to the work and to the temper- ance sentiment. Enthusiasts were raised to a plain of exaltation; the indifferent were impressed by the earnestness of the workers and were influenced unconsciously. While into the minds of the anti-prohibition- ists, still scoffing, there began to enter a certain fear. The "Anti" papers showed it by taking on a vindictive, and even threatening tone, and personalities began to be indulged in.
The State Temperance Union held its annual meeting in September in Topeka, and was well attended. Officers were elected and the com- mittee on campaign work presented its plan of activity. It was decided to maintain a central office, where lectures could be arranged for, literature kept for distribution and where reports were to be sent in from workers over the state, who were to tell of their successes and of the obstacles most in their way. A good financial plan was to be evolved by the executive committee so that funds might be available to push the work efficiently during the ensuing winter. The executive committee was likewise.to see that within the next three months there was an organization in each county in the state.
All temperance societies, churches and organizations interested in temperance had been requested to send two or more delegates to this convention to "prepare for this great work."
Prohibition clubs began to be formed and from all over the state came notices of temperance picnics and campmeetings. Temperance cam- paigns were carried on in towns known to be liquor strongholds, in one or two places it was necessary to ereet a temporary building in which to hold meetings, so strong was the town sentiment.
Literary societies became impressed with the popular topie, and debates were held. "Resolved, That intemperance has caused more suffering than war," and kindred thoughts were hurled at listening audi- ences. The subject was unlimited and the debates found great favor in the country school houses.
At the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, Mr. Detwiler, the Chief Templar, said in his report: "In view of the fact that the measure (the prohibitory amendment) was
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originated and has been thus far carried forward by our Order, I respect- fully recommend that you make ample provisions at this session for a vigorous campaign that will result in placing one of the great principles of our Order in the organic law of the State. And place our State in the front rank of advancing civilization. In mapping out our campaign I would call your attention to the importance of a liberal use of printer's ink. .. . I would also recommend the holding of campmeetings in as many different parts of the State as your funds will warrant. .
That each lodge be requested to hold some public entertainment, and the net proceeds of such be forwarded to your Executive Committee as a special campaign fund, and used to defray the expenses of the campaign." It is interesting to note that most of the prominent out-of-state speakers at the Bismarck campmeeting were members of the Order of Good Templars, as were also most of the temperance workers residing in the state.
In November there began to be circulated through the newspapers the "story" that the proposed prohibition amendment was "bogus." That it was introduced and supported by the whisky element in the legislature to kill a certain temperance law. That portion excepting the sale of intoxicating liquors for medical, mechanical and scientific pur- poses was seized upon and exploited. One paper that led in denomi- nating the amendment "bogus" says: "That legalizes the sale for medical, for scientific, and for mechanical purposes. It puts it beyond legislative prohibition, if not legislative control, for these purposes. It means free
whisky. That amendment is bogus, will make Kansas sickly ; it will stimulate the drug business. Whisky for the toothache. To pre- vent measles. . Boys will use it to study astronomy. Men will be unable to set out a cabbage plant without it. No we are not for the constitutional amendment."
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