CHAPTER XXXV.

THE STORY OF 1895-96.

410. The Enforcement of Law.-Looking over a brief abstract and chronicle of Kansas affairs in 1895, it would appear that the subject of the prohibitory law and its enforcement remained a matter of first interest. In Emporia, a party, for selling liquor illegally, was sentenced to a fine of $500 and 150 days in jail. In Armourdale, citizens demanded the enforcement of the law. In Wyandotte county, the county Attorney ordered the joints to

In Arkansas City, the joints, which is by common consent the Kansas name for places where liquor is sold, were temporarily closed by agreement. In Dodge City, the Mayor closed the joints. In Beloit, an offender against the liquor law was convicted after four trials. The Sheriff ordered a closing up in Wichita. In Topeka, six druggists' permits were suspended. Wellington women knelt in whisky joints and prayed for prohibition. A district judge decided that the "so help me God" oath must be taken in all liquor sales. There are many variations. In one place a local liquor ordinance was declared unconstitutional. A jointist in Seneca was fined $300. Weir City broke the record by fining a fifteen-count violator of the law $1,500, with 450 days in jail. There were long lists of individual convictions in many counties, but always discussions, and equally confident assertions, that the law is, and is not, a failure.

411. Case of John L. Waller.-As illustrating the vicissitudes of human fortune, was presented to public attention in Kansas the case of John L. Waller, born a slave in Missouri, becoming a citizen of Kansas, and the United States Consul to Madagascar. After serving his term, he remained in the island, received valuable grants from the native government, and on the overthrow of the Malagassy Government by the French, he was arrested, tried by court-martial, sent to France, and incarcerated in a fortress. Kansas interested herself for her former citizen; Mr. Waller's picture appeared in the papers, with biographical sketches. Governor Morrill telegraphed the President in regard to Mr. Waller's release. A petition was sent to Congress containing 6,743 names. The United States. Ambassador at Paris was reached. John Waller was liberated, and returned to his country to enter the Twenty-Third Colored Kansas Infantry Volunteers, and served as a captain in the regiment in Cuba.

412. Weather Phenomena of 1895.-In 1895 there were given illustrations of the variability of the Kansas temperature. In January the mercury was sixteen degrees below zero; in February eighteen degrees; persons froze to death at Newton, New Basle and Chanute, and three Stanton county children perished. On the 9th of May the mercury was ninety-three degrees above zero; on the night of the 12th of May there were hard frosts in many parts of Kansas.

413. Old People.-Kansas began to speak of herself as an old country, and a country of old people. James White died at Ottawa, aged 108 years. Elder John Burney, who died at Abilene, left 147 descendants. Andrew Franklin, a veteran of three wars. died at Burlington, aged 104 years

The death was announced at San Marcos, Tex., of Israel B. Donalson, at the age of ninety-nine years. He was United States Marshal in Kansas in the "Border Troubles" days. He was appointed from Illinois. The death is announced of Neodesha Fuller, the first white person born in Neodesha. It was an early Kansas custom to name the first babies after the town sites. Lawrence Carter and Topeka Zimmerman are remembered.

414. Monument to Kansas Heroes. On May 30, 1895, Decoration Day, there was a monument dedicated in the cemetery at Topeka, to the memory of the men of the Second Kansas State militia, Shawnee county regiment, who fell in the battle of the Blue, in October, 1864. The remains of the brave militiamen were removed to Topeka in 1866, but the graves were but slightly marked, and the monument reared at this time was the gift of Mr. G. G. Gage, of Topeka, who served in the Second Regiment, and was taken prisoner at the Blue.

The address at the dedication was delivered by General John C. Caldwell. General Joe Shelby, who commanded a Confederate division in the battle opposed to the Kansans, wrote a letter giving his recollections of the conflict.

At Lawrence a monument was dedicated to the slain in the Quantrell raid. At Frankfort a monument to the Union soldiers buried there was unveiled.

There was complaint of suffering and need in the western counties. The State shipped coal in quantities. The State Normal students contributed. Nortonville, Horton and other towns donated to the relief of the destitute, as did Shawnee and the eastern counties. The Railroad Commissioners purchased 10,000 bushels of corn for seed.

415. Lawrence Loses Two Prominent Men.- Lawrence and the State lost two useful citizens in Judge Solon O. Thacher and Professor David H. Robinson. Judge Thacher had graced the bench and bar of the Territory and the State, and was President pro tem. of the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention, which formed the present Constitution, an instrument which bore the impress of his legal knowledge, and principles of justice to all men. Professor David H. Robinson was a member of the original faculty of the Kansas State University, and for thirty years was the Latin professor. A man of learning, honor and conscience.

416. Election of 1895.-The Legislature of 1895 was Republican on joint ballot, and elected Lucien Baker, of Leavenworth, United States Senator, as the successor of John Martin in the "Lane line," as distinguished from the "Pomeroy line" of senatorial succession. Joseph K. Hudson was elected State Printer.

417. Legislative Acts. - The Legislature did not indulge in novel or excessive measures. The principal acts were the establishment of appellate courts to relieve the pressure of business on the Supreme Court; the providing for an irrigation commission consisting of the President of the State Agricultural College, the State Geologist, and three appointees; the making of an appropriation of $30,000 for experiments in irrigation, the State entering the business of irrigation in accordance with the Act of the Legislature. In June the State irrigation plant at Goodland was given a public trial. The thirteenth and last of the State plants was located at Dodge City on the 3d of July. The season in which these plants were

located was marked by heavy rains throughout the State, accompanied by washouts, and excessive thunder and lightning.

The Legislature abolished the office of State Veterinarian, but established the office of State Accountant. $3,000 was appropriated to buy coal for destitute settlers in the western portion of the State. The Legislature failed to divide the State into eight Congressional districts; in other words, failed to make a Congressional apportionment.

A concurrent resolution was adopted, asking that the statue of John Brown be placed, as representing Kansas, in the Statuary Hall of the Capitol, at Washington.

418. Educational Interests.-The Kansas State University graduated a class of 130. Washburn College celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. The Wesleyan University, at Salina, secured the library of the late Colonel William A. Phillips. Fifty-seven graduates formed the class at the Agricultural College.

419. Issues Before the People.-The year 1896 was devoted in Kansas, as in the other States of the Union, to political discussion and action. The national conventions of the great political parties met, framed their platforms, and announced their candidates. The questions before the people being largely financial; the "gold standard" as opposed to "free silver," and "free trade" as against "protection," there was endless opportunity for discussion. In Kansas, the canvass, one of the most thorough and earnest ever made in the history of the State, was conducted principally by "home talent."

420. Result of Election.-The political combinations during the summer resulted in the fusion of the Democratic