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Show JOHN P. ST. JOHH DIES AT HIS MS HOME Prohibition Loses Noted Advocate; Story of How Kansas Went "Dry." O LATHE, Kas., Aug. 31. John P. St. John, a candidate for the presidency on the prohibition ticket in 18S4, twice governor of Kansas, and one of the most widely known, temperance advocates advo-cates in the United States, died here tonight. He was S3 years eld and haJ been in failing health since a heat prostration pros-tration two months ago, while on a speaking tour. John Pierce St. John was one of the most widely known temperance advocates advo-cates in the United States. He was a candidate for president on the prohibition prohi-bition ticket in 1884, and served two terms as governor of Kansas 1879-1883" during which Kansas became a prohibition pro-hibition state. Describing the fight for prohibition in Kansas. Governor St. John once said: ''The brewers had only themselves to biamc for prohibition in Kansas. The first step toward a state-wide movement was at their suggestion. Mr. Fiery, a minister, introduced in the house a high license and regulation bill. It stood a good chance of passage. To defeat it the brewery agents suggested the people peo-ple be given an opportunity to vote on state-wide prohibition. Of course, it was not the purpose of the brewers to submit prohibition at all. But the coup to kill the high license bill killed the saloon in Kansas. "The prohibitory amendment was submitted to the senate and passed. The house was to kill it. Tho brewers had it all figured out. Enough members favored high license, but not prohibition, prohibi-tion, they believed, to defeat any attempt at-tempt to submit the proposition to the people. The brewers guessed wrong about public sentiment. " Every influence was brought to bear on house members by the brewers. I was governor, but I couldn't keep out of the fight. Violating all precedent. I left the governor's oiTice to help fight the battle on the house floor ' 4 The day for the vote came. The gn'.lerics were packed. The politicians tried hard to avoid a vote by hiding. The sergcant-at-arrns was busy round-it::T round-it::T them up and bringing them into t he chamber. Finally the voting was begun. The silence was intense. We needed one vote to get the necessary two-thirds t o carry the proposition through. Wc did not know how to get it. All at once Mrs. (J reaver (the wife of one of the members), started down tho aisle to her husband 's desk. She stopped before him, and seizing his hand in beis, plendod with him. ' ' ' l'or my sake, for the sake of your children,' she cried, 'change your vote. Do it for my sake, for my sake, no matter mat-ter what you believe.' "(ireaver changed his vote, while the building shook with cheers." Born at Brookville, lnd., February 25. ISIU, St. John served as a captain and lieutenant-colonel in tho Civil war, and settled in Kansas, where he became a member of the state senate. He became a political factor when he won a fiht to displace United States Senator Sam- i uel K. Fnmeroy. Pomeroy and St. John ! had been personal friends, but the latter! became displeased with the way Pom-' erov conducted himself as a senator,! and thereupon championed John J. In-! ealls, Pomeroy 's opponent, who won.1 This made St. John a leader and re-I suited in his election as governor. He was called a "traitor" when he i deserted the Republican partv and be- ! came a candidate for president on the! prohibition ticket in 1SS-4. During his campaign he was burned or hung in efficv more than 500 times. He was twice shot at. but unhurt. Manv Re-: publicans attributed . the defeat of .lames Biaine for president to St. 1 .John's entrance into ihe race. In 101'-. notwithstanding his advanced ad-vanced ace. he stumped Kansas fori woman suffrage, declaring that when women had the vote they would have prohibition. In 101 -t- he campaigned in the east for prohibition, estimating that up to that time be had. altogether, traveled ;l50.on0 miles and delivered 4500 speeches in behalf of the prohibition prohibi-tion cause. When he was in the Kansas ranitol he inaugurated the first ' water banquet ban-quet ' ' with the result that liquor has- |
