Taboo or not, here goes
The long established theory is that better Kansas editors have "fire in their belly." The late Clyde Reed of Parsons conceived the idea, and since birth it has grown.
Any wise editor, fire in the belly or not, knows there are several taboo subjects to be avoided like meeting a skunk on a lonely road. They don't discuss abortion, gun control, religious doctrine, or beverage alcohol.
Kansas, the state of the late Carry Nation and her hatchet, was nearly the last to allow the sale of alcohol in any form or fashion, then eventually tolerated liquor-by-the-drink, county by county. Even the most blatant blasters of booze have discovered that demon rum isn't as bad as they once believed.
If you go to restaurants in McPherson or Newton, Mennonite strongholds, you note diners in the plain garb enjoying a meal in open view of the bar.
Marion County is about the last one in Kansas to prohibit public liquor-by-the-drink. We still adhere to the old "private club" law which has an ostrich mentality.
Every county adjoining Marion has legal liquor by the drink: Harvey, McPherson, Dickinson, Morris, Chase, and Butler.
Not allowing public restaurants the right to serve alcohol is hurting the local economy. Cereal malt beverage (3.2 beer) is not the same as spirits. Many who go out to dinner enjoy an apéritif, highball, glass of wine, or dessert drink. Depriving them of that opportunity in Marion County drives people to Wichita, Newton, McPherson, Salina, Herington, Council Grove, Cottonwood Falls, and El Dorado.
Marion County should ask the Kansas Legislature to amend current law, allowing restaurants in "wet" towns (where 3.2 beer is legal) to expand and include legal spirits.
It wouldn't call for bars, merely the right to serve alcohol with meals.
Such a law wouldn't encourage heavy drinking, drunkenness, or social problems. Such a law would allow local restaurants the opportunity to better serve the public, offering what they want. Those who don't want to drink can refrain, but all would reap the rewards of a tax which would help our economy without added burden on property, income, or sales revenue.
— BILL MEYER
