The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-13
AMONG THE HOODLUMS
Prohibition Exhorter Wilson Has
a Hard Time Of It
ADDRESSES 4 TURBULENT AUDlENCE.
He rs Protected by . Policeman and
Nothing serious Happens

Nothing Serious Happens.
When A O. Wilson rolled his box out
into the street at the corner Of Seventh
and Kansas avenue, with the intention of
saving the world from the demon drink,
at 7:45 last evening there was not much
of crowd waiting for him. But he
hadn't talked long before he had about
him a crowd of over two hundred yelling
hooting men ana boys He was hardly
allowed TO utter one uninterrupted sem
tence. Policeman Campbell was on the
watch and at one time only his presence
saved the box on which the speaker stood
from destruction. The crowd was APP
parently not an angry one. 1t was simp-
Iy there to have fun with what il con-
sidered ascrank."
Wilson is a little bald headed man and
the crowd had nicknaned him shorty"
1t fitted
'sThere are thirty-three druggists in To-
peka selling liquor" shouted Wilson,
land they are all criminals. There are
drug stores here selling liquor under
permit who have not the required $1,000
stock of drugs.
"How do you knowg" yelled a man in
the crowd.
Wilson named two that he had refer
ence TO- The probate judge permits it
and he knows it. Lee Jones. continued
yelIs and voices, Hes here.) he should
20 TO a heather country voice, As a mis-
sionary' ;'Eecond voice. He'd make good
steaks-) He is now pleading for mercy.
He offers to give SO monthly to the
poor. Where did he get that money!
Selling whisky. I heard Lee Jones
speak Of the prohibitory law the other
day and he used profane language voice
That's awful.y
'sMany of you remember the episode at
Fifth street Monday evening voice, You
do) / want to say that in this cause if
need bel am ready to die" voice, Good
bye."D "A
A German in the crowd yelled, II can
drink if l want to bud don t want you to
drink" to which Mr.. Wilson replied,
This is harder on Topeka than II is on
me- The constitution has been violated
Voice, Whose? Yours2
Wilson then devoted a little time to
County Attorney Stafford, the Topeka
club and Judge Hazen. He also advised
all people to keep out of bad society and
then referred to his audience as a "law-
less mob" Someone. yelled, Run home
then, Willie,
About this time, the crowd concluded
that it had had Of the enough speech and
began calling on "Grandpa7 E D. Christy)
to sing. but Wilson wasn't through yer
and kept on trying to talk. The
crowd yelled and laughed calling him
names and would not allow him to pro
coed.
This was ept up for some time, and
finally Wilson declared that he would
dismiss the meeting on account of the
lawless mob" The ~lawless mob" yelled
again and made 4 rush for the box, al
most knocking it over. Officer Campbell
inferfered and drove the crowd back
Wilson then dragged his box to the alley,
followed all the time by the crowd. which
continued to make fun of him and say
mean things. Officer Campbell escorted
him 70 Fifth street. where they were met
by Officers Gish and Donovan, who dis
persed the crowd
Wilson says he will speak at the cor
ner of Kansas avenue and Sixth street
Saturday evening.