The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-25

strikers under Walking Delegate Hill
have induced the crews of many of the
Cross Town and Graham avenue lines to
desert. The strikers in some instances
returned the cars to the stables.
"
MRS. STRIKER SPEAKS UP.
She Accuses Ministers of Endorsing the
Topeka Club-Thsy Resent 1t.
Mrs. Alethea Briggs Stryker of Great
Bend, exploded bomb shell at the Tracy
temperance meeting at Hamilton hall
last night
DR.. Tracy had just told what magnifi-
cent work the ministers of Topeka had
done for the cause of temperance. He
followed with a criticism of the Topeka
club
Mrs Stryker was on the platform. She
rose and said:
Why did the Topeka preachers en-
dorse the Topeka club?" Her question
was greeted with laundering applause
When the confusion had subsidized. DR..
Tracy said, turning to several ministers
who occupied seats near him:
did the ministers of Topeka endorse
the Topeka club?'
This brought Rev. j. B. Thomas of the
First Baptist church, to his feet
II demand the name of the minister
who endorsed the Topeka club"
Voices: "Yee; give US the name"
DIR. Tracy-Give the name of the To-
peka minister who endorsed the Topeka
club, and l will hang his hide on the
clothes line to dry.
Il cannot tell just now." responded
Mrs. Stryker," but do remember that
DR.. Embree wrote letter to Gov Lew
cling asking for the pardon of a man
convicted of selling liquor, because he
was wealthy and OF high social position" :"
|. Again Mrs Stryker was loudly ap-
plauded
Dr. Tracy then finished his address
but when he closed Rev. ]. B. Thomas
arose and said hotly:
'1The ministers of Topeka have been
assailed tonight and | demand to know
who the lady is who has made
this attack I now ask that she
come out before this audience and give
the names of the ministers who have en-
/ dorsed the Topeka club"
Much to the surprise of the crowd Mrs.
i Stryker stepped out. II am very sorry
+ [ have precipitated this sensation" said
she 81 had no such thought. | only
asked a simple question. I remember
that an article was published in the
! STATE JOURNAL that the ministers
had passed resolution condemning
the 1ODGkH CluO, ou0 81 AOA-
lowing issue announced that
the ministers OF the big churches had
nothing to do with the resolution.
at was published all over the state
that the leading ministers of Topeka
condemned the police for arresting the
Topeka club because many of the mem
bers Of the club were members of their
churches"
Rev j. B. Thomas: 81 don't know
this woman. l don't know where she
halls from 1t is an unheard of thing
for stranger to come to Topeka and de-
nounce the ministers Of the city,"
Rev. L. Blakesley here took hand:
THE lady is Mrs. Stryker of Great
Bend said he.
Rev Mr.. Thomas-"Wen, she is a
| striker"
A voice-"She has struck
This was a signal for great applause
and it was several minutes before quiet
was restored When it had, Rev. Mr.
| Thomas again rose to his feet. "These
stories are political falsehoods," said he
..and were got up for political capital"
mo, no, no." cried voices in the au-
dience
Rev. Mr.. Blakesley said-"My position
is too we'll known to need explanation.
have always stood for temperance and
certainly denounce the Topeka club"
Dr. Tracey said he was sorry that the
interruption had occurred and he saiC
some good words for the Topeka minis
| ters
Rev. S. B. Anderson of the First Pres
byterian church said:
This does not apply to me but do TO
know what right outsiders have to come
here to criticise Topeka ministers" Rev
Mr. Anderson defended Dr. Embree anC
said he was at home 3ick. Rev. Thomas
also defended DR.. Embree.
Rev j. c. Owens. pastor Of the colore(
NJ. E church said: IF the preacher
have done what is charged they shoult
be criticized. Preachers sometimes ge
off as we'll as other people and should b.
whipped into line when they do"
Mrs Stryker asked permission to sal
a few words more. "All l want is tn
truth said she. "The Topeka minister
are under cloud all over the state ant
il the stories are not true l want then
corrected. l have two questions to ask
If the Rev. Mr. Embree did nc
write the letter and if the ministers di
not denounce the police for the arrest @
the Topeka club. why was not the matte
denied and cleared up or some explana
tion made? The letter is on record.
'sIf these preachers do not endorse tn
Topeka club how does it come that mem
bers of the club are members of thei
churches?''
Mrs. Stryker's questions were not al
. swered and DIR. Tracy closed the meetln
with the remark that "The Topeka clu
got black eye tonight anyhow"
THE article in the STATE JoURNA
which Mrs. Stryker evidently refers t
! was the account of the presentation {
resolutions to Chief Lindsey by some {
| the ministers. thanking him for raidin
} the Topeka club. 1t turned OF
!. | that the principal ministers
the city had not authorize
| the presentation Of such a resolution {
E | thanks to Chief Lindsey. The JOURNA
knows of no instance in which it eve
stated that the ministers endorsed" tE
topeka club SO far as we know the
/ | have never expressed themselves publl
Iv upon that question Mrs. Striker Wi