The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-07
Mrs. o. r. Lake, st. Louis Temper
ance Worker, Discusses the
Kansas Joint Wrecker.
WILL NOT CALL HER FANATIC.
Doctor Michael Burnham Says Her
Methods Are "Those of Poor
ly Balanced Intellect and
Should BE Decried.

Local members OF the W. c. r L, minis
ters. and other persons in st. Louis vital
ly interested In the temperance question,
are following with great deal of curiosity
and interest the stormy career. of Mrs.
Carrie Nation. the Kansas joint-wrecker.
Rumors have been circulated of late that
Mrs. Nation will transfer the scene of her
operations to Chicago and possibly TO ST.
Louis. But it is an open question IN the
minds OF many whether the drastic
methods pursued by Mrs. Nation in Kan
sas would be tolerated In ST. Louis. While
It is admitted that Mrs. Nations cause is
a righteous one. yet It IS the general con-
| sensus Of opinion that her methods are not
desisned to become popular. or to possess
lasting power for good
Mrs. O. r. Lake of No. 1906 Hickory
street. well known on the temperance lee
tune platform. and prominently identified
with the Catholic total abstinence move
ment. thinks that under certain conditions
Airs. Nations unique method OF procedure
can readily be understood
Many say that Mrs. Nations actions are
those Of an insane person. said Mrs. Lake.
but think they are more the result of
the inaction against the saloons in Kan
sas. l never heard of Mrs. Nation before
this thing came up but l daresay she is
desperately in earnest. At all events she
has the courage of her convictions, which
is more, am afraid. than many Ot us can
say. I do not wish to be quoted as crit
tcising. but ] do not believe in the theory
that Mrs. Nation ts pursuing her present
eaii Is her r1 q religious % " fsnSt;c. % tn It may be
that in highly nervous state. brought on
by excitement, she has made some remarks
It is the history of the world that many
great movements were the results OF q de-
perture from the ordinary walks Of life.
sneered at and called fanatic People
here cannot understand what the women
of Kansas have to contend with. but II We
did. and had the physical courage that
Mrs Nation possess. it Is highly prop
able that we should adopt some plan To
stamp out the evil. But we should not do
could never be practiced in Missouri. be-
cause OF our laws here.
The Reverend Doctor NJ. Burnham, pas
tor of the Pilgrim Congregational Church,
believes that Mrs. Nation Is keeping within
the bounds Of the law in her crusade, but
that the spectacle, p, OF & woman srn5In smasn'hs
not in accordance with the idea OF Jus
tice.
nest" said Doctor Burnham. but. in my
opinion. her methods are those of a poor
ly balanced intellect. and should be de-
and. for that matter. the legal, liquor traf-
will crush it out. The outcome of such a
illegal sale of liquor. As far as 1 know.
Mrs. Nations joint-smashing is not gener-
ally sanctioned by the temperance people
of this city. 1 hardly think she will at
tempt to carry her crusade farther East.
In the absence of any evidence to the
contrary, accept the belief that the in
justice Of the liquor traffic in Kansas and
the apparent indifference Of the people
out there toward It, has SO preyed upon
Mrs Nations mind that she has adopted
her own unique way Of remedying the evil:
At any rate. she is turning the eyes OF
the world to the impunity with which the
laws are broken in Kansas. and this may
result Of the closing of these places"