El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-08

Condensed from various press dis
patches from Topeka.
Mrs. Nation gathered a half dozen
of her helpers late this afternoon and
attempted to enter the Clipper restau-
rant joint, on East Sixth street. owned
by F. Murphy, for the purpose of wreck
ing it. Mrs. Nation has been here so
long that she has become familiar to
the watchers at the joints. and she did
not succeed in getting near the joint in
question before she was recognized,
and Immediately a dozen strong men
were at the door of the joint to pre-
vent her entrance.
The little band of women struggled
valiantly against the superior strength
of the men, who were trying to keep
them outof the saloon In the melee.
two of the women were thrown down
and their hatchets taken from them.
Mrs Nations face was slightly cut by
her Ratchet
BY this time the police arrived and
took the women in charge. AS the wo-
men were being taken to the police
station, they were followed by thous-
and or more jeering, hooting men, most
of whom were the negro watchers en-
ployed to keep the women out of the
Joints and to do them violence if they
persisted in entering.
There was a number of Mrs. Nations
sympathizers in the crowd and they
gave her the protection that the police
seemed unable to give. One jointist.
who was a little over-Zealous. insisted
that Mrs. Nation be killed. and pune
tuated his remarks with great deal
of picturesque language. Mrs. Nation
turned to rebuke him, and he tried to
hit her. man near by Immediately
gave the would-be assailant a sting
ing blow in the face. The jointist i'm
mediately turned to the attack and
the fight became rather general. Sew
eral fist fights were in progress ali the
way to the station, and it seemed as IL
somebody would be seriously hurt be-
fore the game proceeded much far
Their.
She proceeded to hold an impromptu
prayer meeting in the police station.
She prayed that the work she had
begun in opeka might be abundant
ly prospered.
While she was praying, drunk man
was brought in by an officer. Mrs. Ma
ton Immediately went to him and in
formed him that she was his friend
at all times, even though the police
men were not. She then delivered an
address to members of the police force
present which was full of the most
scathing abuse that she was capable
of giving. She said they would permit
the joints to run in open violation of
law, and would then arrest the men
who were made drunk by the liquor
sold Illegally. Mrs. Nation tainted the
police. calling them towards, who were
afraid to arrest anybody but women
and drunk men.
The jointists have negroes hired to
watch their places of business, and
they have orders to shoot any person.
man or woman, who attempts to enter
the joints bent on mischief.
The better element of the people are
much worried at the turn affairs have
taken. They think that now is the
time when. if ever, Topeka's joints will
be closed. but they stand aghaSt at the
scenes which will almost certainly be
witnessed in the closing.
Mrs. Nation this morning entered the
drug store of B. F. Sim, and announced
that she was lying in wait for MEM
bers of the legislature. She walked
behind the prescription counter and
examined all the different kinds of
liquor kept on tap
AS the members of the legislature
came in. she conducted them behind
the counter and asked them to drink.
They refused in each case. however,
not because they did not want the
liquor. as they had gone to the store
to get some, but for reasons best
known to themselves, they preferred
not to get it from Mrs. Nation
Mrs. Nation said she was from Ken
lucky and knew all the different kinds
of liquor as soon as she tasted them.
She tasted the liquors in the drug store
and pronounced many of them excel
lent.
Before leaving, however. she warned
the druggist to dispose of his stock at
once. or his store would get smashed.
You have a nice store here, she
said. land I would hate to spoil it, but
you must watch out or l will
Mrs. Nation sailed forth at day
break and caught the saloonkeeper