New-York tribune., 1901-03-03
JOINT" KEEPING IN KANSAS.

WHY MRS. NATION MET so LITTLE OPPOSITION
From The New Orleans Times Democrat
The reason Mrs. Nation and others have en-
countered such slight opposition at the joints
they have smashed" said a man from Kansas,
lis because the jOintkeepers have been in a
state of blue funk for years. They know they
are running in direct violation of the law. and
the feeling that they would have no protection
i'm the event of trouble has sapped their nerve
in way that is really laughable. / remember
years ago. I happened To be in Wichita one hot
day. and dropped into a handsome bar in the
business centre To get a glass of beer. was
served at a side table. and While I was slipping
the stuff burly. morose looking fellow strobe
in and asked abruptly whether his watch charm
had been found Ii appeared he had lost il
there a few nights before. and when the pro
prietor replied that il hadn't turned up he in
sisted upon an immediate settlement. Such a
demand would have been laughed at anywhere
else. but the saloon man. who was purring and
rubbing his hands. and all for peace and cOncin-
alton. assured him that il would he all right IL
ne would only get an estimate of the value of
the tr1nket from the jrweller who sold IT, The
burly chap chose to construe that simple request
as a reflection on his integrity and without any
more ado, he walked suddenly over TO the cigar
case spintered the top To fragments with a
single blow of his cane and filled his pockets
from the choicest boxes. I guess that will
about even us up he remarked and walked
out, smoking one of the captured perrectos
While this lively lOOting was in progress con-
t.nued the kansan the face of the saloonkeeuer
was study. Wrath. cOnsternation appeal de-
lnterminSled. but he made no real effort 70 ston
the Wrecking. l amazed. You're surely
not gong To stand that, yOu?' I asked He
shrugged his shoulders tearfully. What can r
90! ne said If L tried to make him the Ieas,
trouble he'd have before the courts under
the prqhIhition law, and that would mean $3.50
SURE it comes cheaper to put in new glass
mat was twelve years ago. and incidents of the
same KIND have been going on at intervals ever
since.
'In the smaller places the to1ntkeepers arc eye,
more panicky," the speaker went on smiline,
ana snail never forget experience / had a
IeW years ago at houriShin- town in the cast
ern part of the State. No saloons We're rT,1niTe,
openly at the time. but a friend assured me
th&t plenty were hourishng under the rose and
PropoStd a visit To typical blind tiger tie
led the way into a VERY respectable. Iooki,p
grocery, down flight of stairs across a cellar
, etrouEE q suhterranean passage. and finally
St"PpVu heIuIr massive oak door and scratched
on the rdncl with his knife Somebody there
upon admitted US to very primitive barroorn
IN which perhaps dozen men were s,rouned
about a rough wooden counter They were evi
gently respectable citizens yet a gans, of burg
:aT+ plotting bank robbery couldn't have
'4"heC more guilty apprehenSive We gave
OHr orders. and. while they were being filled the
croWG was suddenly struck stiff with terror by
thre" taundeTOuS Knocks on the big oak door
Hor q moment every body stood transfixed and
thrilling: th2H the bartender Ieaped over 10 what
nae supposed 70 be a fireplace. tore out a fake
shert IRON back and disclosed sort OF bricked
ehute leading at an incline Up to daylight
There is certainly nothing so contagious 40
panic, Tor had violated no law and had abso-
of The moment / was as eager as
any ypody 10 get out, ana scrambled up that
roush hthy chute with al the agility Of a
cnlhhey sweep. IL landed in the back yard
oi eheip hotel. fun of ashes. tin cans broken
bottles and sAaris of WIRE and by the time we
reached the street We q spectacle for the
gods. At the corner We met the nronrietor 90
'ne tSer. who assured us genially chat in was
ti q tilSe alarm. An O.d Fent,erran who mis-
UNDERSTOOD tEe directions. lad been allowed 20
go downstairs. he explained. ard had Knocked
Win ms cane instead OF scratching. Re was
SORRY, very sorry indeed. and urged US TO re-
urn anu nave something at the expense Of The
house but begged TO be excused. The pare
possibility OF another scramble through that
horripIe chute made Ty hair bristIe ON nv
head. and l mention the episode as one OF the
drawbacks to Jointkeeping as profession in the
great State or Kansas The fact is that the
ierHous system or the average jointkeeper has
become SO thoroughly undermined BY incidents
sucn as nave described that he has no more
;. left In him than scared rabbit
m not surprised that Mrs. Nation and her cru.
32QeEY nave had ~ virtually their OWN Sax.