The Topeka state journal., 1901-03-07

Hughes personally I'm the presence OF 30
members OF the Defenders after he had
submitted to such a cross-fire of Ques-
tions as completely confused him and
made him glad to excuse himself as soo-r
as possible The session Of Mr.. Hughes
with the Defenders was held late sat
Urday afternoon In the Office Of Or. Eva
Harding and lasted only about - min-
utes. But in that short time they drew
from Mr.. Hughes such Information as
satisfied them fully that they could not
support niIn Tor mayor lh tne te,-i,-''
municipal campaign AR hughes nau
been asked to appear before the women
and about 8 O'Clock the examination
began with Mrs Nation as chief ques-
toner. The first question asked Hughes
was:
Are you candidate FOR mayor2"
How are you on the prohibition law
Of Kansas Don't you believe 1t has
made Kansas"
yes. believe in enforcing .it.'
do you drink"
7 am not a habitual drinker."
DO you 90 into the joints2"
Il do not frequent them"
.Do you ever 60 into the joints2" per-
sisted Mrs. Nation.
"Ne1l. what makes your face so rede'
Ny mother set me out in the sun
when I was years old, and the wood
peolSers fed me-"
You are something like Adam; you
lay everything on a woman When
went down to your Office the other day
you kindly invited me in; but I told ycu
the smell was SO bad I could not 60 ir.
and you said your mother was the cacss
of it; that she smoked and YOU intima-
ted that the bonds Of heredity We're 50
strong in this regard that you couldn't
recover yourself.
DO you smoke cigarettesg" continued
Mrs. Nation.
YES. I have smoked cigarettes for So
years"
you are to be Ditied more than
blamed; you are in a condition to he
helped and not to help others"
I always expect to smoke cigarettes"
During the interview some OF the To-
cal Defenders who knew his record bel
ter than Mrs. Nation knew it. asked him
regarding his ownership Of property
where a joint was run.
Mrs. Mary White interrOEatcd him aa
to whether or not he knew II he ow-ei
property where liquor was sold. HuEhts
replied at first that all the property re
owned in Topeka was his residence. He
afterward acknowledged that his wife
owned some.
Mrs. c. p. Chadwick then asked If ne
didn't own the property on East Fourth
joint
Il don't own that; my wife owns that
property was his answer
Some Of the Womne suggested that
man and wife were not supposed to run
a business separately Then one or two
more questions We're asked and the wo-
men iLdtF were leu To- tnulitLf- AlAAA AtiN
Woods brothers had been running a
soup house in the front part and a joint
in the rear Of the building owned BY
Hughges or his wife or buth
They also decided that since he was
unable to know what sort Of business
was being conducted in his own prop
erty. he did not possess the trait cum
ming to such a degree as would warrant
them in supporting him for mayor of
Topeka
Then Mrs Nation stood up and with
that decision and emphasis which her
experience in saloon smashing has given
her said:
Women, I think this is a nice looking
man. but don't vote for him FOR mayor"
Addressing Mr.. Hughes, You are not
the man to be mayor. we want a clean
man. You go and clean yourself mp
By this time Mr.. Hughes appeared 60
be embarrassed, and begged to be eN-
cused. saying thae he had an engage
ment- When the Womeli mentioned
cigarette smoking he declared he was
not breaking any statute by i7duiglng
in the practice. But the women re-
piled that they wanted a man who
would be controlled by conscience as
we'll as by law
III he cleans himself up within four
years from now. vote for him." advised
Mrs. Nation. Keep your eye on him,
women; he's got a good heart. but the
devils got a cinch on him.
Hughes edged toward the door, but
half a dozen Defenders surrounded him
and began to talk with hilvl. I didu'
come up here to talk to al these wo-
men," he complained Z only came up
to talk to Mrs Nation"
I'm your friend" said Mrs. Nation
consolingly as she clasped his hand
You know Shakespeare says Hast thou