The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-27
MRS. NATION HERE
She Breaks Into the State
Teachers Association.
Was Not Expected and Many
Failed to Recognize Her.
BE STOPPED
President Sinclair Tried in Vain
to Suppress Her.
Told Teachers They Are the
Nations Bankers.

Mrs. Nation broke into the State
Teachers association today She came
over from st. Joseph Thursday in order
to be here. She reached Representative
hall about 10 o'clock, just after William
Allen White had finished speaking and
while State superintendent Frank Mel
son occupied the floor.
There are doorkeepers stationed at all
h main entrances to the hall and the
doors are kept closed while papers are
being read or discussions are in prog
ress, but no doorkeeper can phase
Mrs Nation. She brushed aside the
guardian of the main portal as though
he had been as insignificant as David
himself, and marched majestically into
the hall.
But once inside h encountered a
great crowd. Mrs. Nation is used to
crowds, however. They are part of her
element, and it did not take Ter very
long to wend her way forward to the
speakers desk When she reached there
h called President Sinclair from his
chair and told him she had been sent
for by a large number of teachers to
make a speech and she was ready to
make it just as soon as he was. Presi-
dent Sinclair told her he knew nothing
about it and there was no place on the
programme for her.
Mrs Nation persisted that she had
Dccu sent lOI anu Thai Sne lntGnQoQ TO
comply with the wishes of the teachers.
President Sinclair demonstrated He
told her if she had been sent for it was
probably done as a joke put up by a
few irresponsible teachers, and that the
programme was already rowded
President SINCLAIR in despair consult
ed with some of those in charge. State
superintendent Nelson was on the oor
reading a paper and he could not be
consulted. President Sinclair proposed
that she be referred to Superintendent
Nelson, as he probably possessed suf-
fcient tact to keep her from taking up
the time OF the association.
There was danger, however, that she
would make an impromptu speech be-
fore Mr.. Nelson could be appealed to.
Assistant State Superintendent Little
ton to Mrs. Nation il she could be sent
out into the corridor in the rear of the
speakers stand. He went out and
waited, but Mrs. Nation came not. She
teachers and she proposed to make it.
Mrs. Nation has great admiration for
school teachers. President Sinclair sat
on the steps to The speakers stand
with her for several minutes arguing
the matter, but in vain. She had no
business with Mr.. Little and she did
not want to see him.
Fortunately for the order of the asso-
citation and the interest in Supt. Nell
sons paper, very few in the hall knew
who Mrs. Nation was. She was not ex-
pected, and practically no one knew
h was in the city Consequently the
consultation between her and President
Sinclair attracted little attention.
Just after Supt. Nelson had finished
and while President Sinclair was max
ing some announcements, Mrs. Nation
came around in front of the speakers
desk by the press table and broke in.
She had one arm filed with "Smasher's
Mails" which she held tightly.
Il have been invited here to make a
1901 - -L~ ~ f1@,-+ $1,000
that / haven't time to say more than
a word or two"
The first sentence captured the atten-
ton of the association. and President
WHO is she?" Who is his that has
broken in?" ran in whispers about the
hall; but few people knew. and they did
not tell.
to our bankers" continued Mrs. Nation,
for you are our bankers-you teachers
and we give to you our jewels. The
school teachers have a great influence.
You teach our children and it is i'm
portant that they should not be taught
the ways of anarchists. This state is
ruled by anarchists. They are every
where I only want to say to you that
I hope you will train the children to
obey the laws and believe in the con-
stitution. instead of disregarding it the
way those in authority do"
With this Mrs. Nation turned to go.
She had given no hint of her identity,
and the majority of the teachers were
still in ignorance. But her remarks
out a round of applause. She
turned back smilingly. President Sin
clair came to the front. But Mrs. Ma
ton came also, and turning up to the
president her round face beaming with
smiles, she said:
you'll have to stand it a minute
mister"
But President Sinclair had his feet on
the ground again, metaphorically speak
ing, and he proposed to keep them
there.
w have a programme here-which it
is my duty to carry OUT he said. in
terrupting the cheering. land l propose
to carry it out unless the association
orders otherwise"
Cries of Programmed programmed"
came from different parts of the room.
and only hen did Mrs Nation go back
and sit down.