The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-08
JOINT MASHERS A2ODDS
Followers Of Mrs. Nation Accuse
Her of BaekSIiding.
Certain Women Declare That the
Crusaders Head Has Been Turned
by Notoriety and That She Seeks
More Peaceful PursuIts-OHe Re
eruit Calls the Leader "A Coward.

TOPEKA. Kans.. Feb. S.-There is Gis-
cord in the ranks of the home defenders,
Mrs Carrie Nations army of joint"
smashers. who have caused such a dis
turbance by wrecking saloons. Some claim
that Mrs. Nation has had her head turned
by newspaper notoriety and that she has
quiz smashing Joints 10 pursue the more
luxurious and lucrative life of a temper
aRce orator.
At any rate. il was Mrs Nation herself
who spoiled one OF the most eIebora teIy
planned Joint" raids Of the season which
was billed TO take place this morning 4
band Of fifteen women were 10 have start
ed out from Dr. Eva Harding's Office at
} a m today. and they were to have the
assistance OF several Topeka cIergymen.
number of temperance advocates of the
male sex rom various parts Of the city.
and quite q number Of Washburu College
students The object Of this force waz
10 attack and demolish every Joint II
town before daylight.
The fifteen women with Mrs Nation
assembled at br. HaTding's Office early last
evening with the intention of staying
there until the time set for them to COM
mence smashing. Among them were al
those who have participated in former
raids Everybody was armed with hatch
cts
At midnight \. c. Rankin. a temperance
lecturer, appeared on the scene, accom-
panied by several Topeka clergymen. Mr.
Rankin declared that the raid must not
take place. lie talked 70 Mrs. Nation
and brought her over TO his way OF think,
ing Two reasons we're given for the
change in the plans. one that t1t men
were organizing q large force 10 assist in
the work Of destroying the joints and had
not quite completed their organization
The other reason was that Mrs Nation is
billed 10 make speeches il Kansas City,
Des Moines, Omaha. and Chicago, and that
she might get hurt IN the. raids and render
her incapable Of filling her dates. Mrs.
Nation announced 10 the women that the
raid was or for the night.
The announcement raised a tumuIt. One
woman literally shock her first IN Mrs
Nations face AID exclaimed, Mrs. Ma
ton, you are a coward
I'm NOT coward" retorted Mrs Ma
ton.
DO you want to go and smash joints
right nOw?"
Yes. I'm ready to go this minute was
the reply.
But Mrs Nation did not go. Mrs. Ma
Ji5n got on a car and went 10 the board
ing house The women we're very iDGig-
nant They stayed and talked things over
after Mrs Nation left Messengers were
sent to notify the various people who were
10 have come at 3 a m, that the smash
ing expedition vas on
One woman said: RS q miserable
shame and the fault is ali with that man
Rankin. He is a hired temperance orator
breaches temperance for pay and he is
going TO make some money out Of Mrs
Nation BY taking her on this temperance
lecturing tour He viii exhibit her as he
would a museum freak. I don't believe
she viii smash any more joints"
another woman said: Il think Mrs. Ma
ton has concluded that she can make
more money by lecturing than by smash
ing joints Only yesterday she said to
me: I want you 20 take 10 this work in
Topeka where I leave It. I have started
It and you must carry it on I am called
by God to carry my message to other
people -
Some % the women were IN favor OF
carrying out the original plans. and
smash the joints at p N, but thare
was no one who wanted 10 act as leader,
and the raid was indefinitely postponed
Today Mrs. Nation left for Kansas City
She expects to return to Topeka next
Thursday