Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-29
THE governor Of KANSAS
HEARS FROM MRS. nation.
THE FAMOUS SALOON WRECKER
TELLS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
10 HIS FACE THAT HE IS
LAW.BREAKER AND PERJURER.
GOVERNOR STANLEY NOT ABLE TO
UTTER WORD IN SELF
DEFENSE.

chief executive OF the state LOT MS
failure to close the saloons of Kan
sas. Then. in turn, she visited the Of
fees of Attorney General Goddard,
County Attorney Nichols and Sheriff
Porter and demanded of each that they
close the saloons Finally she adj
dressed the Legislature, making an
impassioned appeal in behalf OF tenn
perance.
When Mrs Nation entered Governor
SANKEY'S Office, she was followed by
crowd of newspaper reporters, and
others. By turns, she administered to
Governor Stanley tongue flashing for
his failure to uphold the laws against
liquor selling, or begged him for aid
to carry on her crusade She put her
questions with fierceness and answer
ed them herself without giving the
Governor time to utter complete sem
tence in his own defense.
Mrs. Nation accused Governor Stan
ley of branding her as a lawbreaker
and demanded to know if he had
better method than she of Kidding the
State Of saloons.
DO you think my method is
right?" asked she.
No, l don't" replied the Governor.
We'll, Governor, have you a better
one?"
AS the Governor turned in his chair
to make answer, everyone listened in
tently
NO, l don't think I have" he finally
replied.
Continuing he managed to edge in a
few words more:
What can l do? l am powerless,
The law does not allow me to do what
desire. The law gives ne no privi-
leges. What can l do?"
If necessary, call out the militia,
was Mrs. Nations prompt reply.
Then the crusader began philippe
that caused Governor Stanley's anger
to rise and the crowd grouped about
ms Y a91k cs s3 eiose wong oint in Kan
sas if you will, Governor Stanley she
said, with force You can do it II
you want to, but you went. You are
a law-breakcr yourself if you don't.
You took your CaJn of office to keep
the constitution. You refuse my re-
quest. You are not only law-'oreak-
er, but perjurer."
AS Mrs. Nation proceeded, she be-
came more vehement, and her voice
quivered. She rose from her chair
and looked full in the face Of Cover
nor Stanley and, pointing her finger
at him. called him ''law-breaker,' and
"perjurer," without the least show of
b fear. She repeated these words of ac-
cusation again and again He tried to
make reply, but she gave him no
chance. the words Of invective pouring
from her with rush that would not
be stemmed.
Finally his temper gone, Governor
Stanley arose from the seat and shout
ed back:
You can not come here and talk
this way to me. You can not talk to
me this way, l say. You are wo-
man, but l won't stand it. You will
have to leave if you cannot --
Il am a mother ] am a grandma
Their and represent the mothers Of
the State"
You don't. You don't represent
them" almost shouted the Governor.
The words flew back and forth with
such fieroeness that it was impCSsi-
bic to distinguish them. The room
was in an uproar Then Mrs. Nation
talked more calmly. pleading with the
Governor to hear her.
You come With me and help smash
saloons" she urged.
And then she added:
IF you won't help us-If You won't
help me-Ill so around and III smash,
smash smash, Governor. The Devu
seems to have a cincn ON the men,
but he hasn't a cinch on the hatchets
and rocks
You set the prosecuting attorneys
of the different counties to put the
joint keepers in Jail and l will use my
power as Governor to keep them in.
will see that they are not pardoned
out
This answer INSTANTLY transformed
Mrs. Nation. She fairly beamed with
JOY and thanking the Governor, start
ed for the Office Of Attorney General
Goddard. The attorney general was
engaged. but she forced her way into
his private office. and introduced her
subject with these words:
I'VE want you to close these joints,
these murder shops"
She demanded that he remove those
officials who neglected their duty in
allowing the saloons TO run and when
ne eyaded her direct questions and re-
tered her to the county attorney. Mrs.
Nation asked
Mr.. Attorney General. you are not
lodging are you? Now don't dodge"
With a parting injunction to 90
what he had sworn TO on taking his
path, Mrs. Nation followed by an
armySof people with body guard of
newspaper men, started for the county
attorneys Office.
The governor and attorney general
are lodging" she said, but there's
40 lodging my Ratchet"
She had lost her wraps and her veil
during her raid on the State House.
but she wasted no time looking for
them.
To county attorney Nichols she re-
peated her demands, and finally said
she wished to swear, out a warrant for
the saloon keeper'Y wife who had at
tackled her Saturday night, with
hroomstick. With a few words of