The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-10
CALL A HALT.
Correspondents Demand That Perse-
cution of Mrs. Nation Stop.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
I see by the papers published in this
city that the police who appear to be
under the control of the laWbreake rS
and nullifierS, have again arrested and
incarcerated honest conscientious, fear
less, prayerful, gray haired Mother Ma
tion. AS we understand it, Mrs. Nation
has been arrested for disturbing the
peace of lawbreakers by pleading and
praying to them to become good citizens
and to obey the laws of this city and
state
For daring to demand the enforcement
of law, the lawbreakers and their ac-
completes who appear to be in control
in this city once before caused Mrs Ma
ton to be incareerated in the city prison
in order that they could follow anarch-
istic profession of multiplying and ignOr-
ing the laws of the state without being
disturbed by Mother Nations appeals
for decency and the enforcement and re-
spect of Kansas laws.
AS we understand it, Mrs. Nation
sometimes aids and abets in fracturing
law with q view of enforcing the law
against professional lawbre2kers and
law nullifiers. But why should officers
their eyes as they pass other lawbreak-
ers and illegal places of business, rush
after Mrs. Nation2
Is it made a part of their duty to
protect one part of law breakers as
against another class who fractures the
law in q much milder fOrm2 What
right have the city authorities to dis
criminate against Mrs. Nation? I would
like to have the sensible. intellectual,
liberal, element answer this question.
ProhibitiOniSts and prCfeSSed Christians
may not have the nerve to protect Mrs.
Nation against the onslaught of the
,boodlums and nullifers.
1t may become the duty of the liberal
class who always stand for fair play
and who oppose discrimination to see to
it that this persecution of Mrs. Nation
stops. I neither approve of nor oppose
Mrs Nations method of dealing with
outlaws Neither do I approve of nor
oppose the action of vigilance committees
who hang hOrsethieves. But where Of
ficers of the law were in league with
the horsethieves, many horse has been
saved to its owner by the prompt ac-
ton of vigilance committees: and many
a soul may be saved and manhood pre-
served by the action of Mrs Nation
1t is my opinion that this discrimina-
ton against and persecution of Mrs
Nation had better cease. It is SO rank
that it does not meet with the approval
of sensible men who are engaged in the
sale Of LIQUOR The liberal element OF
this city and county and laW-abldinS
citizens have not built iails to confne
old, gray-headed Christian women in or
der to protect men who defy the laws Of
the state.
hibitionist, but ] believe in fair play
and in the equality Of the enforcement
of law without discrimination If the
idiOtic boOdlums and unlawful element
in this city through their hired per-
jurers. go on prosecuting Mrs. Nation
and ignore others who break the law
the intelligent, liberal masses may de-
eide to turn her loose until those who
constantly defy the laws Of the state and
commit offences hourly are locked up.
If Mrs Nation should be locked UP
every time she breaks a law, why
should not other law breakers who are
In, t14-
time they commit an Illegal offense? If
this matter goes on until it becomes IN
bearable, every sensible, respectable man
in this city win be found on the side Of
fair play without favors, whether he
takes . drink or not.
1 think it is time that the liberal ele-
ment should put an end to the policy OF
picking out and prosecuting this old,
gray-haired, prayerful mother.
JAMES BUTLER.
To the Editor of the State Journal:
It is high time for those who love
home, city, men and God to rise up
against the awful lawlessness and high
handed outrages committed by men in
office, supposed to be shields of law,
liberty and life, but who have perverted
the sacred trust I'VE the people" have
placed in their hands for our highest
welfare, and are shielding outlaws,
thieves and murderers IN carrying on
nefarious traffic, long outlawed in the
| state OF Kansas ana CITY OF topeka,
thus protecting all manner of vice and
/ expressing our noblest citizens, notably
Mrs. Carrie A. Nation and the Rev DIR.
Mcfarland, who so proudly defended
this brave woman.
Men. Womeni Free born citizens of
the city of Topeka Shall we endure
this outrage upon our leaders and con-
tinued insults upon our liberty and
manhood2 AS Christian men and wo-
men, viii we not unite and rally to the
right and demand the proper enforce
ment Of law and give the outlawed just
so long to stay and their protectors so
/ long TO cease supporting injustice and
depressing the innocent Home De-
/ fenders2
E. M. COLEMAN.