The Washington times., 1908-09-17
Rum and Reform Discussed
Freely by Candidates I'm
expected Visitor.
SMILING, BUT FIRM,
HE DECLINES TO TALK
Refuses Her Proffer of Joint Cam
paign to Stamp Out the
Demon Rum.
By JAMES HAY, i.

ny JAMES nal
CINCINNATI, Ohio. Sept. 17.-Carrie
Nation invaded the presence Of William
Howard Taft today and spoke exquisite
~ OF rum and reform
1t was not at the candidates office
that she approached him, with martial
step and militant speech. It was at his
brothers residence, in the early morning
hours, when he end Mrs Taft were at
breakfast, that she sought the seclusiOn
ana privacy appropriate to the airing
of plans for great reform and the abOll-
ton of the saloon.
Nor did she come as one who asks
a favor. Her foot smOte the lawn with
such a shock as might come from the
rhythmic tread of mailed hosts. She
slammed the gate with a crash that
frightened the innocent sparrOws into
silence. She rang the door bell as one
who demanded admittance TO sacred
places And to the servant who opened
the door she gave the impression that
she was not worthy TO kiss the dust
her feet had blessed.
Gives Her an Interview.
Judge Taft is IN amiable man. and,
when her name was announced, he went
into the hall to see his visitor. There
was no lengthy prelude to the CONVEX
saton, no idle wasting of time In airy
badinRge. Urged on by the fever of a
great mission, Mrs. Nation RIared at the
candidate and said in a bass voice:
Sir I've come TO ask you some Ques-
lions"
Right there was where the Judge be
gan 10 regret having been so amiable.
Madam" he said pojitely. 7 cannot
discuss these questions at this time"
But Carrie could.
Sir" she said. waving her umbrella
by way OF gesticNfation, this is a great
Gnd. might say. a gigantic matter. 1t
IS whether you want the prohibition
vote This, sir, has to do with the
great hOme-wrecking institution. tie
saloon. As you may know. 1 have de-
voted my life 10 waging bitter war
against The demon r-r-r-rI.n. And"
The judges hand went up in suppIica-
- ton.
Ny dear madam he said, sun DO
lite, i really cannot discuss these oues-
lions with you now"
Equal to the Demand.
But again Carrie was equal to The de-
mand, "A demand manufactured entirely
by herself.
The abolition Of the canteen from the
army" she continued, has made the
army OF the United States the most
powerful fighting body on earth Why
can not the home as we'll as the army
be relieved of the influence of the sa-
loon? You are d great man, sir, and
this is a great work.
Il have come TO enlist you in the
cause. Together, we will lay about US
and smile down the dens OF iniqufty, the
saloon and the grOg shop. You may
not believe it, but the votes which you
would gain would"
Again Judge Taft interrupted. BY this
time the nelghbOrs had begun TO take
notice and the clamOr OF insistent re-
form was resounding up and down the
street. Carries voice had changed
from bass 10 soprano and the early
morning atr shivered and waved under
the impact of her verbal powers.
The candidate bowed himself toward
the nearest door.
AT some other time, my dear mad
am. he said, even now polite and ur-
bane, at some other time, but not
now
Well Satisfied.
Thus it was that Carrie departed from,
the Taft mansion, glad that she has dis
coursed so eXquisitely on rum and re-
form in the presence of the Presidential
candidate. She expressed herself as well
pleased with what she had said and the
effect she had had on the candidate.
o After seeing that the coast was clear
the judge made his way TO his Offices
where things were calmer and more
encoUrag ing than he had found them
during the reformers visit. Also. he
was glad TO see that, in spite of Mrs.
Nations calamitOus cries. the world
was still doing business at the same
old stand. As soon as he arrived at
his office. he received good news of the
political situation in Utah.
Minister'S EulOgy.
The Rev. Francis Burgette Short. who
is the pastor of the First M. E. Church,
salt Lake City, and who has been visit
ing various Methodist Episcopal confer
ences in Ohio. called to pay his re-
spects. and later said:
Judge Taft surely occupies a con-
spicuous place in both the ethical and
religious world. He is eminently fitted
both in character and practice, 10 oc-
cupy the highest office in our land His
efforts TO raise a high standard of life
at home, his interest In and solicitude
for the nations across the sea. mark
him as man Of sane religious visions
and desire.
Such a man this nation needs and re-
Quires at its head, If we continue to hold
the undivided admiration Of those at
home and those abroad. Such q man
we must have If we. would make history
that is Slortously humane He merits
the support of all high-minded citizens,
for We recognize that he has given his
entire influence toward the development
Of a higher Christian civilization both
at home and abroad
Want Roosevelt to Speak
1t became known here today that
Taft's friends and prominent members
Of the National Committee I've united
IN a determined effort to persuade
President Roosevelt to take the stump
in this campaign. Although they have
received no assurances that Roosevelt
will agree 20 do the work thew claim
they have every reason to believe that
ne will consent to make a number of
speeches in the month of October