The Washington herald., 1909-03-24
mrs. CARRIE NATION
TRIES TO SEE TAFT
Politely Informed She Can
not Enter White House.
GENERAL ALARM NOT GIVEN
Guard ut Door Did Not Know Caller
or Perhaps There Would Have
Been More or Less Excitement.
RefOrmeF Doesn't Like Roosevelt.
Objects TO whisky Signs.

Carrie Nation, just returned from her
European crusade. was "A caller at the
White House yesterday afternoon.
She did not see the President. Sec
reary Carpenter was spared the embar-
rassment OF informing her that the Chief
Executive was busy Even the Secret
Service men remained obliv.ous to the
presence, near their chief. Of the ter
rihle hatchet wielder, who had called
primed for a repetition OF the stormy
session she had held with Secretary Taft,
IA Cincinnati last summer, previous to
his nomination.
Mrs. Nation was in a hurry, and as she
rushed up 20 the main entrance OF the
White House she accosted the first po-
iceman she met.
''Is the President in2" she asked
NO. he's out" answered the officer OF
the law. who. falling 70 recognize his
questioner. continued peacefully 10 tramp
his beat. instead OF turning in a general
alarm.
The Woman Hesitates.
For moment Mrs. Nation hesitated.
and, then. by an exercise Of great self
control suppressed her emotions and re-
Trained from starting an argument with
the officer Realizing that a visit 20 the
station house would probably make her
miss her afternoon train for Guthrie,
Okla. she accepted the old adage that
discretion is tie better part OF valor. and
left the White House grounds as quietly
as she had entered.
Have you been 10 see the Presiden'.
Mrs. Naticn2' asked reporter for The
Washington Herald. as he recognized her
coming through the gate.
Yes. ] have. but he isn't in" she an
swered. I came 10 tell him that ! saw
a whisky sign posted as an advertise
ment in one OF the Seventh street cars.
and to ask why II was that I should have
TO ride in a saloon IN the National Capt
tai It's awful, These signs were not
there before I went TO Europe Washing
ton is growing from bad TO worse.
You 81 see what we're coming TO-" she
continued Look at the terrible weather
you had on the 4th OF March. Didn't J
predict that a national calamity would
follow the inauguration OF Taft?
II wish I had been able TO see him. !
would have told the people UP here a few
things. II I hadn't had 10 catch a train
] wouldn't mind going 10 jail 10 let the
people know there are whisky signs hung
up in their street ears. and that the
President would not have them removed
at once.
What is the matter with the Wash
lngton ". c. T. L? Why don't they
have these signs taken down?
She Asks AbOut Cigarettes.
I wanted to talk to the President
about a lot Of things. We've met before.
you know. but he wasn't President then.
I want 10 know il his daughter smokes
cigarettes
President Taft has a man in his Cahi-
net who owns races horses. Just think
Of IL, He is just the right kind OF a man
to teach people how 10 XIII. Even Presi-
dent Roosevelt didn't do that"
You seem 10 like President Roosevelt. ''
was suggested.
Like him." she exclaimed. Il am
glad he's gone 20 Africa and hope he
will never come back. I wouldn't cry
my eyes out II the lions ate them up. I
am very ant-ROOsevelt because he be
lieves in high license.
Mrs. Nation arrived In New York from
England on the steamer Baltic Sunday.
She Is on her way 10 Oklahoma, where
she expects TO continue her crusade
against cigarettes and alcohol.