The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation
who used only ridicule and satire, for he had no argument of course.
I lectured for and with the "Red Ribbon Alliance" there who were so
faithfully working and praying for the abolition of the saloon. The
spring election in Lincoln was for prohibition but lost by sixty votes.
William Jennings Bryan lives there and if he, the man who poses as a
friend of the people, had opened his mouth against the saloon he could
have made this great cause more than the sixty votes. From that time
forth I knew Bryan was for Bryan and what Bryan could get for Bryan.
I lectured at the parks and chautauquas in the summer and fairs in
the fall, and at the end of the year of 1902, I had the sum of five thousand
dollars which I used to build a mission on Central Ave., Kansas City,
Kansas. In that vicinity were several dives and I told those poor criminals
that we would soon run them out. I had my brother, Campbell
Moore, to manage the erection of this brick building. The liquor men
tried to buy the ground to hinder the work, but at last the building was
finished. I was offered seventy-five dollars rent for the hall but refused
it. Then I went to the Salvation Army barracks in Kansas City, Mo.,
and offered to give it to them free of rent if they would start a mission.
They did not see their way clear to accept it. My brother told me of a
property that would suit me better for the purpose of a "Home for Drunkards'
Wives and Mothers", which I was trying to arrive at through the
mission. I went to see this property, and found it to be about two acres,
with a twenty room brick house and a good brick stable on it, nice drives
and forest trees, and while it is in the city, it is on a high elevation and
as much retired from the dust and crowd as in the country. Mr. Simpson,
the owner, sent me ten dollars while I was in jail at Wichita, and he
was anxious to let me have this home of his that he had improved himself.
I purchased this with the money I got from the other place, paying
him five thousand five hundred dollars, owing the rest. This place
is situated on Reynolds and Grandview Aves. It was not possible for me
to begin this enterprise myself, and in speaking to Myron A. Waterman,
of the Savings Bank of Kansas City, Kansas, he suggested that the "Associated
Charities" of Kansas City, Kansas, would put it to the use I
intended. I liked the idea. The society became incorporated so they
could receive the deed, which was a trust, for should the property be
used for other than what it was given for, it will revert.
The society took possession in December, 1903, and at this writing,
February, 1904, it is full, the Home of many poor and destitute, who now
have a good shelter, warmth and light free. They are expected to make
their own living. Mr. Simpson gave forty dollars to furnish one room.
The local W. C. T. U. have furnished their room and have their two
drunkards' wives in it. I here make a plea of help to enlarge this Home.
As stated there are two acres of ground and one who would give money
to this would fulfill the command to feed the hungry and clothe the naked;
these are the orphans and the widows; every dollar will be put in the
bank of Heaven.
My motive for doing this was twofold. I wanted to furnish a home
for these, the innocent results of the saloon, whose sad condition is beyond
words to describe. The people burden themselves with taxes to build
jails, penitentiaries, alms houses, insane ayslums, and reformatories to
care for the guilty results of the saloon. They pay millions to prosecute
these criminals, the result of the saloon, but no one has ever thought
of a building, or shelter for these women who are worse than widows,
who are free from any fault in this matter, but are the greatest sufferers.
I have been asked by my friends not to call it a "Home for
Drunkards' Wives and Mothers", for it would be a reflection on the
inmates. Not at all. The condemnation is on the party which makes
a demand for such a home, by voting for saloons. The question, Why?
will arise in the minds of all who see on the arch over the entrance to
this place, "Home for Drunkards' Wives and Mothers". Why? "Because
of the saloon. Let us smash the saloon and not these women's homes
and hearts." Miss Edith Short is the secretary and is at the home all
the time, and she is the right woman in the right place.
There are many persons who would like to donate to such a place.
We are waiting for funds to enlarge the place, making rooms or flats
for these dear ones. A letter directed to "Drunkards' Wives Home",
Kansas City, Kansas, will reach the place, for there is no other of the
kind in the world. It was such a relief to me when I saw that what
means I could control was used in a manner God would bless, and it was
a great source of joy to me to do something for this class. I have been
a drunkard's wife myself and I know the desolation of heart they have.
This is a worse sorrow than to have one's husband die. A wife always
feels that she might have done something to cause her husband to drink
or to quit. I believe that some men have been led to drink by women,
but it is a cowardly resort, or excuse, and the man who would make this
as an excuse is as bad as the woman that caused him to drink, if not
worse. The thief, the murderer, or any other class of criminals could
just as well blame others for their own wrong doings.
{illust. caption =
Mrs. Carry Nation's "Home for Drunkards' Wives and Children"
One of two fine properties in Kansas purchased by Mrs. Carry Nation with the
money she earned on her lecturing tours. In this way she believes she can
bring comfort into the lives now darkened and saddened by the saloon curse.}
When I was at Coney Island, I was asked, what I thought of William
McKinley's administration? I said: "I was glad when McKinley
was elected for I had heard that he was opposed to the liquor traffic.
I did not know then that he rented his wife's property in Canton, Ohio,
for saloon purposes, and after his election he had been a constant
disappointment to me; that he was the Brewers' president and did their
biddings; that we as W. C. T. U. workers, sent petitions, thousands of them
to Mr. McKinley to have him refuse to let the canteen run. That we
were willing to give our boys to fight the battles of this nation, to die
in a foreign land, but we were not willing that a murderer should follow
them from their home shores to kill their bodies and souls." This
was said at the time that he was thought to be convalescent from his
death-wound. I said: "I had no tears for McKinley, neither have I any
for his assassin. That no one's life was safe with such a murderer at
large." This roused hisses; some left the hall and there was a murmer
of confusion. One man threw a wad of paper at me, but I said: "My
loyalty to the homes of America demand that I denounce such a president
and his crowd." It was a common thing to be hissed. Once I
spoke in Sioux City, Iowa, in the church where the martyred Haddock
preached. The crowd was so large, the church was filled and emptied
three times. I had cheers and hisses at the same time. At the first
meeting I was talking at the top of my voice, the audience was clapping
and hissing and a good evangelistic brother by my side kept pounding
his fist of one hand into the palm of the other and shouting: "She is
right! She is right!" That was a great meeting, and I shall never forget
it, neither will anyone who was there. I spoke three times to audiences
that night. I have been hissed, and after giving the people time
to think, have been applauded by the same parties. "Oh, fools and slow
of heart to understand," Jesus said.
Murat Halstead, who wrote the book called, "Our Martyred President
or the Illustrious Life of William McKinley", wrote some positive
falsehoods concerning me. This Halstead has always been a defender
of anarchy or the licensed saloon.
William McKinley was no martyr. He was murdered by a man who
was the result of a saloon and could not tell why he murdered the President.
I could tell of many amusing incidents, indeed. I could fill a book
of interesting anecdotes. Once when I was among the Thousand Islands
of the St. Lawrence, in the summer of 1902, a characteristic woman with
a very low dress, with a very long train, the whole a mixture of paint,
powder, lace, flashy jewelry and corset stays, with as much exposure
of person as she dare, came to me in an affected manner, handed me a
roll saying: "I am a temperance lecturer, here is one of my bills." I
replied: "If you are such, you had better make a practical application
of temperance and cover up yourself." The change of her countenance
was instantaneous and she with a queer almost startled look said: "You
go to He--l."
Once in Elmira, N. Y. the streets were so crowded that we had to
leave the Salvation Army Hall. I climbed in a farmer's two horse wagon.
He came out of a saloon and gathered up the reins and laid the whip
to his horses, which were caught so as to let me out.
Mr. Furlong, my manager, had a keen sense of the ridiculous and
would let me alone when I started out. He said he knew I could take
care of myself. Often when I would rise to speak to the thousands in
the parks, there would be yells and groans, and a manager at Youngstown,
Ohio, said to Mr. Furlong: "She will not get a chance to speak."
Mr. Furlong said: "You watch how she will handle them." I would
always quiet them for at least a time. Once they were determined not
to let me talk. I at last went to one side of the stage and began talking
very explanatory to some parties in front. The rest wanted to hear,
so they were quiet. Then I gave them the hot-shots of truth. I always
invited interruptions by questions. I had no set speech and these questions
would bring out what the crowd wanted to hear. I like especially
the questions from those who oppose me. I have bad men to shake their
fists at me saying: "You are an anarchist and ought to be in the lunatic
asylum." One agent of a brewer in Hartford, Conn., kept on disturbing
the meeting; at last he said: "Why did Christ make wine?" I said:
"the wine that He made did not rot. His was the unfermented juice of
the grape. God made healthy fruit and grain. The devil rots them and
makes alcohol, which rots the brain, rots the body and rots the soul, and
that is what is the matter with you."
When I first began my lectures I was not taken seriously by the
people. They did not see the great principle back of the work. My
manager said: "We must make all the dates this year, for next year
it will not be so easy." I said: "You will find it easier, for I will be
more popular." He shook his head, but sure enough it was easier. We
could not fill the dates, and now the calls are more and more all over
the country.
In the winter and spring of 1903, I was in California. I was employed
by the theatrical manager of the "Chutes." Beer was sold at this resort.
Some W. C. T. U. were very much horrified that I would go to such a
place. Mrs. Hester T. Griffith, the president of the Federation of Unions
in Los Angeles, came to see me. She had been a staunch friend of mine
from the first and she went with me to the "Chutes" and introduced me.
This she did time and again saying: "If she had the opportunity to
speak at the "Chutes" she would do as Carry Nation does." This woman
was a blessing to me. She helped me to see that the stage was a mission
field. I was severely criticised by the newspapers, and especially by some
of the ministers. One from Rockford, Ill., a Rev. Dr. Van Horn wrote
a very slanderous article which I heard of through my friends there.
I was arrested in Los Angeles for some advertising my manager did
which was contrary to a city ordinance.