The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [87]
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.
In Los Angeles I saw what was called the "Cribs", one of the most
disgraceful conditions. No one stayed there during the day; they were
there just for the night only. These poor degraded girls would pay two
dollars a night to the owners. I said to the women: "These city officials
are at the bottom of this. Let us go to the Chief of Police," whose
name was Elton. He would not talk to me at first. He said: "If we
close these places, these degraded girls will be over the town, when in
fact the girls only stayed there at night. I have seen so much of the
corruption of the officials that when conditions are bad in any place I
know it to be their fault.
We went as a band of missionaries to these dens of vice. At first
an officer would go before us and have the girls pull their blinds down
to prevent us from seeing or speaking to them. We found hundreds
of them who could not speak the English language, they had been brought
over by procurers for the purpose of swelling the ranks of this vice.
Mrs. Charlton Edholm who wrote "Traffic in Girls", was there helping
to rid the city of this disgrace. Her book should be in the hands of every
girl in the world. This grand woman has devoted her life work to the
rescue of girls. She is in Oakland, California, where she has a "Rescue
Home". Any one can get the book by writing her. I also met Mrs.
Sobieski, wife of Col. John Sobieski. Sister Sobieski is one who never
tires in the work for God. She is a terror to evil doers. God bless these
women for their zeal. I found some of the most aggressive christian
W. C. T. U. women I have ever seen in Los Angeles, California. I am
glad to say that in less than a year from the
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.
In Los Angeles I saw what was called the "Cribs", one of the most
disgraceful conditions. No one stayed there during the day; they were
there just for the night only. These poor degraded girls would pay two
dollars a night to the owners. I said to the women: "These city officials
are at the bottom of this. Let us go to the Chief of Police," whose
name was Elton. He would not talk to me at first. He said: "If we
close these places, these degraded girls will be over the town, when in
fact the girls only stayed there at night. I have seen so much of the
corruption of the officials that when conditions are bad in any place I
know it to be their fault.
We went as a band of missionaries to these dens of vice. At first
an officer would go before us and have the girls pull their blinds down
to prevent us from seeing or speaking to them. We found hundreds
of them who could not speak the English language, they had been brought
over by procurers for the purpose of swelling the ranks of this vice.
Mrs. Charlton Edholm who wrote "Traffic in Girls", was there helping
to rid the city of this disgrace. Her book should be in the hands of every
girl in the world. This grand woman has devoted her life work to the
rescue of girls. She is in Oakland, California, where she has a "Rescue
Home". Any one can get the book by writing her. I also met Mrs.
Sobieski, wife of Col. John Sobieski. Sister Sobieski is one who never
tires in the work for God. She is a terror to evil doers. God bless these
women for their zeal. I found some of the most aggressive christian
W. C. T. U. women I have ever seen in Los Angeles, California. I am
glad to say that in less than a year from the