The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [88]
time I was there the "Cribs"
were closed.
I was arrested in San Francisco and spent most of the night in jail,
was put in for destroying a bottle of whiskey on this wise: A certain
saloon-keeper had just finished a very fine "criminal factory" and he
wanted to advertise it. He sent me word by my manager to call and
smash this place up. He had a fine mirror he paid one hundred and fifty
dollars for that he wanted me to smash. I knew that all he wanted was
an advertisement, but I went, not saying what I would do. He had
reporters and the house was crowded. I got up on a table to make a
speech, which, I did in this fashion: "This man has opened a place to
drug and rob poor victims. There are no clothes, no food, no books here,
nothing but what degrades men and women. Some one handed me a
large empty bottle. I said: "No I want a bottle that has some of that
fiery poison in it." I was given a quart bottle of whiskey. I held it up
and said: "None but God knows the sorrows in this bottle, the headaches,
the heartaches, the desolation, but there is no blessing or happiness
connected with it. I will do with this what ought to be done with all
its kind." So I threw it as quickly as I could behind the bar on the floor.
It fell in with some others and made a great smash. I said: "The man
wished me to make a hole in that large mirror so that curiosity would
draw others into this snare to catch our boys." I gave the best rebuke
for the occasion I could, then I went to my hotel, retired, and about
twelve o'clock an officer came to my door. I dressed and went with him
to the station. I stayed there until nearly three in the morning. While
there I saw one continual stream of poor, drunken wretches, men and
women, brought in. My manager came and took me out on bail. Next morning
I appeared in court, was my own lawyer. The case was put off two
days, then I was discharged. The saloon keeper withdrew the charge.
This was done, to advertise this man but the way that I advertise has
never done the whiskey business any good.
There is a great art in advertising. Jacob was the first one I read
of in the Bible who was aware of this art and science, when he placed
the rods before the cattle. The eye is the window by which the inner
man, who does not think, is mostly taught. There is no business in
America so much advertised as the whiskey and tobacco business. Both
are destructive in their influence on the morals and the health of the
people. We would be better off without these articles. The interest of
these manufactories are built up in proportion as they can catch the
unwary who see these signs that are suggestive. One of the most notorious
signs is "Wilson's Whiskey That's All". Yes that is ALL it takes to
ruin your homes. That is all it takes to break a mother's heart. That
is all that is needed to build houses of prostitution and that is ALL that
it requires to break up every impulse of justice and love and happiness.
That is ALL that it takes to fill hell. How my heart is stirred when I see
this: "Remember me, Oh, my God!"
Whiskey or tobacco never introduce their products by reason or
arguments, they never appeal to thought, but suggestion or temptation,
and as oft as the eye is lifted, as one walks up the streets of our cities
there are hundreds of advertisements to meet the gaze; most every one
has a false basis. For instance there is a sign: "Old Crow Whiskey."
This is slandering the crow, for there is not a crow or vulture that will
use a drop of this slop. There is: "Chew Bull-dog Twist," and "Bull
Durham Tobacco." There is not a dog or bull that uses tobacco. There
is the, "Royal Bengal Tiger Cigarettes." This is taking advantage of these
animals because they can not defend themselves. There is the: "Robert
Burns and Tom Moore cigars." There was not a cigar in England when
Burns or Tom Moore lived. I have seen a life-size picture of Abraham
Lincoln advertising cigars, when Lincoln was a teetotaler from cigars or
any intoxicating drink. He promised his mother that he would
were closed.
I was arrested in San Francisco and spent most of the night in jail,
was put in for destroying a bottle of whiskey on this wise: A certain
saloon-keeper had just finished a very fine "criminal factory" and he
wanted to advertise it. He sent me word by my manager to call and
smash this place up. He had a fine mirror he paid one hundred and fifty
dollars for that he wanted me to smash. I knew that all he wanted was
an advertisement, but I went, not saying what I would do. He had
reporters and the house was crowded. I got up on a table to make a
speech, which, I did in this fashion: "This man has opened a place to
drug and rob poor victims. There are no clothes, no food, no books here,
nothing but what degrades men and women. Some one handed me a
large empty bottle. I said: "No I want a bottle that has some of that
fiery poison in it." I was given a quart bottle of whiskey. I held it up
and said: "None but God knows the sorrows in this bottle, the headaches,
the heartaches, the desolation, but there is no blessing or happiness
connected with it. I will do with this what ought to be done with all
its kind." So I threw it as quickly as I could behind the bar on the floor.
It fell in with some others and made a great smash. I said: "The man
wished me to make a hole in that large mirror so that curiosity would
draw others into this snare to catch our boys." I gave the best rebuke
for the occasion I could, then I went to my hotel, retired, and about
twelve o'clock an officer came to my door. I dressed and went with him
to the station. I stayed there until nearly three in the morning. While
there I saw one continual stream of poor, drunken wretches, men and
women, brought in. My manager came and took me out on bail. Next morning
I appeared in court, was my own lawyer. The case was put off two
days, then I was discharged. The saloon keeper withdrew the charge.
This was done, to advertise this man but the way that I advertise has
never done the whiskey business any good.
There is a great art in advertising. Jacob was the first one I read
of in the Bible who was aware of this art and science, when he placed
the rods before the cattle. The eye is the window by which the inner
man, who does not think, is mostly taught. There is no business in
America so much advertised as the whiskey and tobacco business. Both
are destructive in their influence on the morals and the health of the
people. We would be better off without these articles. The interest of
these manufactories are built up in proportion as they can catch the
unwary who see these signs that are suggestive. One of the most notorious
signs is "Wilson's Whiskey That's All". Yes that is ALL it takes to
ruin your homes. That is all it takes to break a mother's heart. That
is all that is needed to build houses of prostitution and that is ALL that
it requires to break up every impulse of justice and love and happiness.
That is ALL that it takes to fill hell. How my heart is stirred when I see
this: "Remember me, Oh, my God!"
Whiskey or tobacco never introduce their products by reason or
arguments, they never appeal to thought, but suggestion or temptation,
and as oft as the eye is lifted, as one walks up the streets of our cities
there are hundreds of advertisements to meet the gaze; most every one
has a false basis. For instance there is a sign: "Old Crow Whiskey."
This is slandering the crow, for there is not a crow or vulture that will
use a drop of this slop. There is: "Chew Bull-dog Twist," and "Bull
Durham Tobacco." There is not a dog or bull that uses tobacco. There
is the, "Royal Bengal Tiger Cigarettes." This is taking advantage of these
animals because they can not defend themselves. There is the: "Robert
Burns and Tom Moore cigars." There was not a cigar in England when
Burns or Tom Moore lived. I have seen a life-size picture of Abraham
Lincoln advertising cigars, when Lincoln was a teetotaler from cigars or
any intoxicating drink. He promised his mother that he would