按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to hell as well as others。 The facts are that the police never knew what
I was going to do and they were so frightened and rattled that they of
course thought they would arrest me to prevent trouble。 I have been a
terror to evil doers。 I was in jail there two nights。 No pillow。 The
bed bugs bad。 Col。 Arnett； my lawyer； said I had a good case of malicious
prosecution。 I have begun several suits but the 〃laws delay〃 and
the condition of dishonest courts has prevented me。 I desire to compel
Murat Halstead to be shown as he is； a liar； almost equal to the 〃Murdocks
of Wichita。〃
I was arrested in Bayonne； N。 J。； the summer of 1903； because I was
talking to a poor drunkard。 A policeman came up and ordered me to
〃walk on〃。 I said： 〃I have a right to speak to any one on the street。〃
He said： 〃I will arrest you if you do not move on。〃 I said： 〃You do
not wish this poor man to have one warning word to keep him out of
a drunkards hell。〃 He arrested me； took me to the police headquarters；
where I was sentenced for disturbing the peace。 I was put in a cell with
a hard board； no cover。 There were only two other prisoners； both put
there for getting drunk。 The partition door was by accident left unlocked
and I heard someone creeping； looked up and there was one of the poor
creatures in my cell。 I called loudly。 He ran back。 The turnkey came
and fastened the door。 All night through I was handing water to these
poor creatures。 The bed bugs were thick and kept me quite busy knocking
them out of my face。 I lay on the plank but could not sleep a wink。
Next morning I was called in court。 That police officer in order to make
it a case of disturbing the peace said there were one hundred and fifty
people around。 There was but five and I so testified。 I never have seen
such false swearing as there is with the police。 I got a fine of ten dollars。
Of course this judge was a republican。
Here is a list of the times and places I have been in jail：
In Wichita three times。 Sentenced December； 1900； thirty days； January
21st； 1901； twenty…one days and January 22nd two days。
Topeka seven times； once thirty days； twice each eighteen days； then
twelve days； fifteen days； seven days and three days。
Kansas City once； part of a day； also once； part of a day at Coney
Island； once at Los Angeles； once at San Francisco； Scranton twice； one
night and part of two days； Bayonne； New Jersey a day and night； Pittsburg
three times； one night and part of two days； Philadelphia once； one
night。
I was also put in jail in Cape Breton； and in 1904； when five of us
attacked the Wholesale House of Mahan Bros。； in Wichita； of which I
speak elsewhere； making a total of twenty three times。
I spoke at Sacramento； Cal。； to the legislature when in session。 I
got a letter from one of the officers in the capitol； telling of the joints
run
in the capitol building and patronized by the members of the legislature。
A reporter went with me。 He tried to get me an opportunity to speak；
but he was told I could not do so； and that I had better leave as the crowd
prevented them doing business。 I did not leave。 The reporter said： 〃You
will not be able to speak。〃 I said： 〃I will speak。〃 I waited until the
speaker adjourned for noon； and as quick as a flash I took the stand； and
began my address。 I saw impatience in the faces of many； but there was
a great cheer from visitors and pages。 I spoke about as follows： 〃I
am glad to speak to the law…makers of California。 I not only believe
in making laws； but enforcing them。 I called their attention to the most
needed legislation on the lines of prohibition of evil。 I could see that all
seemed rather pleased at this point； I drew out the letter which read as
follows： 〃Dear Madam： I see you are to visit the capitol tomorrow； I
wish to call your attention to the flagrant violations under the dome of
California's capitol。 In the Bill filing room is a place where liquors are
kept； also in the Sergeant…at…Arms room in the senate chamber； behind
a screen； is stored beer and whiskey； in room 56 there is a safe where bottles
of beer and whiskey are kept。 These unlicensed bars are patronized
by the members； and with their full knowledge and consent。 It was certainly
a sight to see the faces of these men。 After reading each charge；
I would stop and say： 〃Now gentlemen this must be a grave slander； and
I want you as a body to rise and down this outrage。〃 I waited； no one
rose up。 I said： 〃certainly there must be a mistake； is it possible that the
law…makers of this state are the law…breakers； if so； then who is capable
of punishing the criminals？〃 I continued； 〃I hope that at least there are
some of the members of this body that are ignorant of this and that some
one if only one will rise and say； 〃I know nothing of this；〃 not one arose；
Both the houses were adjourned and the aisles and lobbies were packed。
These men looked at each other grinning and looking silly； some heartily
enjoying it； reminding me of a lot of bad boys that were caught stealing
watermelons。 The pages and visitors yelled and waved and clapped
their hands； but was this not a shame？ This is but a sample of the
legislatures
of the states。 Washington's capitol is a reproach to common
decency； this government like a fish； 〃stinks worse at the head。〃
I spoke in Austin； Texas； at the state university。 When I arrived in
the city I was met by 〃Uncle Tom〃 Murrah。 〃Uncle Tom〃 is a true type
of the old fashion gentleman。 Had it not been for the chivalry of this
dear friend I expect I would have had some trouble with the police of
Austin。
I went into a saloon and was led out in very forcible manner by the
proprietor； who was one of the city council。 I stood in front of this
man's man…trap and cried out against this outrageous business。 The man
kept a phonograph going to drown my voice。 The police would have
interfered but 〃Uncle Tom〃 told me to say what I pleased； and he would
stand by me。 I went up to the state university with students who tried
to get a hall for me to speak to them but they could not。 I spoke from the
steps。 In the midst of the speech and the cheers from the boys I heard a
voice at my side。 I looked and there stood the Principal； Prexley Prather。
He was white with excitement； saying： 〃Madam； we do not allow
such。〃 I said： 〃I am speaking for the good of these boys。〃 〃We
do not allow speaking on the campus。〃 I said： 〃I have spoken to the
students at Ann Arbor； at Harvard； at Yale； and I will speak to the boys
of Texas。〃 The boys gave a yell。 The mail man was driving up at this
time。 The horse took fright； the letters and papers flew in every direction。
The man jumped from the sulky； the horse ran up against a tree and
was stopped。 I offered to pay for the broken shafts but the mail carrier
would take nothing。 There was no serious damage and all had a
good laugh； except； perhaps； the dignified principal。
When I visited the students at Ann Arbor； Mich。； I was given a banquet
by the Woolley club of the university。 It gave me new life to look
at such men of intellectual and moral force。 Oh！ for such men to be the
fathers of the rising generation。 Just such men as these will sav