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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 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 never
use them and kept his promise to his death。 This is slandering the dead。
I never remember seeing the 〃Grant Cigar〃。 He died with tobacco cancer。
It is said that Mr。 McKinley would have recovered but his blood
was bad from nicotine。
CHAPTER XVII。
MY VISIT TO WASHINGTON； D。 C。ARRESTED IN THE SENATE CHAMBER。
TAKEN OUT BY OFFICERS。THE VICES OF COLLEGES； ESPECIALLY YALE
ROOSEVELT A DIVE…KEEPER。
In February； of 1904； I went to Washington； purposely to call on
Mr。 Roosevelt； the President。 Was refused an audience。 While in the
office of Secretary Loeb； a delegation of politicians； republicans and
democrats； came out of the president's apartments with their mutual
admiration compliments and suavity of political tricksters。
I asked them what difference there was in their parties？ They
looked silly and said nothing。 Mr。 Loeb said： 〃We do not wish any
questions on the subject。〃 I said： 〃It is a civil question； it ought to
have a civil answer。〃 Mr。 Loeb called to a police to take me out。 I
said： 〃If I was a brewer or distiller I could have an interview。 As a
representive mother； I ought to be received。 I wished to ask him why
he practiced the vice of smoking cigarettes？ Why he has never said a
word against the licensed saloon when it is the greatest question that
ever confronted the homes of America？〃 Why he had a coat of arms on
his flag？ Why he brought a dive into Kans