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with sin of every kind； and our lives also。
The Wichita Eagle Reporter； uttered a profound truth； whether he
intended to or not； when he said； we walked into the Court Room like a
poem； a sort of a 'Lead Kindly Light' poem； for we were lead of God；
who is the Light of the world。 And we intend to follow on until this
vision is fully realized。〃
Yours for God's love for Him and suffering humanity；
MRS。 LUCY WILHOITE。
I had dates ahead that I disliked to cancel； because of disappointing
the people and entailing a great financial sacrifice。 Sister Lydia Muntz；
also wrote me to come to Wichita immediately。 I knew it meant smashing
and imprisonment； possibly； loss of life； for I wrote Sister Wilhoite； 〃I
am coming to do all I can to destroy the works of the devil； and if need
be to die。〃 At first； I told her to keep things quiet。 Then I thought it
best to give all an opportunity to have a part in this great work of saving
life here and hereafter； so I wrote a letter to the Topeka Journal making
a call for helpers setting Sept。 28 as the day。 When I arrived in Topeka
I learned that the W。 C。 T。 U would be in convention session on that day
in Wichita； and also that there was a carnival going on in the place； and
thought it providential to have a crowd。 I arrived in Wichita the 28th；
the raid was postponed until the 29th。 I took hatchets with me and we
also supplied ourselves with rocks； meeting at the M。 E。 church； where
the W。 C。 T。 U。 Convention was being held。 I announced to them what
we intended doing and asked them to join us。 Sister Lucy Wilhoite；
Myra McHenry； Miss Lydia Muntz； and Miss Blanch Boies； started for
Mahan's wholesale liquor store。 Three men were on the watch for us；
we asked to go in to hold gospel services as was our intention before
destroying this den of vice； for we wanted God to save their souls； and to
give us ability and opportunity to destroy this soul damning business。
They refused to let us come near the door。 I said； 〃Women； we will have
to use our hatchets；〃 with this I threw a rock through the front； then we
were all seized； and a call for the police was made。 There was of course；
a big crowd。 Mrs。 Myra McHenry was in the hands of a ruffian who
shook her almost to pieces。 One raised a piece of gas pipe to strike her；
but was prevented from doing so。 We were hustled into the hoodlum
wagon； and driven through the streets amid the yells； execrations and
grimaces of the liquor element。 I watched their faces and could see that
Satan was roused in them beyond their control； making the most diabolical
faces sticking out their tongues！ at what？ Just five women； who were
doing with their might what their hands found to do； 〃Just five living
hearts that dared to give their lives to save them。 Just gray…haired women；
mothers； and grandmothers； who； for love they could not contain；
rushed in to save their loved ones； from ruin。
There never was such a sight。 Angels wept and devils yelled with
diabolical glee。 We were taken to Police Headquarters； that is； four of
us； the Police had not taken Blanch； who dodged them； and with her axe
smashed out two windows； after which she went to Sister Wilhoite's
home； and would not have been arrested had she not called to see us
next day； and giving her name was immediately arrested and shut in with
us。 Water was standing in the low places in the cell we occupied； caused
by a leakage in the pipes； I don't think this neglect was intentional； but
it was none the less dangerous as it was below ground。 The beds were
shelves in the wall； very hard of course； but we might have had some degree
of comfort if it had not been for the dirt and rats which seemed to
delight in having some one to run around and over。 It was so ordered
that there was a bible in the crowd； and as we were not in stocks we had
far more to rejoice over than Paul and Silas； holding a continuous praise
and prayer service； reading and repeating the word of God。 We were
kept there from Friday till Monday morning without a charge against
us。 Sunday morning we squeezed the juice out of some grapes； some kind
friends had sent us； and reading for our lesson where Jesus washed the
disciples feet and partook of the sacrament； sister McHenry sprang to
her feet after partaking of the emblems； said she saw the most beautiful
cross on the wall； surrounded by a divine halo； exclaiming； 〃Now I know
what it is to have a vision； I thought it might be imagination。〃 We had
quite a time one way and another。 Our friends were not permitted to
come into the jail or even to the door； so many of them came to the railing
on the outside； where some of the officials threw water on them from
the upper windows to keep them away。 We were taken to the county
jail on Monday and had a trial for malicious mischief on Wednesday。
We plead our own cases； and never in the history of the world did a nation
or people see mothers tried for trying to save their loved ones from
the slaughter of a government whose business is to protect women and
their children。 Tears were in the eyes of many when sister Lucy Wilhoite
and sister McHenry told of their boys being led into vice by the
officials of Wichita。 Poor degraded Wichita with her corrupt officials and
that vile 〃Wichita Eagle；〃 and its Murdocks。 But God has a people there
and they will be victors in this fight。 We were convicted of course； I got
thirty days in jail and 150； the rest 150； except sister Muntz who only
got 50。 We employed Judge Ray to take our cases to the District Court。
At the present writing I am out on bail and so far as the jail is concerned；
I do not dread it。 God will liberate some when I am in bonds。 Poor
women； Poor Mothers。 God who 〃tempers the wind to the shorn lamb〃
will come to her relief from a degradation worse than death。
AFTER TRIAL IN THE DISTRICT COURT。
I am out on parole under a jail sentence of four months and a fine
of 250。00。 This man Wilson who is in the place of a judge knows that
it is a lawless outrage； but true to his party or trust he stands by the
combine for as long as the Republican Liquor Power controls office motherhood
is sacrificed to the greed of this boa constrictor that coils its huge
body crushing out the life and soul of man； woman and child。
If Roosevelt had a sincere interest in increasing the population by
urging women to bear children he would say something about what makes
it a terror to do so。
CHAPTER XXV。
CLOSING REMARKS WITH PLANS FOR THE FUTUREPROHIBITION CLEARLY
DEFINED。
At the close of writing this book； I am in Oklahoma organizing Prohibition
Federations。 I am now nearly 60 years of age； I find it necessary
to reserve my strength as much as possible in order to put to the
best use my remaining years of service。 I expect to remain in Oklahoma
until the constitution is made； the field is ripe for action； we want the
constitution to be an ideal one。
The Federation will not have as a member； any one voting in a license
partyAnhauser Busch will effect prohibition as soonWe will not waste
time and money in fighting Brewers and Distillers but the cause of them。
We wan