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 Kansas?" I was taken outside
in a very orderly manner by two policemen, something unusual, for I
am hustled and dragged generally.
Then I went to the Capitol. I called to see Senator Cockrell from
Missouri. I asked him his opinion on the liquor traffic. He got excited
immediately. He said: "I want no one to mention that subject to me." I
said: "It is strange to me that you do not want to converse on the
greatest subject before the American people." He became so indignant
that he stamped his foot and threatened to have me put out of the
building. I also became indignant, and stamped my foot, and said: "Down
with your treason! Down with your saloons! You are sent here to
represent the interest of the mothers and their children, and you insult
a representative mother because you are representing the interest of the
brewers and distillers." During this speech of mine he was making tracks
up the corridor. Then I went to the House of Representatives and the
Senate Chamber. My "spirit was stirred within me", to see at the head of
the American people the bitterest enemies to the defense of the homes of
America, the very thing our forefathers intended to secure to this
people. I wanted to do some "Hatchetation", that not being possible, I
thought I would do some agitation. I took a position in a lobby near a
door. I rose to my feet, and with a volume of voice that was distinctly
heard all over the halls I cried aloud: "Treason, anarchy and
conspiracy! Discuss these!" I knew that I would be put out, but I
selected these three words to call the attention to the fact that these
were
more necessary to be discussed than any other subjects. And these were
the very ones they were avoiding most. I was taken down to the police
station. Court was in session. I had my trial and was fined twenty-five
dollars. I made my own plea before the judge, as I had no lawyer. I
justified myself upon the same principle that a man would to give a fire
alarm. The judge said that be sympathized with my cause but he gave
me the maximum fine. I have had just such sympathy as this from all
republican judges. The kind of sympathy that a cat has for a mouse
when she crushes the bones between her teeth.
I am a loyal American. We want true Americans to represent the
principles of Americans. I had my prejudice increased against Mr.
Roosevelt when I heard of the "coat of arms" on his flag, in violation of
every principle of American citizenship. We have no "my lords" in this
country. The people rule here and not the president, for he is the servant.
The brewers of America are mostly German and Dutch, and of
course the Dutch president is their friend. Roosevelt is also a member
of the Order of Eagles, the strongest liquor organization in the United
States. Oh, shade of American heroes look down and condemn this outrage
to your ashes. I have it from three eye witnesses that Roosevelt
smokes and did smoke cigarettes. His secretary, Mr. Loeb, denied this
to Mrs. Dye Ellis, but Mr. Roosevelt dare not deny it. The minister for
Mr. McKinley denied he rented his property for saloon purposes, but
the Chicago New Voice proved he did. I am so true a Daughter of the
Revolution that such a president as Theodore Roosevelt is an insult to
my sires. And last March when he came to Topeka, Kansas, he outraged
every loyal citizen of the state by bringing into it a dive and all
who wished an intoxicating drink could get it by tipping the waiter. Let
his ministers deny this for him also. He ought to have been arrested
as any other dive-keeper.
This President who enjoys the sport of killing innocent animals,
this man who costs the people more than any other president, who has so
little regard for the people's treasury that he spent a quarter of a
million to look at the American fleet and took the treasured relics of
the people and sold them to a junk shop, vandalism!
