The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-04-12

ing are tnelr names, ages ana places or
birth:
MAYOR.
Mrs. Lowman, 40. Pennsylvania.
ALDERMEN.
Mrs. Morse. As, England.
Mrs. Hamilton, 80, Indiana.
Mrs. Balsely, 80, Ohio.
Mrs. Golden, 81, Independence, Mo.
Mrs. Johnson, %, Oskaloosa.
All these women have suddenly
sprung into almost national notice.
Scores Of newspaper men, photograph
ers and artists have been to see them
and before q week has past their
names and pictures viii be published
in nearly every paper in the country.
Strange to say, not one Of the half
dozen lady officials had a photograph
in her possession.
The local paper gives the reason for
the election of the ladies to positions
of trust in Oskaloosa as follows:
GAS is well known by the world at
large now, Oskaloosa elected Mary D.
Lowman mayor and Mrs. Morse, Mrs.
Balsley, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. johnson
and Mrs. Golden members Of the coun-
Gil at the election last Monday. The
action was taken in good faith, in the
belief that needed public improvements
would be pushed through better by the
ladies. Notoriety was not sought or
expected and very brief Associated
Press dispatch announced the result.
Then, suddenly, our lady officials found
themselves famous and the name of
our little city on everybody's lips. The
like had never before been done in the
wide world and kilograms, letters and
special reporters have deluged US, while
interviews and photographs are in
great demand.
Our good-looking and intelligent, but
retiring and modest, officials have been
sorely amazed and perplexed at the
turn OF affairs, but finally concluded 70
good-naturally bear the honors thrust
upon them and make the best of the
novel situation. Accordingly they took
the oath of Office yesterday and will
bravely assume the responsibilities
made doubly great by the fact that the
eyes of the whole county are upon
them.
The ladies have no light task before
them and they should have the utmost
encouragement and assistance from all
good citizens. We believe they will
demonstrate that they can wisely gov
ern the city and that we will have
something to show for their work at
the end Of the year.
A special to the Kansas City Times
says:
Strange to say, none of these lady
officials had ever been characterized as
an advocate of woman's suffrage. They
had always been quiet, retired mem
bers of six of the best households in
Oskaloosa, and the wives of six Of its
best citizens. The ticket was put in
the field just day before the election
and the name of one Of the candidates
was put on the morning of the election,
| one of the original nominees retiring
on the ground that her husband didn't
intend to be perpetually tending to the
baby and taking his meals at the hotel
while she was attending council meet
ings.
The nominations were not made by a
political caucus or primary. DR.. Balls
ley, republican, prepared the ticket
and circulated it among the business
men, who heartily supported it for the
reason that they wanted some needed
improvements which the previous ad.
ministration had failed to attend to
at first the ladies refused to run fol-
Office, but considerable persuasion OF
the part of their husbands finally pre-
vailed.
When the returns were all in and tn,
votes had been counted OSkaloosa wa!
treated to q genuine surprise, as thu
woman's ticket had been elected
entire. 1t was not known until {;
couple of days after that the council
had democratic majority, for Oska
loosa is strongly republican. AmonI
those who are surprised, none werI
more so than DR.. Balsley, who pre-
pared the ticket. He is a staunch re
publican, but found after the election
that Mrs. Balsley had placed hersel
on the democratic side. Miss Mollit
Johnson, a republican, married N. L
Critchfield, the democratic post
master, and Miss Caddie Critchfeld,
democrat, had married G. F. johnson
the republican chairman of the exc
cutive county committee, and Mrs
Critchfleld when she discovered tn
facts said she was sorry she had votes
for her Sister-in-law, Mrs. johnson, OF
account of political differences. Mrs
Balsly said that she couldn't 90 bacl
on the democratic party because he
husband was a republican, and Mrs
johnson said about the same thing.
If the mayor and city council canno
properly be called the city mothers o
OskaloOso, they are the mothers O
eight of its coming citizens. Mrs. Low
man, the mayor, has son and daugh
ter, each taller than herself. Mrs
Morse is the mother of one child. Mrs
Hamilton has three children, all yopn
and bright as new silver dollars. Mrs
Golden has two little girls.
Since coming into official position
the opinions of these ladies on certial
! political matters have been plainly eX
. pressed. Some of these expressions e
to show that the women officials of o.
kaloOsa intend to think differently froI
their husbands just as much as the
, please, and hold up their end of tn
family opinion in the council as well.
The ladies are religiously inclined q
follows: Mrs. Lowman, Presbyterian
Mrs. Morse, Methodist; Mrs. Hamilton
Methodist; Mrs. Balsley, Methodist
Mrs. Golden, Methodist, and Mr.
Johnson, Episcopalian.
BECAUSE a colored man on the re
publican ticket at Topeka was de