The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-07

Very often in the OskalOCsa election hus-
bands and wives came together and voted
the same ticket, but there was number Of
instances wherein the two heads of families
stood apart; always without any unhappy
effect on their domestic relations. l heard
of wives who voted the me1's ticket, while
their husbands supported the women can
dldates. The sexual line was not drawn,
for 1t Is estimated that in spite of the NC
cess of the women's ticket half the women
who voted threw their ballots for the men.
Social Jealousy and notion that the women
in office were foolishly making talk about
themselves were the motives generally as
crlbed to such voters.
was taken to
THE MAYORS oFEICE
to see the interesting chief magistrate of
this interesting little town. Mavor Low
mans husband, l had been told, was
crippled soldier, who did a small real es-
tate business, while his wife acted as assist
ant to the register of deeds. Her husband
was once the register, and it was during his
term that she learned the work Of the office.
When we visited the registers office there
was no woman to be seen, bnt man with a
pleasant, intelligent face and only one arm
was seated at desk writing in a big book.
| asked: rs the mayor herai'
"No" he answered. 'She's at home to-
day. Pm her husband and doing her work;
can do anything for your
l told him that l would like very
much to meet the mayor herself be-
fore | left town, whereupon he
kindly directed me to her home. This is
pretty little cottage on the edge of the
town. There is a weIl-tended garden be-
hind it and In front is as clean Powered lawn.
AS rang the bell the report of carpet
beating came from the ell of the house.
After minute woman of medium hight.
50 years of age, slightly silvered hair, and
with a face lighted by native intelligence,
sharpened by an honest keenuess and gently
lined by earnest ness and decision, opened
the door and babe me good morning.
[ asked if tae mayor was at home, and
the answer was, 81 am she."
After the introduction had been made
mutual l was welcomed into honeiike sit
ting room, with its flower pots, sewing ma
chine and workbasket.
"Y GU must excuse my appearance" the
mayor said. slowly and precisely, in a warm,
natural tone. She was born in Pennsylva-
MIA, and is, though two centuries removed
from Scotland very Scottish still. Mani
testify the fundamental trait in her is that
sort of calm patience that is succeeded in
due time by persistence equally calm.
There was little to excuse in
HER APPEARANCE,
for she looked as we'll as housewife could
who had come, as she explained, immedi-
ately from her "parlor cleaning"
Mrs. Lowman said that she had never
taken any part in politics until the mayor
atty was thrust upon her, although she had
always followed the political discussions in
the newspapers. The only attention that
she had ever given to political affairs was
to feel sorry that OskaloOsa was so carelessly
governed in respect to the streets and side
walks and nuisances. There had not been
any liquor selling that she knew of since the
state adopted prohibition. When she was
elected mayor she regarded it In the light of
simple duty to assume the responsibility
and do the best she could. She had never
thought of woman suffrage until her Off
cial life began, and she did not know of a
woman suffragist in Oskaloosa before that
time. Now, however, she and the alder
men and good many others of both sexes,
were convinced that if the suffrage were
extended to women in the broader politics
Of the state and nation, not as a privilege,
but as a duty, it would no be long until
her sisters accepted it and contributed to
the aft iirs of government the benefit of
their love of peace and morality.
The mayor confessed that she and her
sisters in the city government had not found
themselves abe to do all that ought to be
done, but she felt that no money had been
wasted, and that the town was better off.
The taxes were less than $500 year. she
could not remember exactly the sum; and
there were no debts.
But Mrs. Lowman thought that an i'm
portant improvement which had been eff
tected was the doing away with wrangiing,
and the prevalence in city affairs of more
general harmony than Oskaloosa had been
used to enjoy. There we're some differences
of course, but the aldermen had been unani-
nous in every vote save one. No frivolous
and meddlesome actions had been taken,
and she was sorry TO see the newspapers
printing such jbs as that in which it was
said that, for the protection of red-headed
women, white horses had been banshed
from the streets of OSkaloosa, and another
in which 1t was asserted that the men had
been forbidden to spit on the sidewalks.
Speaking of the sessions of the board of
aldermen, over which she presided,
THE MAYOR SAID
that the old custom had been to address the
chair as "Mr. President but now the al
dermen simply said, "Y our Honor" Mrs.
Lowman believed that, so little remaining
to interest them in the affairs of the town,
the women would become somewhat indif-
ferent, and, in another year the men
would again possess the government She
would not be sorry, for there was no reason
why the women should always be in power :;
bueS udu dlT6dQV uOU6 enough 10 prove
that they could be trusted whenever a
change was needed.
The exception which the mayor noted to
the unanimity prevailing in the board of
aldermen was made. afterward heard. by
Mrs. Carrie johnson. Mrs. johnson was
an alderman in the first year of the
women's reign and the youngest member of
the board, being only % years of age
When the proposition came before the board
TO make Alderman Johnson's rich father Law
a sidewalk around vacant corner lot,
she not only opposed it, but when defeated
she left the board and never came again
This is the story as it was told to me.
The marshal, street commissioner, treas
urer and clerk were chosen by the
mayor and aldermen, and they are all men.
The police magistrate was the only man on
the wonan's ticket. He has had only one
case since he took the office year and a
halfago..
The Jail, by the way, had only two prison
ers IN 1T when | was in Oskaloosa. and they
were free lovers, who had been arrested in
the neighboring town of Valley Falls, where
there IS very small community of cranks
surrounding the radical editor of paper
called the Lucifer
There are four other Kansas towns where
wose hold offices. In Cottonwood Falls
the bad citizens Knocked the scolding editor
of local paper by nominating his wife for
mayor. The people elected her, and heard
hAf CE IL