The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-04-20
UNDER PETTICUAT RULE.
A TOWN WHERE WOMEN HOLD THE
REISS OF GOVERNMENT.
They Doomed the Town, Paid on the
Debt, Enforced the Sunday Laws,
Reformed the Tough Boys and
Even Stopped Tobacco
Chewing on the
Streets.

Chewing on the
Streets.
TUSCALOOSA, KAN, April IA
year ago this pretty little prairie
hamlet set the country agog by in
augurating petticoat municipal
government. Such thing had new
err been dreamed of except by few
sour old maids who. failing to catch
a husband, tried to complete the
Indebtedness Of their existence by
forcing their sex into trousers. That
the ideas of these spinsters would
ever take serious form did not oc-
cur to anyone until the Legislature
of Kansas apparently made itself
laughingstock by passing bill
that gave to women the right not
only to vote but to hold municipal
offices as well, and Oskaloosa simply
gave the world fercible interpre-
tation of the suffrage act by electing
a female Mayor and council entire
ly composed of women. The press
poked all manner of fun at the town,
the illustrated papers circulated it,
and men who hate to see a woman
do anything more than scour pots
and pans and fry beefsteak predict
ed that Oskaloosa would go the dogs.
But the people against whom the
shafts of satire were turned rather
enjoyed the notoriety that was so
unexpectedly thrust upon them, for
they realized that their poky little
village was being lifted out OF the
mire of obscurity, aud advertised far'I
and wide. They were thoroughly in
earnest when they upset all munich
pal precedents, and voluntarily sub
jected themselves to petticoat rule,
and now that they have tried it for
year and the experiment has prov
en- such a success, many of them
have nude up their minds to perpet-
uate the administration That it
has been success, more than two
thirds of the business men are ready
to testify, and they point with pride
to the prosperous condition of trade,
the increased population and strik-
ing public improvements, all Of
which have come to them under the
administration of these city moth
ers." Never in its history has the
town known such flood-tide of
prosperity, and, to use the argument
of Mr.. j. N. Insley, cashier of the
State Bank of Oskaloosa, no better
proof is needed than the fact that
for the first time since the war the
town is out of debt, there is not a
vacant house within the corporate
limits, more real estate transfers
have been recorded during the last
six months than during the preced-
ing six years, property has advanced
fully so per cent. in value, new
buildings are being put up, and for
IL months there has been but one
person in the town arrested for any
offense, and that was for Shaping
another mans face.
AS soon as they were elected, with
out any flourish Of trumpets, the
Mayor and council began their Off
cial duties. That they have dis
charged them without fear or favor
is clearly manifested in the fact that
they have made enemies as well as
friends. Many obstacles confronted
them in the beginning, the most
perplexing of which was that the
town was in debt and there was only
So cents in the treasury. Another
obstacle was that the marshal would
not enforce the ordinances, but that
was overcome when Mayor Lowan
promptly removed him and appoint
ed man upon whom she could rely.
Then began such crusade as
never before had been known.
1t was found that the ordinance
relating to Sunday closing was not
observed. Out went an order to the
marshal to arrest any merchant who
was caught selling goods Sunday.
The hotels, livery stables and barber
shops alone were permitted foreman
open, and druggists were allowed to
sell medicines. The sale of cigars
and tobacco on Sunday was entirely
prohibited. The proprietor of a
bakery and ice cream saloon asked
permission to keep open but it was
refused. Consequently the Sabbath
is now rigidly observed in Oska-
loosa.
| Then the Mayor and Council
turned their attention to bad boys
For years the young toughs of the
place had been allowed to loaf about
the streets at night and they had
cut up all sorts Of capers, such as
moving signs from one place to an
other and rolling grindstones from
in front of hardware stores to pri-
vate residences. A proclamation
was issued commanding all boys I'M
der Is years of age to be off the
streets at o'clock in the evening
under penalty of arrest. Since then
one cannot find boy after that hour
with search warrant.
The ladies were greatly exercised
over the subject Of tobacco chewing
and looked carefully through the
statutes for an ordinance that could
be used to stop men from squirting
tobacco juice on the Sidewalks
They failed to find one, but some of
the ladies were of the opinion that
the ordinance relating to public in
decencies would cover the nasty nui-
sance. They asked the City Attor-
ney what he thought about it, and
he told them that tobacco chewing
was personal liberty and beyond
the reach Of municipal legislation.
The ladies we're somewhat disap-
pointed, but did the next best thing
they could, and that was to person
! ally request every tobacco-chewer in
town not to expectorate on the side
walks. This had just as much, if
not more, effect than an ordinance
would, for the men are so respectful
of the wishes of their female guard
. Id. =