Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-06-19
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
A NOBLE EXAMPLE.

Women IN Municipal Onlces-How They
Drought Order Out of Choas In an Iowa
Town.
When women were elected to fill the
town offices in Oskaloosa, Iowa, it was
partly as joke and partly as a last resort
says writer in the Chicago Inter Ocean.
1t was impossible to have the laws and
ordinances enforced, the men being
hampered in the impartial discharge of
their duty by promises to cons titutents
or their desire to conciliate them.
The town was withoutproperly graded
streets or sidewalks, and other common
necessaries to which taxes are usually
applied. So the women were nominated,
elected and served. No word has gone
forth from Oskaloosa of neglected chill
dren, forsaken husbands and deserted
homes. From domestic point of view
Oskaloosa is like that happiest of all
countries, one that has no history.
But word has gone abroad of the i'm
provements wrought by the woman
mayor and her coadjutors in the common
council. They have left everywhere
substantial evidences of their capable
and energetic rule. Where there were
tracks and paths year ago are solid
walks. The laws in regard to the sale
of liquor have been enforced to
the letter, and other things were accom-
plishcd in accordance with the impair
tial spirit of justice by which they have
been influenced
They did not want the places that had
been thrust upon them. They retired
just as soon as they could, having re-
NAMED in Office only long enough to
show their husbands and fathers and
brothers their duty and to do it.
Other towns, neglected and misgov-
erned, have taken heart of grace and
have sought and found the same relief.
Recently the public was edited by the
mayor of Chicago-a city of over 1,0OO,-
600 inhabitants, with many citizens
worth millions upon millions-''grate-
fully" accepting from woman the only
free ambulance which it possesses. A
prominent newspaper, for years one of
the most rabid opponents of any thing
savoring of women's rights, called the
attention of the women of Chicago to the
improvement which the women of New
York had effected in the condition of its
streets. The same converted newspa-
| per-one in whose columns, until re-
Gently, the name of Mary A. Livermore
has been suppressed by editorial man.
| or hinto hoi nr
may go and do likewise
In many households it is the province
of the women to 'pick up" after the
men, to hang up the hat tossed on the
table, to put away the gloves carelessly
dropped on the SOFA Thousands OF
mothers and sisters spend their lives al
1t, not grumblingly nor unwillingly, for
such service is n pleasure to perform fol
those whom they love. But it shows
the sameness of human nature, yester
day, to-day and forever. The citizens
entitled to cast ballots need the same at
tention, with difference, and they are
looking appealingly and not vainly tc
their disfranchised citizens, believing
that they will come to the rescue.
There are aldermen, and health off
GERS and street commissioners, but it i.
not they who are effecting reforms, i'm
proving sanitary conditions and labor
ing to secure order and cleanliness. L
is the women of clubs, women of thu
are doing the political picking up
after their brethren who are holding tn,
Offices and drawing the salaries.
This is not written in spirit of accu
sation or condemnation, but in hope an(
encouragement. The women of Oska
loosa have done more than set to right
the disordered affairs of their own vii
lage. They have been splendid ex
ample. They are not exceptions; sucl
women, everywhere, are Indigenous t,
American soil. Men who can do nothing
of avail against existing evils vii
breathe more freely; they will TAX
courage, for they know that help will b.
vouchsafed, and without that sacrifice
OF home and family which was so dole
fully prophesied. Women have learne,
what they can do in municipal positions
and have taught the men. as to tn
latter, it must be said OF them in justifi
cation that they are dubious and conser
vative, but when a WON an proved salts
factorily that she can do thing, the
generally let her, and help her beside
all they can. The fraternal relations
therefore, between the sexes are likel
to be strengthened and broadened unde
the new dispensation.