The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-05-14
PETTICOAT RULE.
WOMEN TO GOVERN A CITY FOR A
YEAR.
The Peculiar State of Affairs In Edgerton,
Karsas-The Triumph Of Petticoat Pol

4 The Peculiar State of Affairs In Edgerton
Karsas-The Triumph Of Pctticoat Pol
itics.
E 4 special from Kansas City, Mo.
says: Petticoat politics have triumph
ed at Edgerton, Kan, and during the
coming year the municipal affairs Of
that city will be administered by Q
petticoat government.
At the recent city elections there
the ladies carried the day. It wasn't
their fault that they did. They didn't
try to and they didn't want to, but
they carried the day just the same,
and now ind that they must shoul-
der the responsibilities OF the city
government. OF course they might
resign their Offices, but that would
be at total variance with the Kansas
custom. Besides, it would necessi-
tate the trouble and expense of q new
election, and that the women have
determined to avoid.
| They won't have very much to
govern. Edgerton is only a small
town, and its most enthusiastic
| boomer dare not claim for it more
than $50 inhabitants. It attained
| the distinction of becoming a city
only by virtue of the Kansas law,
which allows the smallest communi-
ties to incorporate cities Of the fourth
class, and to govern themselves by
the same methods as their larger SIS
ters. Edgerton is an old town, how
ever-that is, in State where moth
ing dates back further than John
Brown 'sresidence there, the Quantrel
raid. and the border wars. 1t occu-
pies picturesque location IN the
southwest corner Of johnson county,
on the Southern Kansas Railway. 1t
is quaint and typical village OF the
plain. The prohibition law has done
| away with the saloon, and the ab-
sence of the saloon has in turn done
| away with q great deal of the village
| drunkenness and rowdyism. The
ladies won't have much to govern.
It came about in this way. A year
ago the candidates for Mayor were
Nathan Ross and H. B. Brown. Mr..
Ross is the village school teacher,
and being man OF considerable tact
and some personal attractiveness,
made very popular candidate. Mr..
Brown was grain dealer and pro-
prietor OF q lumber yard. He, too,
was popular, and the fight at the
polls was close one. The reglstra-
ton list contained only ABOUT 1875
lanes, and the count was kept even
with the balloting. It was q neck
and neck race, and when the hour
approached for closing the polls
Brown had lead of three votes. Ross
had polled every vote he could COM
mand, and defeat stared him In the
face. His pedagogic mind was fer
tile in political resources None OF
the women had voted. Why not
bring his friends among the women
to the polls7 The plan was executed
Immediately upon its conception, and
MIR. Ross sought out eight women,
mothers of his fagorlte pupils, took
them to the polls and they cast their
ballots for him.
This coup d'etat brought conster-
nation into the camp Of the enemy.
The only way to fight his opponent
was with his opponents own weapon.
He pressed his friends into his ser
vice and they secured the town for
women who would vote for Brown.
Finally nine of them were found and
taken to the voting place. Too late:
The polls had closed. The school
teacher had been elected Mayor.
Browns failure at the polls rank
led in his breast. He treasured up
his defeat and planned the revenge
that he would visit upon the women,
the cause of his misfortune.
When election time came around
again the poiticalissue in the village
was the Sunday closing question.
Peter Doran, ex-Mayor, declared him
self ir favor Of the open restaurant;
A meeting Of his friends was called
and he was nominated at the head Of
city ticket on personal liberty,
anti-blue law platform.
All went well for Doran until few
days before the election. Then came
Browns opportunity for revenge
both upon Doran, who had been
Ross man, and the women who had
obstructed his ascent of the political
ladder, He would defeat Doran by
running woman ticket against him,
and at the same time humiliate the
ladies and heap lidicule upon them by
| placing at the foot of the ticket the
| name of I. H. Strong for the City
| Council.
Now. Strong was the Micawber OF
the town. the corner grocery whit
tier and dry goods box story teller.
He was ignored by most of the men
| and scorned by all the women By
electing him, the only man on the
woman ticket, the ladies would be
humiliated nightly.
Brown matured his plan, announc-
ed his candidates, and printed his
tickets. At the head Of the ticket he
placed the name of Mrs. ". H. hel-
| ", the wife of the City Clerk, who
had been appointed to the place by
his foe. Nat Ross. For Judge OF the
Police Court be named Mrs. 1. ).
| Greer, who had voted for Ross at the
former election. In the list OF
the prospective Council ne
.,1.,oo1 ~. ,o,rac of Nrs. ". 5.
| Ewart, Mrs. Nat Ross, Mrs }. Stew
art. and the latters daug ghter, Mrs. Il:
| 6. Holden, all OF whom had assisted
Ross to the dayoralty. At the bot
tom of the ticket he plac-
ed the name of Micawber Strong.
The women were scaadalized and
indignant. but still, not fearing cleo
ton, took no great interest IN the
campaign. The political enemies OF
Brown, however, desmous OF seeing
| he ,a4oDra foil Of itS objects issued