Huntsville gazette., 1890-06-14
IN NOMAN'S BEHALF.
A NOBLE EXAMPLE.

Women In Municipal Omces-How They
Brought Order Out of Choas In an Iowa
Town.
p 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 coadiutors 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-
plished in accordance with, the impair
tial spirit of justice by which they have
been influenced 1855 ts-e ~
They did not want the places that had
been thrust upon them. They retired
just as soon as they could, having re-
manned 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 1,0O0,-
900 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 it's
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.
date, hints that the women of Chicago
may go and do likewise.
In many households it is the province
of the women to ''pick up" after the
mon, 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 at
it, not grumblingly nor unwillingly, for
such service is pleasure to perform for
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
teIition, with difference, and they are
looking appealingly and not vainly to
their disfranchised citizens, believing
that they will come to the rescue.
There are aldermen, and health Off
GERS and street commissioners, but it is
not they who are effecting reforms, i'm
proving sanitary conditions and labor
ing to secure order and cleanliness. 1t
is the women of clubs, women of the
churches, or women as individuals who
are doing the political picking up
after their brethren who are holding the
Offices and drawing the salaries.
This is not written in spirit of accu-
sation or condemnation, but in hope and
encouragement. The women of Oska-
loosa have done more than set to rights
the disordered affairs of their own viii
lage. They have been a splendid ex-
ample. They are not exceptions; such
women, everywhere, are indigenous to
American soil. Men who can do nothing
of avail against existing evils will
breathe more freely: they will take
courage, for they know that help will be
vouchsafed, and without that sacrifice
of home and family which was so dole
fully prophesied. Women have learned
what they can do in municipal positions,
and have taught the men. AS to the
latter, it must be said of them in iustifi
cation that they are dubious and conser-
vativc. but when a won an proved salts
factorilv that she can do thing, they
generally let her, and help her besides
all they can. The fraternal relations,
therefore, between the sexes are likely
to be strengthened and broadened under
the new dispensation.
CRUELTY OF THE LAW.