Smyrna times., 1891-07-01
Woman's Work in Kiowa.

cultivatiOn.--Cecu Wing.
Woman's Work in Kiowa.
The Tribune has from time to time
tonnd pleasure in printing reports from
Kansas, showing the progress there in
placing women in municipal Offices.
In the majority of cases these accounts
have shown the success Of the expert
ment True, Mayor Whately, of West
ward, elOped with the chiefof the fire
department, leaving a husband and
several small children, but it could not
be shown that politics had anything to
do with it. Her successor, Miss Gard
Iner, has not eloped with anybody.
Indeed temptation has been removed
IN the direction Of the fire department
by the appointment of Mrs. Hannah
White as chief On the whole the
female administration at Westward
has been successful. The same thing
may be said Of Edgerton and James
town. Nothing had been heard from
until a day or two ago, when dispatch
es were received which seem to show
that women municipal officers were
doing their duty there also.
Mrs. Margaret Packson is mavor of
Kiowa. When she was elected in
April she found about dozen liouor
stores open IN violation of the law.
She waited few days, and then gave
the criminal prOprietors of these plac-
es, notice to close. In this move she
had the support of her fellow CITY Of
hcials, all of them with the execution
of the pound master, who has little
influence, being women. Indeed we
may say in passing that the pound
master would have been a woman too.
only that no member Of the sex could
be found in the city who was not afraid
of cows. But let US return to the lio-
uor saloOns-that is to say to the sub
lect of the liquor saloons. Thev did
not close up when Mayor Packson or
dered them to do so. She issued a
more vigorous order. 1t was seen that
she meant to enforce the law. OF
course the men of Kiowa rallied
around the liquor dealers. The patu-
raj bent of man is toward crime. as has
been freely maintained by many able
and prominent women for many wears.
The KiOwa liquor dealers circulated n
petition to be allowed to continue their
business. Nearly every man in town
signed 1t. Mr.. Packson, husband of
the mayor, was chosen to present the
petition. In choosing him the men
thought they had scored a strong
point. Packson himself expressed his
doubts, and the result showed he was
right. When he reached the CITY
Hall he found that the Kiowa Ladies'
Heathen Aid Society was in session
and that he would have to wait about
an hour, Mayor Packson being secre-
tary OF the society, and the meeting
being held in the Council Chamber.
The foolish Packson instead of wait
ing in the Hall, went to the nearest
beer store and drank several glasses OF
beer, so that when the latter was ad-
mitted TO the Council Chamber, the
Mayor instantly detected his breath
across the room Packson feeblv
tried to speak. "Your Honor" he
ventured, 81 hold in my hand-I-er-
may it please your -" Ladies'"
interrupted the mayor, 1--WE all know
this man and don't need to listen to
him. l don't know what he holds in
his hands now, but do know that he
has been holding glasses Of rum in
his hands, direct officer Hankins to
remove this fellow and prefer a charge
OF drunkenness against him." Officer
Hankins did as he was directed. and
took away the crushed and humiliated
Packson, while the Mayor prepared
another warning to The liquor dealers,
so vigorously worded that they be-
came frightened and closed up their
places of business. The price of real
estate is said to be going up in Kiowa,
and business is prospering.
Laws should be enforced and we
congratulate the peOple of Kiowa on
their choice of mayor. Under the
rule Of men, the prohibition law had
: always been a dead letter in Kiowa,
but it took the women only two months
to close up every liquor store in town.
More women in Office are needed.
And we must not forget that the wom-
, en- in Kiowa accomplished all this
while still enslaved by skirts. What
What may we not expect from them
after the first of next June, when, to-
gether with the other women of the
country they put ON trOVs9ys.--New