New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-04
WOuANS REIGN At WESTWARD.

While the attention OF the country Is cohceh-
trated on foreign complications domestic troubles
are ant to pass unnoticed. But we should fall OF
orr duty TO the public were we to pass over with
ont, mention the serious situation at Westward
Konsas o. full account of which is brought US
by recent Kansas paper
Westward, it seems, was one OF inc toWhs wlion
elected q full set of women officers III WILL De
remembered that EdgertOn and one or Uwo oCler
places did the same thing. Nor Will the trouble
be forgotten which developed at Edgerton over the
refusal of the female board of aldermen TO repair
the sidewalks, until finally Mr.. Seeley, husband OF
Commissioner of Public Works Seeley, and presi-
dent of the Edgerton Prohibition Club, fell through
q hole in n cross-walI and broke his neck. The
Fdperton complication was deeply regretted by all
friends of woman suffrage in Kansas. but the
women believed that they were standing for q
great principle, namely. that men must come nome
sober il they do not wish to break their worthless
neclIs and they refused to recede from theH
nosition on the sidewalk question. The trouble
at Westward is of an entirely different nature, ana
pcrhaps less serious 1t began with an ordinance
prohibiting the running at large of COWS. lheSe
animals were denounced as dangerous anu uu-
welcome brutes," and heavy me was at'acneu
to the offence of suffering COW to appear Oh the
streets with confiscatiOn of the animal ana iii
orisonr,ont NJ the owner for the third offence.
THE naturally irritated cow-Owners and gave the
enemies of the city administration chance 1or
criticism They openly charged that the couhcil
had in consideration resolution Offering reward
Of ten cents each for mouse scaps. but there no
evidence that anything of the klnd was
ever contemplated. month after the passage OF
the COW ordinance n great scandal was produced
by what is described as O "wordy and fearful en-
counter" between Alderman Mckeon. OF the lhlrd
Ward. and City Treasurer Bartrom. in the Council
Chamber. 1t appears that the alderman had been
spreading the report about the city hall that the
treasurer false hair and that the treasurer had
been reaatng by freely charging in both political
and social circles that the alderman's baby had
sauinty eyes. At the meeting. which was ex-
ceedingly stormy, they almost came to halr-pul-
ing. Indeed, the encounter would have probably
been really serious had Sot Mayor Whately called
the Thursday Afternoon Sewing Society. which
meets in the Council Chamber. to order. and the
alderman and treasurer being active members they
took their seats and became calm. This scene
caused the Opposition again TO begin violent
criticism. but nothing was made out OF IT, III
was charged that the members of the City Council
in voting themselves stationery. had decided that
the term could be made to include face-powder
and bon-bons. but this. like the mouse reward
charge was readily dsproved, though it was not
clearly established that Controller CosgrOve did
not habitualy the city gas in her office to heat
her curling-iron in fixing up her front hair before
going home at night. These were. however,
minor points compared with the latest develop
ment. which is that Mayor Whately has eloped
with the chief of the fire department, man named
Ruggles who was appointed TO the place by the
Mayor herself. in direct opposition to the rest of
the city officers, who wished to see Miss Gardiner,
of the Second Ward. get the place The Mayor
leaves behind o husband. who was strongly OPP
posed TO the election of the feminine ticket it is
said II the Mayor docs not come back it is pro-
posed TO run her husband for the Office though the
friends of Miss Gardiner are again putting her
forward
The Tribune is sorry TO hear of this trouble
at Westward, coming as it does after the difficulty
at Edgerton We have always held that the ladies
in Kansas were fully able to manage municipal
business especially in the smaller towns, and it is
extremely unfortunate that affairs should have
fallen out as they have in these two places. 1t
proves nothing. however. against the fitness of the
women of Kansas to enter politics and to hold
office Minor difficulties were not unexpected at
first Indeed the only serious point in the trouble
az Westward seems TO be the clipping Of the Mayor,
and here the observing reader will notice that
man was implicated as much as the Mayor. With
Miss Gardiner as fire chief nothing of the kind
could have occurred little experience is all
that is needed to make municipal suffrage for
woman success in Kansas