The Portland daily press., 1893-12-28
MRS. LEASE.
There is Actually Prospect That She May
He an United States Senator-Other
Phases of Kansas Politics.

Washington, December 27.-Mrs. Mary
e. Lease may join Mr.. PETER as Senator
from Kansas it the plans of the woman
suffra gists of the state come to happy
furition. A constitutional amendment
extending suffrage on all questions to
women, and making them eligible for
all public offices will be voted upon
shortly, and in the opinion of Jerry
Simpson of Medicine Lodge, is likely to
be ratified by the people. Mr.. Simpson
said recently that the entire Populist
party and nearly all the Republicans
appeared to be in favor of the amend
ment, and that the Democrats were
about its only opponents. AS the latter
ere IN hopeless minority, they are not
likely to be able to check the march of
fanale supremacy in Kansas.
Mr.. Simpson says that municipal
suffrage for women, which already pre-
walls In Kansas, has proved such a sue
cess that 1t is working in aid of the
broader suffrage which it is now pro-
posed to grant. Women have not only
voted and made admirable school trus-
tees, but a number have been elected
mayors of the thriving Kansas cities and
hufc EAOpCu CAtCIlSHb duIH luISUE t
officers. They have enforced the laws
fearlessly and impartially and showed
little patience with licensed evils.
Several of the cities over which they
have presided have been on the border
lines of the Indian territory, where a
large turbulent element have made
trouble for the police. This was notably
the case at Kiowa, where woman was
chosen at the last municipal election.
rIaftNt frf,,, ha 4
aHected to regard feminine government
as i1rst class joke, but when they found
themselves hauled up before the courts
and given thirty days in Jail. or various
longer or shorter terms, for disturbing
the peace, the practical side of the joke
became more palpable to their minds
than it's funny side and the city soon
became one of the most orderly on the
border. Kiowa was not an exception in
this respect and the women mayors are
likely to prove something more than a
temporary experiment in Kansas. "Then
women will be authorized to hold any
office just the same as mem" asked the
correspondent. "Oh, yes" replied Mr..
Simpson. There will be no distinction
of sex" "Then there is nothing to pre-
vent Mrs. Lease OF any other woman
Senator Hawley?" Nothing whatever.
if the legislature sees fit to elect them, y
was the reply.
Mr.. Simpson says that Senator ingalls,
is living quietly in his old home at
Atchison, writing newspaper letters and
studying. His friends do not believe,
however, that he enjoys this quiet ex-
istence, and they say that he is planning
to capture the Republican nomination
for governor at the next election, with a
view to making the Office a stepping
stone to the senatorship. He evidently
regrets his brilliant years in the United
States Senate and means to come back,
like Napoleon from Elba, if ne can again
fire the hearts of the Kansas Republi-
cans. Thus far the work of running him
for the governship has been going on
very quietly, but it has been planned
some degree of success in the Repu bill
can ranks, if not with the people at the
polls.