Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-11-05
MRS. E. K. HASKELL.
The Assistant Attorney General of Mon
tana on Business and Politics.

The Assistant Attorney General of Mon
tana on Business and Politics.
A question am often asked is how it
is that |, woman, can earn $40, 1000
fees when SO many Of my sex, who are
highly educated and energetic, are un-
able to earn living and are being sup
ported by others. People wonder if I
am not different from other women, if
my temperament and mentality are not
unusual do not think so. For the in
formation of these and others who may
take an interest in the career of a woman
who has made something of a success in
life will give some Of the outlines Of
my beginnings. AS a girl had an am
bition to acquire knowledge for its own
sake. Dissatisfied with the education
which I obtained in my country home,
l commenced the study Of Greek while
teaching a little country school up
among the hills Of New Hampshire. /
fitted for college under great disadvan-
tages, but was able finally to enter Bates
college at Lewiston, Me-, in 1880. 1
paid my way through that institution,
graduating with honor four years later,
with the degree of B. A.
However, the study and the work
necessary to secure the funds to pay the
expenses Of the course had broken down
my health, and was i'll with nervous
prostration for nearly year and half
Convinced that a knowledge of law
would be of great service to one in at
tending to ones own business affairs, /
borrowed awbooks and read them at first
with this end only in view. Gradually,
however, / became more and more abb
sorbed in the study, and having obtained
catalogues from the great law schools
took regular course of reading. My
funds failed me about this time, and
accepted position as professor Of rhet-
oric and elocution in an Iowa normal
college. Three years later came to
Helena, where / continued to teach. In
stead Of a vacation, spent my summer
in law Office, and that decided me in
selecting my career. Resigning my po-
sition, was soon able to pass my exam
ination and was admitted to the bar
Here arose an obstacle, however, which
taxed my best efforts to surmount.
Women were not allowed to practice,
and | introduced and worked for bill
which after great opposition was passed,
and was permitted to put up my sign
and appear in court as full fiedged at
torney at law. | was the first and am
the only woman lawyer in Montana.
I have been unusually successful in my
profession and have earned large fees.
Whether received the largest fee ever
paid a woman lawyer | do not know.
One was of $40, 900, and others were in
the form Of mining property the value Of
which cannot give, but which j. un
doubtedly very valuable. In politics,
while l have never sought Office, 1 have
received distinction. Four years ago
was nominated on the Populist ticket
for attorney general, and it was three
weeks after the election before it was
known which candidate had been sue
cessful. My successful opponent ap-
pointed me his assistant, and have
held the office ever since. The general
and l were married a little over year
ago. No such outcome Of the matter
was contemplated by either Of Us at the
time of my appointment, am sure.
This year l was elected a delegate
to the Populist convention at st. Louis,
being the first woman ever so honored
in Montana. / am also member Of the
national committee In answer to nu-
merous requests for advice on the sub
ject, will say that | think that the yo-
cation Of law is a good one for women
who are willing TO work early and late
in the interests of their clients, and who
will give attention to details, no matter
how unimportant they may seem to be.
a woman taking up the profession of
law should have a logical and reasoning
mind She should have good education
and should have already learned the in
dispensable lesson of how to concentrate
the entire mind force ON the work in
hand She should also possess good
share Of sound common sense.
With these qualifications woman
should succeed in law as well as man,
but when we think Of the great number
Of men who never attain success we
must not be surprised if women, bright
and clever though they may be, should
also fail. ELLA KNOWLES HASKELL