The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-15
NEW WOMAN'S
NEW WANT
Mary A. Philbrook Wants
to Be Spencer WeaTt's
Side Partner.
MAYOR WANsER BUTToNHoLED
The 'Lady Lawyer Needs a Job
and a Salary to Keep Her
Before the Public.
MAYOR WANsER BUTToNHoLED

Mayor Wanser was sitting in his office
yesterday Illuminating over city business
when his private secretary John Nevin
ushered in demure young woman with
black hair. black eyes. dressed in black
dress and carrying black satchel. The
Mayor rose and courteously returned the
deep curtsey of the young woman
Be seated, madame he said, draw
ing a chair towards his visitor who lifted
up her veil, fixed her hat on straight, took
on her gloves and then in meek little
,.oh, if you please. Mr.. Mayor, I am
Miss Mary A. Philbrook, the woman law
yer here she paused to watch the
Mayor merely inclined his head Then
after a slight cough she continued
know that by a recent act of the
is empowered to appoint three law Off
GERS to look after the city's interests .
The Mayor inclined his head a second
time, and Miss Philbrook gaining a little
more confidence drew her chair nearer
to the Chief Magistrate of Jersey City
and resumed her speech
Now, Mr.. Mayor, I am a woman" and
his Honor admitted the soft impeachment
with another nod, "and 1 think it is time
that the women should be represented in
the city. department" There was long
some of the old women in offices at the
present time, but from motives of deli
cacy he refrained from mentioning them.
Still more encouraged at his silence,
which she construed as assent to these
propositions, Miss Philbrook continued:
"As 1 am the only lady lawyer in Jer-
Sey City, or in Hudson County for the
matter of that, think it would be a COM
pliment to the ladies of Jersey City, Mr.
Mayor, if you would appoint me assist
ant corporation attorney, which position
is now vacant
The Mayor gasped and for a moment
thought his visitor was joking. but that
looked the Mayor straight in the eye.
You see" she continued, "a woman has
just as much right to the position as a
man. man These men think they own every
vacant 1t must in their opinion belong
to man. That's all wrong, Mr.. Mayor
# some women had been appointed on
the City Hall Commission, I mean real
women, not men-women, it wouldn't have
become a monstrosity, as it is. If a wo-
man had been selected for City Clerk we
would have had no display of bumptious-
ness and general asininity. And so with
many other positions in the City Hall,
now filled by men who are utterly iHcom-
petent''
The Mayor began to think that there
was both rhyme and reason in this line
OF argument, but he kept quiet. Pausing
adjust her back hair. which threatened
to come down on her fair shoulders Miss
Philbrook continued
Sentiment Il have another. deaT M
Mayor. | am just beginning to practice
law, and. of course, am extremely anx-
ious to build UP good business If you
appointed me assistant corporation attor-
ney why 1t would give me notoriety, and
that's what lawyer wants, at least I am
told So Besides, it would enable me to
gain an insight into municipal law and
be stepping stone to rise to higher
things. My aim is to reach the Bench
and you can help me. Now, please MIR
Mayor; won't you consider my request
favorably2"
= am afraid, Miss Philbrook. that"
Oh, Mr.. Mayor, please don't be afraid
ingly. Is
7 mean that my mind
-.sMr. Mayor. never mind about that.
It is a question of right
Never in the Mayors experience was he
more embarrassed. A thousand cranky
citizens meetings ON the water specifica-
twisted in. his chair, looked at his watch
thought of turning his visitor over to his
diplomatic secretary, and any scheme in
fact to evade offending a representative
OF the genus new woman by a refusal
Finally, he in a very polite way told his
visitor tnat while 1t was true the law al
lowed him to appoint an additional law
able so. to do.
I'm the future I may determine to
change my views on that matter when T
Will acQuaint you of that fact'' said the
Mayor, but in the meantime it is not
wise to make any change" and the
Mayor rose as a slight hint that the in
terview was at an end
Miss Philbrook gracefully thanked his
Honor for his attention and left the City
Hall. -