New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-20
WOMEN ~ WESTERN TOWNS.

Nothing would surprise the foreigner in search
OF local color In this country more than the way
in which women have taken to governing towns
in the West. Perhaps he would also be sur
prIsed at the successful way in which they do
II: bur that would be because he was for
eiCner: for Americans have come to take wom-
ans capacity for granted-so much so. indeed,
that the news about woman Mayors in Kansas
towns rarely gets more than two or three lines
in a METROPOLITAN paper Americans find it inn
possible to transport themselves back to the
time when such things would have created even
a ripple Of excitement. 1t Is admitted by every
body nowadays that woman in America can
have and do pretty much everything she wants.
1t is true the advocates OF woman suffrage would
be inclined TO deny@ahis so far as voting Is con-
ccrncd But, as Il matter Of fact she is already
entitled 10 vote for certain officers in several
Western States: and in Colorado she will be
entitled under the laws OF that State TO vote FOR
Presidential Electors next November. II she Is
not finally endowed with the right OF full suf-
frage In every state of the Union, it will be
simply because she herself does not want that
right.
But the general question OF woman suffrage
is rather far ahead just yet. and Its discussion
acute form In the mean while. the entrance OF
women In the field OF municipal government In
certain Western towns is an interesting and
picturesque fact. which would attract more no
tice II 1t were not taking place under our very
noses. so TO speak. year or so ago the eec-
ton OF a woman as Mayor OF n town in distant
NcwZeaand was n theme OF Interested com
mcnt by the American press generally. though
~ IN, .h
country had women rs Mayors. who, II they
did nothing especially worthy OF notice yet
acquitted themselves with credit At present
the two towns In which women seem 10 he SUI
prome are Decatur and Marcellus. both in the
State Of Michigan In the former town. which
has a population OF go, all the town offices
except that of dogcatchcr are filed by women.
and We suspect that II any woman had wanted
TO be- the official dogcatcher she would have got
the Office The leading physician Of the town
is woman: one of It's most popular pastors Is
a woman Two women conduct the principal
restaurant. The proprietor OF the largest dry
goods store X woman: one OF the best shoe
makers j. a woman and there are women paint
crs harness makers. florists and brokers. The
postmistrcss of the town Is also woman. II Is
almost needless 10 say that the women have
shut the saloons or thc Town, ana the only
things 10 drink are ginger beer and water.
In Marcellus the ascendancy OF woman Is even
greater. and II IL seriously proposed 10 change
the name OF the town to Marcclla, in recognition
Of the fact. Out OF II population OF loo two
thirds Of the church members are women. Five
OF the six schooltcac hcrs are women. Two mem
bcrs Of the Public School Board are women.
The undertaken OF the town Is woman. and
IL. Il.
adds with pardonabc pride The favoritc bar
Der Of the town IS n woman. and woman Is
the proprietor Of the leading hotel. But Ii Is
needless to go on with the record. About forty
women altogether are represented in profes
sional or business life. and they are doing their
work so well that everybody Is satisfied. They
have organized Twentieth Century Club, in
which they discuss still further advances for the
sex. and the probabilities are that they will soon
hold all the municipal offices in the town. with
the possible exception Of dogcatcher, which will
he given to some worthy man. In the mean
while however they are the power behind the
throne, and very little Is done in the town Of
which they do not approve.
As we have frequently pointed out. the new
woman" OF the newspaper funny men is
myth II such vulgar unscxed creature exists
at all, 1t is only as rare anomaly. The women
in these Western towns are not new women"
They have parted with none Of the virtues and
graces for which the world honors womanhood.
All that they have done is to prove that they
have much the same capacity for the active bust
ness OF life that men have. As municipal rulers
they may or may not prove to be as successful
as men. But at least their influence will be
on the side Of purity, honesty and morality.
And that OF itself is no small thing