Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-11-25
BROUGHT 1T ON HIMSELF.


Mr. m Responsible For His Wife Be-
coming a Politician of National Renown.
Those who have been lavishing
their sympathy upon poor" Mr..
Lease, the husband of the "un-
crowned Kansas queen" should re-
call it at once. Mr.. Lease does not
deserve any sympathy. He brought
all the trouble on himself. There
was time when he was master of
his own house, but he voluntarily
stepped aside and permitted the
mantle to rall on his talkative wife.
AT one time he actually had the
temerity to stand up and boldly defy
his better half. Not only this, but
he screwed up enough courage to
promulgate an order compelling his
wife to forsake the washtub and
kitchen and enter politics, and,
what's more, he enforced the order.
Whether OF not he is sorry he issued
the imperial ukase only he can tell,
and he won't.
Mrs. Lease entered politics in 1890,
and she did so at the solicitation of
her husband. Prior to that time
she was an ordinary housekeeper.
She could do as big a day S washing
as any woman, could cook fairly
we'll and keep her little home neat.
While doing this she found spare
time to post up on reform move
ments, in which she had always
taken a natural interest. In 1890
the Farmers Alliance sprang into
existence, and there she saw an OPP
portunity. She pleaded with her
husband to join the movement and
develop himself into a politician.
She told him that it was his chance
to make a ten strike. But Mr..
Lease was not of political tu1n of
mind.
Mary, you know that l am no
politician; never could make one;
could not make a speech to save my
life. It's no use for me to Try it,"
Mrs. Lease insisted, but he stood
firm.
Then, mindful of the perfect ease
with which she could ratio it off to
the kids around the house and occa-
sionally to him as we'll, an idea
seized him. why can't you branch
out as politician yourself" he
said. "You are glib talker, have
studied the thing some and take an
interest in politics.
Mrs. Lease had never thought of
entering politics before. Her mind
was on the welfare of her family
and home. She took the matter I'M
der Amusement, and in the mean
time her husband kept insisting.
Finally she consented to try it,
but how she was to get start was
the question. She had never made
speech, and no politician had ever
heard of her. How, when and
where to get the first speech off was
the puzzle. Finally a neighbor,
Dixon, was taken into the deal, and
he arranged it so that Mrs. Lease
could appear before the next Farm
ers' Alliance county convention and
make a talk. That was in the sum
mer of 1890. She was there on the
appointed day, and when all other
business of the convention had been
fpicbo1 hi oo11o1 -, No., ,.,e,e>
to make speech. 1t didn't take
any committee to escort her to the
platform. AS soon as her name
was mentioned, she rose and made
bee line to the stage SO as to got
the ear of the delegates before they
started out. Her maiden speech,
they say, was stemwinder. She
captured the entire outfit by her
eloquence. She was the sensation
of the hour. From all over Sedg-
wick county came demands for her
to speak, and she was kept busy for
several weeks filling those engage
ments. Her light could not be hid
den under bushel. Adjoining
counties heard of her and before
that campaign was over Mrs. Lease
was the best advertised politician
in Kansas.
Her fame spread like wildtire
throughout the country, and she
was in great demand. Mrs. Lease,
when she had broken into politics,
did not forget Dixon. When Il men,
Der of the state board of charities she
had him appointed steward of the
Olathe asyMm.-Kansas City Jour.
nal
Royalty Incog.