New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-25

Nat Barnes 9 Pc
Frank Merst,tter ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. A2i9
Anna Potter Gnd).
This was the epil0eue OF unique political COMEDY
which Is now brought back TO memory orc"use 1.lo
of her claim that she was held up ana rooOeu
OF $1,000 in Kansas ely Kan. nut y lfW ga as"
all the comic-opera campaigns ever conducted none
have cqualled the ticket ana the hsht headed ny
Anna Potter as hev political name GVeS' Vi ME- III
The spring of 1898 saw the women of Kansas IA
that the results Of the municipal t.ecto''I nil2
the fate OF equal suffrage In that state. IN 49,.
the LEGISLATURE had granted to women INC rl5nl 10
vote in municipal elections. Attempts hdd Der
made by the advocates OF equal sIhrase 10 nav nav
tons hut the proposition had been defeated me
women were given to understand tnat II theS Toug
get out large 0: their own sex AT me si' 1ns
city elections there would be ch@nce ol ny ~
siature passing bill extending the FRANCHISE 10
Organize eroris were at once started for the
ana in We're Field in every town in The
Mrs. Lease. Mr.. Disgs and ether prominent worh-
f5 4, TIN P9e T to PT rSe s nnq sl up
Anna Potter. and in the bright lexicon OF women )
politics there is no such a candidate ior Mayor
OF Kansas city. Kan. Mrs. Potter oeHeyed III
being above all things original and so she did not
90 through the formality OF being nominated by a
convention She may have thought such pro
idea that the convention would prove tickle ana
ca5t IT'S compliments in another alrecllonl,, o..
ter showed a fund Of resource which would have
done credit % a grand sachem OF Tammany. She
made her own ticket and thoughtfully placed her
own name AZ the top of the list Mrs. Potter was
disposed to be generous. She did not are to oc-
OF her heart she selected candidates from the
other tickets and honored them py placing their
names below her own the ballots which were
dis .ributed under her direction
How lid / arrange IN independent ticket
said Ms Potter. IN answer 10 question "hlcn
was put to her on the day before election. April
Il JUS, fixed en- It's sort OF r mixed Sd
negroes. some women. ! didn't skip anybody
Popus,s on the ticket. for She did not believe in
playing any favorites Besides herself there were
TWO women. Mrs Josephine T. Green. candidate
for place on the School Board and Mrs. Sarah a.
KicharI. candidate for Councilwoman from the
women made any particular protest against hay
ing their names on Mrs. Potters ticket. but sub
threw. their full strength to. her ticket.
4 don't know anything about platforms. said
them. believe in running. the city government
S sak Ho 6sSF 59 hqns 0G4s IN
sentiments. am an independents II woman SUI
and throw bottles into the street, I'm agin IT,
When they asked me how l stood on saloons.
pamby sort. ! speak right out"
The desire Of Mrs. Potter to elevate the Mayors
office, and through it the cry government. did nor
with great favor in the eyes OF the women
Of her town and they began 70 make provisions for
7 Bradford Of the Equal Suffrage Association,
and Mrs Slusher. Superintendent OF Public schools.
were especially emphatic in the matter Tn
save II out openly that they would not support
why said Mrs Bradford. with indignation.
she has promised an office to every woman who
Will vote f0r her
Election Day Of that year particularly bright
and pleasant. Mrs. Potter was out early. The
chariot in which she proposed to ride to victory
ter, radiant in smiles and silk hat, occupied the
front and held the fiery steeds in check. on
the back seat was Mrs Potter, gowned In black
satin and with the look Of cOnquerOr in her
Behind the carriage, AS 1t went from one polling
place TO another. were two bands. Here again Mrs.
Potter had shown her impartiality. Once more she
had mixed EN- up One Of the bands was com
posed ~ ragged negro boys. II was known as
John Browns Band. The other made up Of
white men, OF particular race or party afiilia-
tons
As Mrs Potter went the rounds OF the polling
places she greeted with the most vocferOus
OF cheers. The enthusiasm which prevailed for her
seemed 10 be unprecedented in the history of Kan
sas City, Kan. Everywhere II was "Hurrah for
Mrs. Potter"
She had ordered forty thousand ballots printed at
her own expense. BY noon these ballots
haused. and fifteen thousand more were hastily or
dered Even this added supply soon gave out, and
II necessary TO send for an extra five thou
sand. II Potter landslide. Mrs Potter had
seen ii in the Stars.
"Of colrse / expect to be elected" she said at
noon. Il do nor know what my majority will be,
but / am now three thousand votes ahead"
At each ponc-place was a large delegation Of
women OF the Equal Suffrage Association. They
saw with what enthusiasm Mrs Potter was re-
ceved but they said nothing. They were content
10 await the outcome.
ter-in-iaw-dii hard days work and retired at
night with the consciousness Of a duty well per
formed. The work Of counting the ballots not
finished that night. The next day the result was
announced
Mrs Potter had received twenty five votes