Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-23
woMEN AND eovERNMENT.

Those who contend that the influence Of
women should not be felt in the affairs
Of government could learn something by
reading the recent history Of New Or
leans.
In 1S99. when il was proposed TO issue
bonds for more than $14.O0O,0OO, to be used
in establishing an ample supply Of good
water and a thorough system of sewer
age for that city, women taxpayers were
permitted to vote. 1t would have been a
great wrong to forbid the ballot to the
owners Of about one-half Of the property
in the largest and richest city of the
south when the question Of a special tax
was to be passed upon.
And It was a mighty gooo thing that
the women property-holders Of New Or
leans were allowed to vote at that cleo
ton. AS a rule. they showed a much high
er appreciation of the important issue at
stake than did the men. In fact. the wo-
men OF New Orleans interested them
selves so actively in behalf of the special
water and sewerage bonds and used their
influence so effectively TO secure their
adoption that the success of this move
ment was everywhere recognized and her
aided as a victory of women and a demon
tration that she was capable of using the
ballot wisely and benehcently.
New Orleans owes the success of one
Of the greatest movements ever under
taken for her advancement in the ele-
ments. of public health and strength d.
rectly TO her women.
After winning this victory for good gov
eminent the women of New Orleans have
perceived with indignation that the money
voted for public improvements was likely
TO be placed in the control OF what they
consider an untrustworthy board.
They do not propose TO submit to such
imposition II they can possibly prevent 1t.
A very large number of women taxpay-
ers in New Orleans are already organized
and they propose to make their power felt
as they did at the bond election in 1929.
They have the Local Council Of Women,
the Era club. the woman's club and the
Council Of Jewish Women. all strong in
numbers. property influence and determi-
nation to stand by their rights.
As the New Orleans Picayune says
Now. when they learn that efforts are
being made to put the money which they
helped to secure for water and sewerage
into the hands of spoilsmen. when they
see that the magnificent gift of more than
sl4OOO.O 900 made by the property taxpayers,
for the public good. is I'm danger Of being
exploited by politicians, 1t is not strange
that the women of New Orleans have once
more become aroused to the necessity OF
doing something to save their sacred sew
erage and water fund from the hands OF
spoilsmen-'
Under the lead of the four powerful
women's clubs we have mentioned the wo-
men Of New Orleans. to an immense num-
Der, have signed a petition to the legisla-
ture, now in session at Baton Rouge, pro-
testing against the proposed change in
the water and sewerage board.
In their call for action of this character
the women who represent the various al
lied clubs that are making this fight say:
There are more women than men tax
payers in the city of New Orleans. 1t
was due to the work done by the Wo-
mans League for Sewerage and Drainage
that the tax of two mills was voted, there
fore IL becomes the moral duty OF every
woman, taxpayer or not, to be present to
protest against any change being written
into the bill as It originally stood"
Several of the leading New Orleans
newspapers are standing squarely by the
women in this conflict, and we venture the
prediction that they viii defeat the poll
ticians who are trying to misdirect the
water and sewer fund which owes its very
existence to the women of that city. They
seem sure TO win another splendid victory
for good government.
We shall hear more Of such things as
civilization progresses.
Woman as a practical and powerful fac
tor in government will have to be dealt
with more and more largely from this time
henceforward.