Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-01

woman. She has none of the mascu-
line traits that we have become ac-
customed to expect in woman poll
tician. Rather queer how we get such
impressions-the reputation of Carrie
Nation has not only tinged our idea
of the woman in reform but in politics
and all forms of public life. But the
first impression one has of Mrs Alice
Ruble of Denver is different from all
this; simple in manner, feminine and
plant, one wonders if many like her
in politics would not go far toward
bringing about the Utopia we all hope
Tor some day.
You have such Il beautiful country
here" were Mrs Ruble's first words as
she motioned the reporter to an easy chair
and gathered up the cards with which she
and a child had been playing. 81 suppose
YOU get tired of all plains. They are rest
full to me after the hills around Denver
Her face is young and full of the zcst
of life and bellies her silver hair. She is
quick to make one feel ut home and leads
1.-THE conversation unobtrusivcly. giving you
the impression that you have said some of
the brilliant things yourself-but after you
have had time to think II over you know
better.
Yes, my daughter and l have been visit
ing my cousin, DR.. Spicer. for a week. We
go to Chicago next week and then to Kan
sas on a farm. before we return to Den
yer. 1t has been thirty years since ! have
been on farm.
Mrs. Ruble leaves herself out of the CON
versation until the interviewer" recalls
the subject and then she talks unassuming-
ly and simply about herself.
'.Do you feel at home in the legislature"
Perfectly at home The men are always
perfectly courteous and I never feel out
of my element. No, ! have no trouble in
getting the attention of the house,
Yes she said in answer to another.
81 conducted my own campaign. We would
have small parlor gatherings throughout
the city and make short speeches on the
questions at Issue. No: there were not
usually many men out; the women always
predominated"
..And the newspapers. did they attack
YOU as papers usually do man who runs
for Officer"
they were always courteous. met with
no opposition at all on account of being Il
woman. This is the first year for some
time that Colorado has had only one wom-
an in the house of representatives, there
are usually two or three.
Asked If she thought the suffrage would
become general. Mrs. Ruhe replied: Il
Cll0K III IliIe II III Dt iittOuuCcu lHtO
some. perhaps many of the states. One of
my friends in Massachusetts thinks that
state will have the suffrage in Il few years
at the least"
Mrs. Ruble nominated Senator Henry NJ.
Teller for the United States legislature.
the first time that woman has ever nom
mated a national senator. Mrs. Ruble was
formerly silver republican but exercised
her privilege of changing her mind at the
that Senator Tp1lpr became
democrat.
BRYAN hasn't much of a chance in Col
orado'' she said in answer to Il question.
"He isn't ready vet for the presidency. or
rather the country isn't ready to have him
as it's president. l think Roosevelt will
carry the state; he has made many friends
in Colorado the several times that he has
been in the state of late. He is strong
man and will he reelected"
Mrs. Ruble was very much surprised that
women as county superintendent are al
most unknown in Iowa. why, thought
the women filled those positions almost ev-
erywhere In Colorado the position OF
county superintendent Is recognized as a
woman,s place Mrs. Grinfell has been our
state superintendent OF instruction ioi
eight years"
Questioned about the work she had done
in the regular session of the Legislature
last January and the called session later,
she said, 81 introduced four bills for the
state industrial school for girls, raising the
amount appropriated by the state from
$4,000 to $4,000. The school has been
running only five years ana already mas
membership of seyenty-it is reform
school for girls you understand. Then
Introduced n bill into the legislature appro-
priating 100000 for maintenance and fol-
buildings for the Dependent Home for Chill
dren, and bill bringing about change In
the mortgage law SO that husband can
not mortgage property without his wife's
signature. There was one bill that was
working for that did not pass the senate,
I did not personally have much confidence
In the bill 1t was one creating a pension
for retired teachers who had taught for
+wenty-fiye years, the district in which the
teacher last held position before retiring
bearing the expense of the pension That
was the point Of the bill; 1T WAS drafted by
woman and was not properly drawn. But
another bill somewhat similar in purpose
vii, he introduced at the next session.
think that one will draw the pension from
y state fund My friends urged me about
tb;s bill and / supported it; the house
nassed 1t but / knew it would never sc
through the senate; / didn't even go over
the day it came up.
Asked il she would be candidate for
ra. election a year from now, she smiled
Il don KNOW any .hihS apou' tiia'.
hans the impression was wrong but the
accompanying smile seemed as If it might
he the result of lesson learned in diplo
macy.
Mrs Ruble had much to say of the beau
ty of Cedar Rapids and of the hospitality
Of her people. And 1t was with good
word for the hospitality of Denver that
she opened the door for the departing in
terviewer."
ESCAPED FROM INSANE ASYLUM
identity of AGED Man Found Near