Free press., 1907-06-22

Danville, nl.-Spinsters and bach
elor maids of this, Uncle Joe" Can
mons home town, have joined hands
in a common cause.
They want the town bachelors taxed,
Furthermore, they want the tax grad
uated according to age. The older
the man, the bigger the tax, demand
the unwedded women of Danville.
And, what's more, this is no idle
dream; they have drafted their de-
mands in black and white, and it is
now before the common council of the
town in the form of proposed ordi-
nance.
Literally, it is case of pretty much
the whole unmarried female pOpula-
ton of the town waiting at the
church!
In Danville they have delicate line
drawn between spinsters and bachelor
maids. A spinster, according to Dan
because she can't help it. A bachelor
maid is maiden because she wants
to be.
But be that as it may, all distinc-
tions have been cast to the winds.
Those that can't and those that won't
alike demand that bachelors be taxed,
and the longer the eligible one re-
mains a bachelor the bigger his tax
mounts up, year after year.
There is no anonymity about the
thing, either. Old maids and budding
debutantes have signed their names
in black and white to the petition.
stirs' Up City, Officers.
OF course, the petition upset the
city officers. A meeting was hurried
ly called by Mayor John H. Lewman,
City Clerk John Torrance, Fire Chief
G. w. Bridges and Councilmen CIar-
ence T. Brittingham, John H. Har-
rison, Joseph Mics, Samuel Strauss,
Michael S. Plant, DR.. c. H. Evans,
Clarence Baum and several other
prominent citizens attended. Speaker
Cannon was invited, but his Wash
ington duties kept him away.
The matter was carefully gone over.
The pros and cons were put forward.
Married men and bachelors and one
divorced man gave their opinions.
Remember, gentlemen" counseled
the mayor, "it is a very serious mat
ter and a very delicate one, which de-
mands our most patient attention.
dread to think what might happen
should we take a wrong stand in the
premises"
Committee Chosen.
Finally the whole proposition was
left to a committee, of which all we're
to be bachelors and a majority law
yers. This committee of experts was
carefully chosen from among the most
popular bachelors of the town, in or
der that everybody might be sure of
having a fair show. 1t consisted of
Court Stenographer Harry Britting-
ham, Circuit Clerk John w. Barger
and Attorneys Thomas A. Graham, NJ.
F. Keegan, William H. Dwyer and
Ray F. Barnett. After careful con-
sideration they decided to issue a
statement to the expectant unmarried
members of the gentler sex.
They took the bull by the horns. In
a word, they demanded that before
action be taken they have the priv.
flege of meeting the petitioners. Here
| is the bachelors official reply to the
proposition for an ordinance provid
ing for a graduated bachelor tax for
the unwedded adult male population
of Danville:
1--WE, the single men of Danville
would like to make the acquaintance
| of the unmarried women of this com
munity who are so much interested in
US. We would like the privilege OF
petitioning the city council, as a mat
ter of self-defense while awaiting fur
ther moves of the enemy, to enact ar
ordinance taxing these unmarried
women of DanviIle $50 for each time
they turn one of US down, not because
we feel aggrieved or wish to get mar
ried, but as matter of protection.
RetaIjatory Proposition.
''The above appears to be a fail
opposition If the unmarried womeI
of this city who are behind this move
ment against our peace of mind are
in earnest and have a grain of human
sympathy. they will meet our propo
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