The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-15
HOW A WOMAN
GOT AN OFFICE.
[OrIginal.l
Observation-Disclosures.

LOrlginal.l
Katherine Gle was an up TO date
young woman. Her sex had come to
occupy many positions formerly filed
by men. but there was one Of which
she considered women did not get
their share. The political offices were
still held almost exclusively by men.
Katherine was interested in the mat
ter not because she relished a struggle
with the men for woman's rights, but
because she wanted an Office. She pro-
posed to herself short cut to equalize
her chances with them. She would
seek an Office not as a woman, but as
a man.
Not long after Katherine Gle came
TO this decision young man, TRULY
Mlddlebrook, OF rather feminine APP
pearance, settled in the town of Stark
vile and soon secured a position as
stenographer with Francis Merriam,
grain shipper. Middlebrool's employ
er told him that he had had several
women stenographers, but didn't want
any more of them. He considered
them an empty headed lot, eXcltable,
hysterical-indeed, everything ending
with "al," not excepting dlabolical.
But he desired AIiddlebrook to be
careful not TO mention his opinion Of
the sex, for he had long been striving
TO get the nomination for mayor, and
1t wouldn't be policy for him to be
known as woman hater.
Middlebrook remained in Merriam's
employ two years before the ambition
of his employer was attained. Mer-
rlam was nominated, and he was so
good a man that the opposition hesl-
tated about putting up u candidate of
its own. Indeed. Merriam was con-
graduating himself on the prospect OF
having no opposition whatever when
he saw notice one morning in his
newspaper that astonished him, 1t
was no less than an announcement
of his stenographcr, TRULY Middle
brook, that he would be candidate
for mayor at the coming election.
Now, there had been the best OF feel
Ing between the two men. Merriam
had raised Mlddlebrook's salary sew
eral times and had supposed that the
stenographer was devoted TO him.
"Mr. Middlebrook," said Merriam. II
have seen your notice. You have a
perfect right to run for Office against
me, but--but-well, your action Is just
like thousand things your predeces.
sors have done who were-women,
That's ALL"
Mr.. Middlebrook withdrew without a
word, and what filled the measure OF
his employers astonishment was that
he thought he'saw tear in his stenog
rapher's eye.
There was another surprise In store
for Mr.. Merriam. A few days before
the election his political manager came
TO him TO say that Middlebrook, who
had been gaining in favor ever since
the announcement of his candidacy
would surely be elected. Merriam was
dumfounded. He asked his manager
what was the secret of Middlebrook'
strength and was Informed that lie had
some mysterious influence over tho
women which was turned TO account
in gaining the votes of the men.
From this announcement to the day
before the election the official inter
course between Merriam and his ste
nographer was extremely embarrassing
for both. though especially so for the
latter. Merriam had accepted the sit
uation He was still puzzled at his
employee interposing himself between
him and the Office he coveted, but h'
was above lifting finger to defea
that employees intention The even
ing before the election Middlehrool
took his chiefs dletatlon, as usual
and was about to retire when he turn
ed, evidently shaken by considerable