Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-21

condition: that the sewers are doing their
duty. and that the schools are kept up TO
the requirements. / cannot imagine
true-hearted, honest, patriotic woman who
could be Indifferent to such things.
Women Best Qualified in Some
Things.
"A woman can save much needed ex-
pense in municipal affairs by her knowl-
edge of household management and by
her natural ca pacity for the management
Of poor relief. hospital and health work
would not have any woman neglect the
duties of her home and her obligations to
her husband and children to serve the
public, and she should not accept an Of
flee unless she is perfectly free to attend
committee meetings and perform other
essential duties without neglectins her
domestic affairs
Miss Dove says she does not expect to
see many women elected to office in Eng
land. She realizes the difficulties in the
way, but she hopes that those who have
ability, taste and leisure for such things
will take an active part in educational,
sanitary and hospital management.
London's First Woman Candidate.
There have been several woman mem
pCl . VI SoiiilHOi CouHCli Lib
land. but Mary E. Balkwill is the first
woman to stand as a candidate for the
London county council against a man. She
is now conducting a campaign in Hamp-
stead, which is in the northwestern part
of London. where seat was recently
made vacant by the death of j. II. Taylor,
, one of the oldest and most valuable MEM
bers of that body. About twenty years
ago. when the county council was first
III, Nor
Golden and Miss Emma COINS presented
themselves as candidates, but were de-
Clared ineligible by the courts on the
ground that the word person in the
text of the act does not mean woman,
but merely man. They submitted to
this decision with great reluctance, and
the incident has been discussed repeatedly
since. There has been considerable regret
that these ladies did not appeal to a
higher court for a final decision as to the
shrank from the notoriety which would
have been necessary in the prosecution
of the case
She Is Philanthropic Quaker.
This is the first vacancy in the council
that has occurred since the act of 1907
which qualities women for municipal Of
fees. was passed. and Immediately upon
the death of Mr. Taylor the progressive
their candidate. The campaign is now
on and is very animated. The result
may be announced before these lines ap-
pear in print. but it will throw some
light upon the Geographic dispatches to
know that Miss Balkwill is a Quaker
and a phi.anthropist by profession. She
belongs to a prominent family of Devon
is possessed of considerable wealth and
keeps house for her brother, DR.. w. r.
BalkWill, consulting surgeon to the Royal
nr$l,
extensively and has studied social con-
dltions and philanthropic work i'm many
countries. She founded the Stanhope In
stitute for working men and women at
Hampstead. which is one of the most sue
cessful clubs for that class in London.
Wants School Children Fed.
She has given particular attention to the
feeding of school children. and isl one
of the most earnest advocates of the bill
which provides that all the children in
public schools shall DE served with a
luncheon of hot, nourishing food during
the recess hours every day, on the theory
that it Is waste of public money to
provide free schools for children who
She has interested herself in the tech
meal schools and manual training schools
for girls, and believes that every woman
should have trade.
Miss Balkwil Is about forty-two or
forty-three years old. rather plain in ap-
pearance and wears plain but not Quaker.
garments. She Is very modest in her
demeanor. although she has great self
possession, is d fluent speaker and can
hold her own In any argument on the
platform. as well as in private
The opposing candidate is Andrew
Thomas Taylor. retired architect. who
has taken an active part in municipal
affairs for several years, and has given
special attention to the housing problem,
to park development and the beautifying
of the streets. AS both candidates rep
same pledges, the campaign is carried
more on personal preferences than po-
litical issues.