The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-08-16
GERTRUDE JORDAN's TRIUMPH
Story of Her Election NJ Treasurer
Cherry County, Nebraska

Story Of Her Election NJ Treasurer Of
Cherry County, Nebraska
Slowly we are beginning to get some
new ideas regarding that amazingly
tangled subject 1.-The equal rights OF
women" In Nebraska 1t has recently
been decided that a woman has a con-
stitutional right to hold official posi-
tien In the state. She could even hold
the office of governor-if she could
get it.
Miss Gertrude Jordan has the novel
distinction Of being the first woman to
be elected to the office of county treas
urer in the United States. On the map
of Nebraska will be found, in the
northwest portion, a county bearing the
name of Cherry. With it's great area OF
5000 square miles. it has been familiar
ly termed 1.-The state of Cherry" Its
present population is about $4,000.
AS In several other states in the
union. women have occasionally held
the office of county superintendent OF
schools in Nebraska. but until Miss
Jordan of Valentine, the county seat OF
Cherry county. decided to run for the
position of county treasurer no woman
had even dreamed of running for a po-
litical office Of this nature. Miss Jor-
dan is a republican. and. though but 80
years Of age, had already served for ten
years as deputy in the office Of the
county treasurer. Last year her supe-
rior resigned and democrat was ap-
pointed to the position. In the August
primaries Miss Jordan was nominated
by the republican local organization fol-
the office of treasurer.
Following the primaries the cam
paign began in earnest and the young
woman attended every public gathering
possible from picnic to auction sale, In
order to extend her acquaintance. Hel
canvass took her into the more remote
parts of the county and she Travelled
some 600 miles across country on
horseback and in wagon, besides the
travel by rail. The results of her per-
sona1 work were shown at the Novem-
ber election, when she won by a ma
jority Of 242 votes.
The election. however. did not end
her fight for the office. Early in Janu-
ary. having furnished the legal bond
and qualified for the Office, she went tC
the court house to enter upon her du-
ties. The incumbent refused possession
on the grounds that. being a woman
and therefore not an elector. she was
not legally qualified for the office. She
Immediately filed a petition in the su-
preme court for a writ Of mandamus to
compel the incumbent to give her pos
session. On March % the court handed
down a decision establishing her eligi.
bility, six of the seven judges concur
ring in the opinion
Judge Rose, in writing the opinion
says that mo constitutional or statu-
tory provision inconsistent with the
right of a woman to hold this office
has been found He also refers to 8
familiar legislative enactment that
adopts $50 much of the common law OF
England as is applicable and not in.
consistent with the federal and state
constitutions and the statutes Of this
state" This law permitted women tt
hold office administrative in character
the duties of which they were compe.
tent to discharge.
Judge Fawcett, in dissenting, saiG
that II a woman can be county treas
urer she can also hold the office of gov
ernor of the state.-Hampton's Maga
zine.