The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-09
KANSAS COAAENT
WoME-N IN THE MASS.

WOME-N IN THE MASS.
Woman's formal participation in af-
fairs that touch the school. home and
state has increased much during the
first decade of the century, at least in
the United States and western Europe.
Clubs that once were almost exclusive
" social or literary are now multi
farious in their aims and activities.
Horizons that were local or provincial
are now national and International.
Federations that enlisted thousands
now enroll hundreds of thousands.
Gates that long were barred now swing
wide. Ears that once were stopped
now hear, says the Christian Science
Monitor.
Facile ard quick as is her wont, the
woman of the Occident also is learning
the power of organization. Hereafter
the strategy she will use will be one
OF mass movements. TO fervor, disci-
pline and courage will be added the
impact Of mere weight, which creates
movement and gives momentum. some
thing that no politician, statesman or
reTormer of today overlooks. Obstruc-
tioniStS to educational reforms often
find themsel Ives suddenly sitting III the
ditch alongside a highway on which
for years they have walked with
sense of security and ownership. In
time they come to know what swept
them aside and out of the way. They
End that the women of a community
or sector were against them. Coilec-
tive woman spoke and made an end
of the matter, and this, too, where wo-
men do not influence political action
directly.
For several years past the National
Education association has had affilia-
ted with it what are known as school
patrons. They officially represent two
of the largest associations of college
alumnae, the Council of jewish WO-
men, the Congress of Mothers, and the
General Federation of Women's clubs
In a variety of ways they both shape
policy and supervise educational adj
nlinistration, so far as it affects chill
dren taught and women teaching in the
public schools of the country. Is it
any wonder that when the issue re-
Gently arose affecting the policy of the
association itself, its constituency, its
democracy, its funds. its purpose-this
federated group of women should have
had much to do with shaping the radi-
cal result2
Tt is a Rip Van Winklish sort Of
public character today, be his ambi-
tons personal or partizan, who forgets
to reckon with the combination, al
ready existing in this country, that
can be enlisted at any time against
any legislation, candidacy, or cause
that hurts or is supposed to hurt the
cause of woman and her offspring
Wichita Eagle.
THE WOMAN MAYOR OF KANSAS.
Ever since the municipal elections of
last spring. special correspondents
have kept newspaper readers informed
Of a deadlock in the municipal gov
eminent of Hunnewell, Kan; and that
this deadlock is due to the election of
a woman as mayor-NIrs. Ella Wilson
is fact which fiavors all the reports
But if any newspaper reader has yet
been able to learn from those reports
why the election of the woman mayor
makes the deadlock, we congratulate
him upon his acuteness. None or the
reports disclose any. illegality in Mayor
wilson's election. None of them show
an unlawful or scandalOus conduct on
her part either Candidate or as
mayor. Everything appears to. be. reg
uIar enough so far as she is concerned.
But the town council. all mascul1nes,
refuse 70 cooperate officially with her.
And if one may fairly read between
the lines Of the newspaper reports, they
do this in a brutal manner, without
provocation, and with no regard what
ever for their own official respons1blll-
ties We must confess to Ignorance OF
the mystical cause of the HunneWelI
trouble and of the origin and motives
for exploiting it in half-told 1ashlon
through the press of the country; bur
probably any one with an old hat
wouldn't have to eat it were he to oner
70 do so if there isn't licensed law
breaking in Hunnewer which the mayor
wants to stop, and a. press bureau be-
hind the news of the deadlock
Kansas Conmoner.
II