The daily Alaskan., 1913-10-02
She Wouldn't
 Discuss It
By EDWARD K. BLUNT

l tury women have been entering ueluS formerly occupied by men, and this mas changed them from dependence to h. dependence. But so far back as his tory speaks women have made efforts to throw off the yoke and act and think for themselves. They have not in past times grown gradually into rower. They have usually attempted to grasp and use it all at once unaided by the experience of men.
 When, many centuries ago, King 1 Policlack died he left the crown to his l daughter, the Princess Miranda. queen Miranda was one of those women who by nature crave leadership. The queen' who from an early age had been inter- ested in the emancipation of her sex, upon her accession proposed to Keep ! the power in her own hands. She would not be continually consulting persons, as is common with presidents of the United States, nor would she permit her heads of departments to de- bate with her. But she didn't intend to be autocratic, she said.
 What she did intend was not to be beaten hither and thither like a ship without rudder Moreover, she prid- ed herself upon her legal attachments and declared that all her acts should l be judicial.
 Soon after her accession while the ! queen was holding an audience her chief justice begged an interview and stated that a certain tax that had been proposed at her instigatiOn was uncon- stitutional. The queen heard him through to the end-with difficulty then said to him:
 Your arguments are all wrong. The tax is an excellent one. It will be adopted"
 "In what respect, your majesty, are my arguments dcfectiye?" asked the chief justice.
 q will not discuss the matter" re- i piled the queen.
 The chief justice gave the queen one look of aStoniShment and withdrew. The minister of foreign affairs entered.
 Your majesty" he said, "Our neigh bors, the Polyphemians, have demand ed an indemnity for an incursion re- gently made by some of your subjects into their territory whereby much grain and other property were de- Stroyed."
 Give me an account of the matter" said the queen.
 The minister narrated the facts, end ing up with the statement that the Polyphemians were entitled to be paid for their losses. ...,
 You are all wrong" said the queen. 'I am quite familiar with international law, and in this case no indemnity should be paid"
 But, your majesty"-
 "I will not discuss the matter"
 The foreign minister, who had for | many years kept the late king at peace with his neighbors, stood for a mo- ment looking as if the earth had opened before him and was about to swallow him up; then, lowing low, left the royal presence.
 The next caller was the minister of state, who desired to dissuade the queen from a bill she had set her heart on. It was to tax bachelors. He re- ceived the same replies as the others. The queen said he was all wrong in the l matter.
 But your majesty has not heard the reasons why I fear a detrimental effect from this bill if passed"
 "Nor do wish to hear them. That would involve a discussion, and l will not discuss the matter"
 The commander in chief of the army came in next. The queens foreign nolicy was already showing signs of disturbing her amicable relations with neighboring powers, and, fearing war, he had called with view to urge an increase of the army.
 'I am for peace" was the queens laconic reply to his arguments.
 "But, your majesty, there is an ad- age Tn time of peace prepare "-
 The queen cut him short with the usual refusal to discuss the matter, and the general got out like the rest.
 It was not long before the minister of internal revenue announced that q mob had gathered to resist the en- forcement of the tax she had levied. The minister of foreign affairs reported that the POlyphemians had given her ambassador his walking papers. The minister of state sent word that nine tenths of the bachelors of the kingdom l had moved across the border into that of the Polyphemans, thus depriving her of their services In case of war and becoming an auxiliary to the king of Polyphemia. The general in chief of the army reported that, a war being at hand. he would like instructions as to the disposition of her meager forces.
 The only one of these officials the queen replied to was the general in chief, whom she condescended to ask what she had better do. He replied that any opinion from him would be insubordinate, inaSmuch as he well knew her majesty was not accustomed to discuss her measures with her heads of departments. Besides, since she was