Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-03-05

At Request OF the Stat e Executive,
Whose Secretary She Is, Fearless
Little Woman Accomplished Mission
That Would Have Put Any Mans
Courage to the Test.
Those who have been watching the
course of politics in Oregon for the
past year are predicting that Miss
Fern Hobbs, the private secretary of
Governor West and heroine of Copper
field. is not an unlikely candidate
for the governorship Of the state.
There IS nothing in the constitution Of
Oregon to prevent q woman from be-
ing elected governor If she can get the
votes. since the state has granted the
right of suffrage to women.
Miss Hobbs has been much in the
public eye in a political way, and it
is declared that Governor West, who
has announced he will not run again,
purposes to support his secretary to
succeed himself.
1t was Miss Hobbs who was sent by
Governor West to Washington, d. c.,
to represent the executive in land mat
tiers relating to Oregon. 1t was Miss
Hobbs whom the governor sent to
Woodburn to investigate the saloon
business, and recently it was Miss
hobbs whom Governor West sent to
Copperield. the little wide open min
ing town in eastern Oregon, to clamp
down the lid.
Mission That Made Her Famous.
Fern Hobbs isn't out Of her twenties
and weighs less than 100 pounds, but
she never faltered when asked by her
employer to go into the heart Of a wild
country, into a pocket of the earth
cut of from civilization, where men
were said to be waiting and armed for
any n who dared to intrude in their
internal disputes, and to tell them they
must quit their lawlessness.
All Copperield was at the depot
when the little woman, dressed plain
~ In blue and with a little hat cover
ing her wealth OF blond hair, stepped
from the train on Jan. 2. There was
such a pretty smile in her blue eyes
and such a gentleness about her that
"AN" SAS IA 4ol ~ S1ty OlllIldlS-
they were still city" officials from
the old days-rude jests were turned to
admiration.
There is only one street in Copper
neutrality-suspicious. avenue. In this
street and standing upon a soap box
Miss Hobbs announced that she had
been sent to Copperield with a mes
co 90 fror~ Co-~--o. w..
escorted to the town hall as a more 1T
ting place for the delivery Of this com
mun1cation. There she mounted the
platform where q short time before
had sat the musicians that scraped out
tunes for the dancers from the river,
the railroad and the plains. The hall
was crowded with men. and there was
only one door through which to escape.
Did What Man Wouldn't Dare Do.
Quietly and fearlessly. before as
strange an audience as one could con.
ceive. the little woman delivered the
message that meant the loss of control
to the officials or else the loss of what
they had fought for in the past five
y~ears-their business. which meant
their livelihood. Had a man delivered
that message. as states the writer in
the Washington Star, there would have
been strong resentment, probably des.
perate resentment
The governor had said that they must
resign all Offices or get out Of the sa-
loon business. Politely, but firmly.
each man there replied that he could
not accept the governors terms.
Her message delivered, Fern Hobbs
quietly returned to the depot. Colonel
Lawton at once declared martial law.
and it was found that practically every
man in the hall vas armed. The pres
ence of Fern Hobbs in the town pre-
vented the much feared clash. and soon
the soldiers had all the arms Of the
citizens and were guarding the saloons
and main street to prevent disorder.
The citizens gave up their methods
OF defense quietly and allowed the SOL
diers to search their places. Then were
the gambling devices and liquor seized,
to be hauled out Of town and destroyed.
AS a result Of her visit Copperfeld now
has no saloons and a new council is
ruling.
When Miss Hobbs reported to Gov.
ernor West. II have done what you
wished" she found herself famous.