The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-28
WHATLADYBOSS
OFCHICACOWARD
SAYS, GOES; see?
She is Mrs. Annie Carlo Blast
and She Works for bath
house. John Coughlan
SHE COMMANDS HORDES
OF OBEDIENT SUBJECTS
BY Numberless Services She At
taches to Herself the Resi-
dent Italian Women

CHICAGO. Aug. 2s.-Many years
ago, before there was the slightest
suspicion of Illinois becoming sur
frage state, Mrs. Annie Carlo Blast
of Chicago, was the ''lady boss" OF the
First ward. She looked over the am
bilious ONCE seekers with her quiz
zical eye and picked out an alder
man,
"Ill deliver the ward to you at the
next election" she would say ana
she did.
She has disposed OF the ward like
this for % years--usually to one
man, "Bathhouse" John ]. Coughiin.
Now, with the women marking bah
lots with the men In Illinois, her
power has advanced She Is the
czarina OF her dominion. For she Is
the Italians queen, not by election or
inheritance, but by the common as
sent of her willing subjects.
The secret Of her force as poll
tician is her attitude OF charity
worker In her kingdom. Her time,
her money and her profession as
midwife are at the command OF the
poorest in the colony. The only
recompense she asks Is vote. Her
apartment Is at the top OF three
flights OF uncarpeted stairs, and 10
not at all unhomelike to the poorest
visitor. Her royal robes are calico
house dresses and those OF q woman
In moderate circumstances. The new
est immigrant woman Is not embar-
raised In her presence.
When Mrs. Blast became poll
tician she learned that foreign
citizens interest In his adopted gov
eminent was reached by way of the
job. His personal comfort was Of
more vital Importance than the ma
tional debt. She saw the advantage
OF connecting charity and politics
Of relieving discomforts In exchange
for votes.
The winning OF votes Is matter
OF friendship and very simple, accord
ing to Mrs. Blast.
While dressing new baby talk
to eight or 10 women about politics"
she said. II explain that they should
have their husbands vote for my
candidate. get them all. too.
Il was at q political meeting, teach
Ing the young Italian girls how to
mark ballot and telling them OF
their citizenship papers, when was
called to the telephone. was told
pale man and very old woman.
with shawl over her head. were
waiting for me at home. They
already had waited from Z until IL
clock and refused to tell their busi-
ness. broke up the meeting.
Give me job, promise said
the man when / entered.
For three months he said he had
walked the streets for work His
family was starving and he was eat
ing one meal day. l promised. At
o'clock next morning he was walk
ing In the hall, five hours ahead Of
time.
"Put This Man On"
Put this man to cleaning Streets
/ told the street commissioner at the
city hall.
LET him report tomorrow morn
ing In the Twenty-ninth ward, re-
piled the Official. but was unsatis-
fed.
ct promised him q job today.
should rather he would be sent out
right now"
He received the job that day. After
his days work was over he rushed to
express his gratitude to Mrs. Blast
before returning home She told him
he would have an opportunity to re-
pay her on election day by casting
his ballot as she wished.
where Is II? Let me vote nowl"
he exclaimed.
Before he rested that night he took
out his neglected citizenship papers
from drawer. The next day he
carried them to the italian queen"
to lie with many more citizenship pa
pers belonging to his countrymen in
a heavy chest In the First ward. With
that one delivery there we're more
than 20 votes for her to control
at the next election-the votes OF all
the befriended Italians relatives.
Ellis wife Is going to vote. his three
sisters-in-law will vote, his brother
Is going to vote-eight votes Tony
will give me for that job" The lady
boss" counts them all.
On election day she goes out to see
that the promises are kept, standing
In the rain or Ia the sunshine, as the
weather happens to be. shaking hands
with those she has befriended and re-
minding them OF the nice chicken
bought for your wife when the first
baby came" or the good Job l got
you." or the rent you didn't pay
At o'clock on the morning OF the
political battle In the ward Mrs. Blast
goes through the colony, arousing her
constituents. She acts as an alarm
clock for the housewives. reminding
them to be up and ready, with their
children washed and their breakfasts
over. by the time she comes for them
in an automobile TO convey them to
the polls.
On her return she takes the moth
ers with shawls over their heads and
with their babies I'm their arms--every
woman OF them to repay her with
their ballots.
They always come when they
know Annie Carlo wants them" said
Mrs. Blast with a knowing express
sion.
Mrs. Blast has occupied the presi
dents chair Of the Incornata society
Of Italian Women for is years and
has received many medals and hon.
ors OF appreciation In that time. But
the one thing she most appreciates
Is a vote cast according to her direc-
lion. Her constituents know this and
vote, accordingly. a straight Demo
cratic ticket