The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-11-21
SORT, NO POLITICIAN,
is MRS. BURNSIDE, WHO MAY BE
FIRST WOMAN ON SCHOOL BOARD
BY Cynthia Grey

INC iiFst tNtn9 mFs. Ncilio w.
Burnside did after she was
unanimously nominated by the
Legislative Federation for
school director was 10 prepare
dinner for her family.
She did not tell me this, but
I've had heart-to-heart talk
with her, and ! imagine that II
Is just what she would have
been most likely to do after
tho meeting adjourned,
The campaign OF Mrs. Burnside
was formally organized Saturday
afternoon with the adoption OF the
slogan. What Ia the School Board
Without Mother7" at rally at
the Y. w. c. A..
Just the kind OF woman you
would be proud TO introduce as your
mother. is Mrs. burnside, who
lives at 1882 seth av.
Beautiful dark hair now turning
gray. aoftly curling about face
that In rather free OF the marks OF
age. a mouth that smiles easily and
yet can shut with firmness which
speaks for ciean-cut thought and
character good teeth and sympa.
thetic eyes. such Is the pen picture
of the face of Mrs. Nellie NJ. Burn.
side. who. II elected. viii be the
first woman to take her seat In the
school board OF this city.
A Winning Personality.
| imagine she IL about 80
We did not get 80 intimate as TO
tell our real ages. Hut for all that.
Mrs. Burnside has personality and
makes friends easily and quickly.
Mrs. Burnside IL the mother OF
three sons. the youngest 81.
Her husband Is John l. Burnside.
transportation agent OF the North.
ern Navigation Co.
As watched her embarrassment
at tho sudden public attention which
has been drawn TO her by her many
friends and against her expressed
wishes, IL struck me she was one
Of tho last women ! would have
picked to be a candidate at q pub
lie election.
And then II carne to me that be-
cause she was Just the kind OF
woman I would be proud 20 intro
duce as my mother. she was per.
haps best fitted To be tho first
woman TO represent the ser on the
school board.
As n member OF the North End
Progressive club, she was made
chairman OF the legislative com.
mittee.
She gave that work the same thor.
ough attention with which she de
voted herself TO her home.
And when the women in other
clubs similarly took up the study OF
public questions. the Legislative
Federation was formed and Mrs.
Burnside was chosen as It's presi.
dent.
While she f. n student OF such
questions. Mrs. Burnside Ia not n
politician In any sense.
She begged hard OF her friends
to select some one else to make the
race for school director. But II was
useless
80 feel II my duty" she said
TO me, ito make some sacrifice. n
by so doing It will aid progress.
Tho women. as a whole. have no
fault TO find with the present school
board, except that II has not the
benefit OF the woman's point OF
view in so important a matter of
woman's concern as the proper edu-
cation and training OF children.
No Narrow Prejudiees.
THE whole purpose in the present
campaign In to give mothers an
equal representation with the faith
ers in guiding the children through
school"
Mrs. Burnside harbors no narrow
preiudices.
MEN have built up an ideal work
on a prosperity basis" she frankly
admits. but the woman's work is
welfare. and welfare must be blend
ed with prosperity to make an even
balance.
THE women OF today feel that
the school IL the one social institu
ton which must respond to the big
needs OF the people.
Il cherish the hope that through
our schools the great problem OF the
idle class can be In a large meas
ure successfully solved by fitting
each boy and girl for his and her
natural vocation.
Il am strongly In favor OF extend
Ing vocational training in our public
schools"