Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-08-25
BOSS OF THE WARD"
Chicago Woman Who is Success in
Politics.

Politics.
Many years ago, before there was
eht slightest suspicion of Illinois be-
coming a suffrage state, says Chicago
letter. Mrs. Annie Carlo Blasi, Of Chi
cago, was the LADY boss" of the First
ward. She looked over the ambitious
ofticeseekers with her quiZzical eyes
and picked out an alderman.
I'll deliver the ward to you at the
next election" she would say. And
she did.
She has disposed of the ward like
this for 25 years-usually to one man,
"Bathhouse" John ]. Coughlin. Now,
with the women marking ballots with
the men in Illinois, her power has ad-
vanced. She is the czarina Of her
dominion. Her word is law among
her people. For she is the Italians
queen, not by election or inheritance,
but by the common asset Of her will
ling subjects.
The secret of her force as a poll
tician is her attitude of charity work
er in her kingdom. Her time, her
money and her profession as a mid
wife, are at the command Of the poor
est in the colony. The only recon-
pense she asks is a vote. Her apart
ment is at the top of three flights of
uncarpeted stairs, and is not at all
unhomelike to the poorest visitor. Her
royal robes are calico house dresses
and those of q woman in moderate
circumstances. The newest immi-
grant woman is not embarrassed in
her presence.
When Mrs. Blasi became a poll
tician, she learned that a foreign
citizens interest in his adopted gov
ernment was reached by way of the
job.
His personal comfort was of more
vital importance than the national
debt. She saw the advantage of con-
meeting charity and politics-of reliev-
ing discomforts in exchange for votes.
The winning Of votes is a matter
of friendship and very simple, accord
ing to Mrs. Blast.
while dressing a new baby I talk
to eight or ten women about politics,
she said. Il explain that they should
have their husbands vote for my can
didate. 1 get them all, too.
Il was at a political meeting
teaching the young Italian girls how
to mark a balloot and telling them OF
their citizenship papers, when l was
called to the telephone. l was told
pale man and a very old woman, with
Il shawl over her head. were waiting
for me at home. They already had
waited from until II o'clock ano
refused to tell their business. l broke
up the meeting.
"'Give me a job, promise sale
the man when L entered.
For three months he said he haC
walked the streets for work. Hi.
| family was starving and he was eat
ing one meal a day / promised. a
o'clock next morning he was walk
ing in the hall, five hours ahead o
time.
| Put this man to cleaning streets,
| | told the street commissioner at th'
city hall
Let him repC TT tomorrow morn
ing in tho twenty ninth ward, replied
the official. but was unsatisfed.
| ~ promised him job today.
should rather he would be sent on
right now"
He received tn Q job that day. Afte
his days work was over. he rushed t
express his gratitude to Mrs. Bias
before returning home. She told hin
he would have an opportunity to repa,
her on election day by casting her bal
lot as she wished.
where is it? Let me vote now!
he exclaimed.
Before he +, ssted that night he tool
out his neglet aed citizenship paper
from II drawer. The next day he car
ricd them To the Italian Queen" t
lie with many more citizenship paper
Belonging to his cOuntrymen in
heavy chest n the first ward wit
that one deli Very there were NOR
than 20 votes for her to control ut tn
next election the votes of all the be
friendcd ltal' laT's relatives.
His wife is going to vote, his tire
sisterS-in-lav will vote. his brother
going to vot e-eight votes Tony WI
give me 70 that job The lad
boss" count Them ALL
ON clecti' ,n day she goes out to Sc
that the pl :u7nises are kept. sandin
in the rain @T in the sunshine, as IN