The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-26
French Checkmate Teutons.
WOMEN DECLARE WAR
CONTINUED from Page one.)

city license clerk, Mrs. Lila Day Mon
roe says:
According to ordinances made and
provided, and upon the best judgment
of the city commission, licenses are
granted to drivers and sundry agents,
peddlers and travelling salespeople to
visit the various homes In the CITY
limits. The occupants of those homes
have no way of voicing their wishes IN
this matter except to wait till the belt
is rung and the home invaded, and
then argue the matter out for some
minutes, or hours, with the invader,
who seems to think that because ne is
licensed by the city that he has a per-
feet right to insist upon showing MS
goods
1T does not matter whether the
housewife has victua1s burning up on
the stove, or whether the baby is cry
ing, or some one within the home IS
ILL., the bell is rung, the tale is told ana
argued, usually-and sometimes with
the mans foot in the doorway to pre-
vent the doors being shut, before the
agents is satisfied to leave.
What Can Women Do?
This is not the plant of one wom-
an. Many want 20 know what the
ethics in the situation demand-What
the proper thing to do? We do not
feel that we want to shut out OF the
city all travelling people, neither 90 we
want to enter into the merits or the
case of buying from outsiders. we
simply want to know how the women
who do not buy things at the door
NAV be protected from the incurSlonS
| of agents. Our street had four one
day last week, and that meant lot OF
time taken from our houseWork, 10 say
nothing of the friction of spirit OF mis-
tresS and maid.
"Now in order to be fair to both
| parties. the one who buys at the door
and the one who has had her lesson
| on signing the innocent little contract
IA dollar down and succeeding dol
| -. oh IF c0IlId
| the license clerk furnish little framed
cards to those persons who have no
time nor inclination to answer Sucn
calls to hand at the door Ihose
| cards could be worked out something
after this fashion:
I as LICITO RS S, AGENTS,
| TRAVELLING SALESPEOFLE-
PLEASE DO NOT RING THIS
BELL ABSOLUTELY no goods
bought at this door. All business
| transacted at store and office.
One housewife has declared for this
| "I WANT ABSoLUTELY MOTH
ING ON EARTH-EVERY WISH
SUPPLIED BY "A LOVING HUs-
BAND
"She would have it a sort of disap-
| bearing electrical legend like cigar
sign. But 1 hardly think we need to
have anything quite so elaborate, be-
sides it would be so much more ex-
| DenSlV0 to the city tndn the lCIl0 cdIo
OF course on the other hand the one
who wishes to buy at the door might
hang up some sort of permit giving
the agent the run of the premises. The
organization of charity seems not tC
have done anything to prevent the
beggar at the door. Last week one
woman had to call the police tc
frighten away the 'bo' who said, .
know youse got plenty to eat an Tn
goin to have some of it,
Worse Than the 30.
"But even the 'bo' is not the nui
sance that the agent is who comes t.
the front door, tells the maid that h
was sent by friends of the lady o.
the house and he must see her. Thu
maid thinks it is true, the mistress
thinks it an old friend and she leave
her work; maybe it is 'redding up
day in the attic, comes down, tide
up a bit, and is met by the ubiquitou
agent who informs her that he /
calling upon a few of the most 'promi
nent women'-is a friend of he
friend, etc, etc. She tries to be polite
but is indignant through and through
for this prominent in society taft,
does not go down at all with sensibl
women who would much rather ge
their work done than be flattered a
the door by travelling salespeople.
Now, why can not we take thi
matter up, all of us. and settle it ra
tionally. There must be solution
somewhere for the problem, a mill
and gentle suppression somehow o
} the nuisance.
LILA DAY MONROE"