The Washburn leader., 1916-12-29
Women Win
City Election
At Umatlla
Gust Husbands and Take Control
of Offices in Oregon town

VUSCSD ~ Ot08oU SOWU
Umatilla, Ore, Dec. 22-Umatilla is
still giggling hysterically today-and
tr1fle apprehensively-over the
fact that the new year is to put this
town under a "petticoat government" {"
The nation may have been some
surprised when it wakened the other
morning to learn that this railroad
town on the Columbia river had el-
ected q woman mayor, four women
council members, woman treasur-
er and q woman recorder-that the
women in fact, had gained control,
absolute. Of the city government.
!, But the nation wasn't one,half so
surprised as was Umatilla, itself, in
cluding the victors. Nobody expect
ed it. It all started as a joke week
before election, at card party. It
was considered so much of joke by
the men-folks that they paid no at
tention to It.; and hence they neg
lected to campaign for their own can
didates.
The results: The men stared
speechless- go did the women
for the returns spelled petit
c-o.at!"
But tho the campaign was waged
as Q joke. the women have been look
ing around bit since election and
have emitted mysterious and discon.
certing rumorings of cleanup"
In the words of "Speck" Starcher
present mayor, whose wife defeated
him for reelection, "there are going
to be whole heap of things ADDING,
now"
The mayor has been having sor-
~ time of it since election. For
days and days, now egged on by his
colleagues. he has nagged at the new
mayor-ess for a hint as to her plans.
II can't get a thing out of her
she just grins," mourned the mayor,
who is wire chief for the o. w. r. &
N. railway here. IF get right per-
sistent she bawls me out for letting
the dog in the house, or because my
shoes are muddy.
But the two. most uncomfortable
men in town are c. G. Brownell and
A. B. Stephens, councilmen holdovers
from the present regime to the pet
ticoat" reign.
Two men in group of seven wo-
men. they are facing hopeless ma
jority with misgivings. They daily
accept blushingly the commisera-
tions Of retiring officials, and hearken
hopefully to a distant rumoring
that Umatilla's women may start a
recall against them.
The new mayor announces that In
seating the council she is going to
put the two holdovers each between
two women, to keep them out of
mischief.
4 The election had dozens Of discon.
certing and precedent-upsetting feat
ures to 1t.
For instance, Mrs. Robert Merrick
defeated the husband of Mrs. Roy F.
PeuIu for treasurer. And Mrs. Paulu
to square matters, defeated Mrs.
lIerrick's husband for councilman.
If there is one thing that has the
women worried more than another,
II is the very good probability that
woman will be marshal. There are
rumors to that effect. The new may
Or, doesn't deny 1t, any more than
she denies that while the towns
morals are good, they might be bet
IT,"
.'I'm not sure q marshal is neces.
sary." she said. However, II there
is to be one, it will be woman!"
Wherefore, 1t would appear. that
further ,rumors. to the effect that .
very heavy, h muscular woman. for.
merly waitress IN alocal eating
house IL On route from Alaska to as
sumo police powers. are not without
Foundation in fact.