Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-24
Euening Story
GALLANrRY AND GARDENS.
Copyright, 1917 by the Mcclure News
paper Syrdicate.)
BY Elsie See.

Copyright, 1917 by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate)
BY Elsie See.
Alice was beginning to realize a LONG
cherished dream of an old fashioned
flower garden. When the last brown
beds Of loose earth had been smoothed
and the tiny border plants had been
transplanted by her rheumatic old ne
gro gardener, she surveyed the result
with a satisfied smile.
AT precisely the same moment, David
Markham. seated at his desk in the
towns biggest bank, was saying to
himself that he could not live without
Alice. Two weeks before Alice had told
him that it would be easily possible, as
well az desirable, for her to live with
out him. Their quarrel resulting from
David's demand that she refrain from
publicly indorsing equal suffrage, was
probably responsible for Alice's undl-
vided attention to her garden making.
The county convention was to take
place the next day. and Alice was to
appear before it as one of committee
Of three women who would request the
conventions Endorsement of equal suf
frage. David, though younger than the
other members Of the odd guard" was
a local leader. but his efforts to pre-
vent giving hearing to the woman
committee had been fruitless.
Let the women alone, David" eau
toned John Lane. chairman of the
county committee, for whether we
struggle or keep still, they're going to
get the franchise some day, and If we
give EN- chance to have their say
now, I'm thinking they'll be more in
clined to give us chance later on
Which means that we'll have to pre-
tend to listen seriously to all this su-
perfluous talk from women who re-
fuse to give their energies a normal
outlet" Youth can be bitter and pessi-
mistic beyond all reason, and David
was young. Moreover, he had persist
emily avoided listening to single suf-
frage speech, and his invulnerability
to its possible appeal was therefore un-
tested
The morning session of the county
convention was given up to reports
from township chairmen and to other
routine work After the midday dinner
at the Watkins House. each man went
back to the afternoon session sanguine
Of carrying the day according to his
desires Not man Of them suspected
that the suffrage committee had COL
Elaborated with Mrs. Watkins In ar
ranging the menu for that satisfying
dAlIhcI, 81 tItSy ulI lOL LCdllLc tIIdL oil
unseen wire connected their optimistic
frame of mind with the appearance Of
the woman's committee Immediately
after the afternoon session opened
John Lane had CALAMITY allowed the
ladies to set the hour for their hear
ing.
First, Mrs. Worthington spoke. Be-
ing the middle-aged mother of four
successful sons, there was some weight
to her argument that woman's place
being at home does not imply that her
interests must be bounded by the four
falls Of her home. but rather that part
of her work is to influence conditions
surrounding that home and that the
ballot is the instrument she needs to
make i1er influence felt.
Second came Mrs. Ellis. She was a
handsome matron who had been a
trained nurse before her marriage. She
took up the argument that because
women can't fight they should not vote.
She cited the Red Cross WORT, originat-
ed and carried out by women and with
equal emphasis she cited thefnumerous
kinds of men who vote, bu{ are incl
igible for military service.
Third, Alice Hanson spoke and chiv-
airy was her theme. David Markham
frightened his lips as II to prevent re-
leasing the bitter words within. At
first he heard not word she said. but
even surreptitious glance showed
him that he had never seen her look
more bewitching. She had wisely
chosen to wear a much frilled taffeta
gown with little lace ruffles peeping out
at neck and wrists. Her auburn hair
was topped with a rose wreathed white
hat. Her voice was softly modulated.
but her enunciation was so clear that
not word was inaudible. And her
speech was brief.
Concluding, she said: IFS chtvalry
built upon such an unstable foundation
that it falls tottering to earth merely
because a woman walks into a booth
and puts a piece Of paper into box as
means Of. approving or disappearing
OF certain public servants? We women
well know that it is not"
1t was significant that just at this
point she dropped her lace handker-
chief. and of the four men who darted
for 1t. David was the successful captor
who restored It to her.
~ have planted a garden Of flowers"
she resumed. II shall have to use much
care to keep the soil In good condition
and to keep away harmful insects. That
care will require proper tools. All over
the world women are planting gardens
home gardens. school gardens,
kitchen gardens. civic gardens-gar
dens that grow human flowers. They
need the ballot as tool to keep condi-
tons such that their human flowers
may grow strong. Is 1t chivalrous to
withhold that tool? We women do not
ask to usurp the place of men: we ask
you to help us step from the pedestal
where your well-meant but misguided
chivairy has so long kept us. and we
ask you to understand that what we
want Is to walk and work side by side
with you Knowing the underlying
principle of justice in the heart Of the
American man. we know that what we
ask will be given u.s.
After the completion of the speeches
the carefully planned psychological mo-
ment came and went with the conven-
TONS unanimous Endorsement OF equal
suffra ge. David's AYE" was given in an
unnatural voice, and he had tremb
ling feeling in his legs as he rose with
the other men while the ladies' passed
from the room.
As Alice passed through the door she
turned her head pressed her lace hand