The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-15
COOK MEAL FIRST
Then Only Woman Legislator
Goes to the State House.
Brings Family, Including Hus-
band, to Topeka With Her.
MRS. GRIASTEAD A WORKER
Has Many Ideals for Legisla-
tive Use This Session.
When Business Slows Down
She Does Her Knitting.

J Refusing to yield the domestic hab-
Its of lifetime. and all the comforts
of home, even for the honor of help
| ing to make the laws for the common
wealth of Kansas, Mrs. Minnie Grim
stead, of Liberal. first woman legisla-
tor in this state, has moved her family
and her household gods to Topeka
and will continue to foster the home
keeping instinct of her past. Her hus-
| band came down with the family, and
Representative Grinstead has a seat
| reserved for Judge Grinstead at her
desk With every evidence of pride,
this new solon's consort listens to her
speeches and contributes all that a
mere husband may, in line of moral
| support.
The Grinstead family is living at
1864 Topeka avenue, and the two
iGrinstead children Darline and
Wayde, are pupils in Polk school, OAR
line being in the junior high school
Every morning before Representative
Grinstead goes down to the capitol
building to settle the destinies of the
| two or SO millions of Kansas inha bit
ants. she prepares breakfast for her
| FAMILY, as she has done ever since she
began the business of being a wife
and housekeeper. She still, in short
insists upon the simple life, even in
IneITODOlltdn'
the responsibilities of public service.
Thru Hard Campaign.
Mrs. Grinstead's campaign. sys saws.
carried with it all the difficulties of a
pioneer Enterprise. Going to the~Ieg-
stature had never been successfully
tried by a Kansas woman before
1 MADE personal campaign of the
seventh district" Mrs. Grinstead said,
and 1t was a very strenuous one too.
After winning the long race for the
primaries, the run for the final cleo
tlVn was equally arduous | have a
ilperal-minded constituency, or I could
not nave been elected, but my place in
me legislature was not handed to me
on silver salver by any means. How
ever, 1 won by a heavy majority
MRS Gr1nstead explained this morn
ing that her interest in politics dated
back long way. She was in the
vanguard of the suffrage and club
Sn oveiIent IN this state. She was
seventh district president of the suf-
rage association the year the suffrage
amendment was submitted, and the
measure carried in her district bv a
large majority
am not one who thinks we ,can
leglslate the millennium into actual l.
ity," Mrs. Grinstead said. when ones
toned as to her ideas on legisIa tion.
one of the chief reasons 1 wanted
to sit in the legislature this session
was because desired to be a member
of the body that should put its stamp
of approval on the national prohibit
ton law" And Mrs Grinstead was
one of the first to speak for the
states ratification of the national
measure in the first days delibera-
tons.
Against the Cigaret.
Mrs. Grinstead hesitates to say much
in detail of such laws as she favors,
but she asserts in a general way that
she will work for some means of en-
forcing the anti-cigaret law. She il
not just sure what should be done con-
/ corning the laxity of the law enforce
ment, but I am sure" she said, that
something should be done to make
that law operative"
Mrs Grinstead intends also to give
her support to legislation of benefit
to the farming communities, good
reads. etc. She also thinks some laws
l.enefiting women and children should
I've passed, and she wants to see some
legislation that will help the rural
s: hools and the higher educational in
sritlGtions.
''I believe in a greater conservation
of public funds Mrs. Grinstead said
Il should not oppose new taxes fol-
ossentialsI but 1 am against an increas,
i of taxes for anything that is no
! urgently needed"
Works on Knitting.
Along with her activities in maxim;
4 a handicapped campaign, Mrs. Grin
4 stead kept her knitting with her ant
4 turned out pair after pair of WOO
socks for the soldiers. She was
4 member of the Red Cross. and a leade
1 in its activities. She also belongs Il
/ the w. c. T. L. and the Woman's Kan
4 sas Day club.
Mrs. Grinstead's lofic position as tn
one woman in the house of representa-
tives appears to give her no uneasi
/ ! ness whatever.
1.-The other members" she said
treat me cordially and with all con
sideration." She is self-possessed Il
her new position that is without prece
i dent in the state. and a certain bris
and businesslike air about Mrs. Grin
L stead gives one the impression tina
1 she must somehow have been predes
tined to occupy chair No. 60 in repre-
/ sentative hall, Kansas legislative ses
Z sion of 1919.
New Tennessee Governor.