The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-11-05
At Least This 10 the Viewpoint Of
Mrs. s. e. Hancock, First Wom-
an in keokuk to Serve as
Official.
URGES OTHERS TO HELP
MrS. Hancock Tells Why She Thinks
Women Should Help Out and
SCOTS at "Bear'
Stories.

Mrs. S. E. Hancock on Pleasant
avenue, has the distinction of being
the first and only woman SO far ever
to have sat on an election board in
Keokuk, and she filled the position
In the fourth ward Tuesday when
the women of Iowa cast their first
ballots. She served in the capacity
of clerk and proved to be an extra
ordinarily capable one, the men with
whom she worked conceded.
Yesterday in an interview, Mrs.
Hancock told a Gate City reporter
what she thought of her JOB and her
answer was one which should inspire
other women to undertake similar
undertakings when the next call
comes.
at wasn't hard place to fill at
ALL" Mrs. Hancock said. ANY
woman who has any knowledge of
clerical work could ably fill the posi-
tion," was her statement. "And if
any of the women have an idea that
serving on an election board isn't
proper place for them to be they are
mistaken.
1.-THE men with whom I worked
were my neighbors and friends and
the same courtesies which they have
always shown me when they were
visitors in my home was extended
me Tuesday in the polls. Why should
they have acted differently?" she
queried. 1.-THE women should remem-
Der this and realize how absurd 1t
is for them to listen to the protests
of few persons who object to hay
ing the women assist in the oompil-
ing Of election returns in the future
on the grounds that the polls are
no places for the far sex. What was
true in my ward, will be true in all
of these wards. The men with whom
the women will serve on future cleo
ton boards will be their neighbors
and friends, not strangers ushered
in for the OCCASION
Too Interested to Be Tired.
"But didn't you get awfllly tired,
Mrs. Hancock" she was asked, and
the little woman who had been such
an infatiguable worker in her fourth
ward during the past few months of
citizenship schools, demonstrations
in voting and canvassing of republi-
can women answered most emphati-
calIy.
mo indeed; it was pleasant work
and not firing. 1t was SO exciting
when the work of counting the bal
lots began, seeing who was getting
the most votes that l didn't think Of
getting tired. Of course some of my
friends tried to brighten me about
the job and told me how awful it
would be-" she continued, but
didn't find any of their predictions
coming true. For instance. / was
told that the lights would be poor
and that we would scarcely be able
to see at night, but this wasn't so.
The building was splendidly illumin-
ated And the good things we had
to eat." Then she enumerated the
menu which was served for the meals
the election board ate at the polls.
Mrs. Hancock is glad that she
served on an election board and she
expressed her opinion that women
might easily do SO in large quanti
ties at the next election, and in
capable manner. With little ex-
perience she believes they help to
increase the efficiency of the boards
That the women of Keokuk have
taken an interest in the election and
have played an important part in it,
is proved by the following figures
which show the number Of women
enrolled, registered and those who
voted:
Women enrolled, 1873; women
registered, 3,348; women to vote,
3,13o. Out of the 252 women regis
tered in the fourth ward, only eigh-
teen failed to vote.