New-York tribune., 1920-11-21
Oregon Town
'repares for
E2'aleby Women
Feminine Mayor and Council
Of Yoncalla Assert They
VIII Teach Men How to
Hum a City Government
Many Reforms Planned
Can't Do Worse Than Their
Predecessors, They Say;
Expect to Do Much Better

PORTLAND, Ore, Nov. 2o.-Women
of Ioncalla. Ore, who elected AN en-
tire feminist administration at re-
cent municipal election, are starting in
70 snow the male residents how a town
shouId be governed. Their policy, in
general way, according to their an
nouncements, viii be to depart just
as lar as possible from the methods
and measures of their male predeces-
SOrS.
me triumph of tho women at the
polls was noteworthy coup. They
were dissatisfied with the wav thincs
nay been running along and they de-
clded to elect their own officials. At
FIRST the plan was whispered only
among a small group Of leading spirits.
lhep it was broadcncd until prac-
tcaliy all the women in the city were
party to it. That their husbands,
brntfiers and sons were kept in the
aark may be accepted as proving the
falsity Of that moss-grown libel that
a woman cannot keep secret. Even
up to the morning of Election Day
tne male residents who had heard ink
lHgs Of the scheme did not take it
seriously, and there was genuine sur
pFIse, not to say CONSERVATION, when
the vores were counted and It was
found the women had won out BY
safe majority over the incumbent Off j.
cl3ls, all of whom were candidates for
rcsAcctfon.
The women had good many gricv-
encos. They maintained that the
Grcssive; that they were letting the
s(tgets amt. sidewalks 60 unrepaired;
tEaf the lighting facilities were made
qpateS that no effort was made to
cfrcR automobile speeders. and that
$faAYs generally were not what they
sA~QH be in an up-to-date and for
v'stft-aooking community. They might
have SKINNED it all up by saying that
the QTsc5als were lazy, SO far as public
hsSsilssss went, but they put 1t more
Systematically.
The new officials are the real leaders
among the women Of the city. Mrs.
OrcEo1fan who has lived in Yoncalla
for Forty years. She is university
grapuate of 1873, and has long been
;cxv9 In the affairs of the town. She
is . Rcpubl lican.
No one in Yonca1la was more sur
rriscd at the turn of events than Jesse
II. .Lssswell, the retiring Mayor. This
surprlse was due in no small part to
the fact that Mrs. Lasswell was elected
to thc council The Mayor says he had
70 know edge Of the step to overthrow
his administration. let alone the fact
t.st Fes wife WAS on the opposing
0thsr womcn elected to tho council
wore Yrs. Edith K. Thompson, wealthy
{AasysaAs' owner and active IN women's
cftses Mrs, Bernico Wilson, pioneer
sa4ssi teacher, wife of the Yoncalla
po8tnIaster, and Mrs. Nettie Hannah,
wife Of retired capitalist.
After the first surprise Mayor Lass
we'll congratulated tho victors and said
that they would have the assistance
and advice Of the retiring officials, al
though he did not believe they would
need them. Mrs. Burt, Mayor elect, says
the women Are not yet ready to an
nopQcc their policies for promoting the
welSgre of the city.
I'VE intend to study conditions and
do al In our power to give Yoncalla
good, efficient government" she as
sested- cat the worst we can't do
nkaa worse than. the men have done"
The women win go about their new
duties in serious frame of mind, for
they believe that their success or fail
ure will be watched with interest by
their newly enfIgnchised sisters In all
parts Of the country.