The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-05
yV1HEN the election returns we're read
w election night last Fall in the city

w election night last Fall in the city
Of Fairport, Ohio, and 1t turned out
that Miss Amy Kaukonen had been elected
Mayor-the evil and criminal elements
among the 1000 inhabitants of Fairport
laughed.
Miss Kaukonen had made her campaign
on the Peoples ticket. and this was her
simple platform:
81 have no platform but there are several
things I do promise, and l will live up to
my word. believe that a majority of Fair
port people want a clean city, and II am
elected will do all in my power to make
Fairport as spotless a town as can"
But what could a twenty-three-year-old
girl do against the very powerful ring Of
who had been operating so boldly that
Fairport had come to be known as THE
Bootleggers' Paradise?" So the criminal
element and the onlookers who didn't care
much for a reform administration regarded
the attractive young Mayor.elect as a first.
class joke, and they made preparations for
easier and better times than ever in their
various fields of criminal industry.
But when the first day of the new year
came few weeks ago something happened
revelation came suddenly and thoss
who had laughed at the joke of a twenty
three-year.old girl for Mayor smiled no
more.
The bootleggers had heard OF dry towns"
here and there around the country, where
liquor sellers had only a fighting chance
They suddenly discovered that after Janu-
airy 1 the bootleggers had not even a fight
ing chance in what had been the wide-open
town of Fairport
Under the law the Mayor of Fairport is
authorized to appoint a chief of police,
board OF health. a police magistrate and
an expert chemist to analyze poisons,
drugs and liquors.
Now it happens that Miss Amy Kauko-
men, who was born in Elyria, Ohio, took
course in the Womens Medical College OF
Philadelphia and has a physicians diploma.
in the course Of her work she studied chem
istry, chemical analysis and microscopic
work. To have a little practice in prac-
teal application OF what she learned in tho
medical school she set up as a doctor for
while in a nearby town.
Without saying a word to the watchful
element in the population who lived by
their wits in escaping the clutches Of the
law, Miss Kaukonen decided to appoint
herself chief Of police, board of health,
expert chemical analyst and police court
magistrate
AS chief of police she had had no ex.
pefience, but she had little doubt she could
catch a criminal as we'll as the average
policeman. AS police court Judge she had
had no experience. but she rather thought
she had enough common sense and intelli-
gence to measure out justice IL she was
sure of the truth of the evidence presented
to her
But as a qualified physician she felt per-
fectly sure OF herself in filing the post Of
health officer And she knew that she
could rely upon her own technical skill as
expert analyst in testing any ordinary
drugs, poisons or liquors.
The people OF Fairport had heard some
rumors that the young girl Mayor was 60
ing TO be the whole 'thing-police, health
board, Judge, etc, The unregenerate hoped
this was true-nobody but conceited liz.
tie fool, they were sure, would try to do
all this. In any case that turned up, they
argued, they could surely trip her up some.
where along the line in some one OF her
various official capacities. They were
anxious to see how her scheme worked our.
They did not have long to wait. Stroll.
ing down the street, Mayor Kaukonen's eye
rested searchingly upon a peddler's wagon.
There was something about Steve Tomton
and his load Of vegetables from the neigh.
borning town of Concord which held her
attention. A little examination Of that
vegetable camoufage brought to light 100
quarts Of what looked and smelled like
corn whiskey.
Tomton was arrested, and with him was
Mrs. Elizabeth Duker, of Concord, wife Of
Tomton's employer. These two we're gath.
cred in and put in the city lookup, and the
young Mayoress took under her arm a boz.
tie OF the liquor, which she examined with