The Mankato free press., 1923-04-20
OF WOMEN
/. STIRRED BY POLITICS
Mrs. Adolph Mueller Hands
Back Cutting Retort
REPLY TO w. e. T. U.
Ad journment Taken Before
Matters Had Reached the
White Heat Stage

White Heat Stage
That there is something in the
superstition in Friday the Thir-
teenth. seems to be borne out by the
happenings in this city yesterday.
Instead of bright cheerful sunrise,
people of Mankato were greeted
with a gray dawn and a cold drizzl-
ing rain, also a chill atmosphere for
this late date in the year. The mer-
curry. however, would have leaped up
several degrees had the pentup en-
ergy which was generated at the
meeting of the Council of Women
been released from the four walls of
the auditorium of the Mankato Y. NJ.
c. A. building. Here words" were
passed back and forth in rapid sue
eession until the meeting assumed
something more than pink tea"
was in sight. 1t was spirited ses-
sion. Grace and beauty were there
in numbers. AT least seventy ladies
made up the party.
The battle hinged entirely on the
fact that women of Mankato have
entered the political arena, and like
the Spartans of old are not afraid to
fight it out, il occasion calls for 1t.
There is not man beast or even
woman in the broad confines OF
Mankato that these Spartan women
feaE 9
The direct cause of the stir among
the members of the Council of. Wo-
men yesterday was a recent resolu-
tion passed at meeting of the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance union
Mueller, president of the Council of
Women, in publishing a communica
ton in The Free Press just preced-
ing the recent city election.
The resolution referred to as
passed by the w. c. T. u. and pub
lished in The Free Press was copi-
ed word for word from the records
of the secretary of the union, Miss
Mary Mott.
Praise and Condemnation
Some of the rapidfire speeches
made by the members of the Council
OF Women yesterday should have
made Mayor w. A. Beach's left ear
burn, while others should have made
his right ear glow with warmth, for
the chief executive of Mankato is
not without his lady champions, as
was brought out in yesterday 5
meeting. One lady in the meeting
referred to Mayor w. A. Beach as
"blustering," while another lady,
and by the way she is resident
of North Mankato, said that Mayor
Beach is a perfect gentleman. and a
man to be looked up to by any wo-
men. ...
Accusations of "railroading" were
flung out by one lady while others
hotIy denied this. The reference
the president of the council to the
fact that she "had opened the city
closet and let the ladies peep in at
the city skeleton, and caused them
to hold up their hands in holy hor:..
ror at the rattling of the bones.
nearly caused a complete rupture in
the ranks. One lady hotly resented
the reference to the effect that some
of the women were not included IN
the thinking class. The comparl-
son of intelligence to that or tine
emphatically intimate that the ladies
of the Council of Women are not a
flock of bleeting, wool producers,
hut have ideas of their own.
Following a short business session
the secretary Mrs. F. J. Sperry read
the resolution Of censure from the
w. C. T. u. as follows:
"Resolved that the women OF the
w. C. IT. u. unanimously regret the
action of the president of the Coun.
ell of women in making an off1clal
statement through the press In re-
gard to the recent election and here
by 60 on record as disapprov1ng said
action"
This was followed by the secre-
tary reading a paper announcing tne
withdrawal Of the Clio club from the
Mankato Council of Woman for the
ainder Of the year without making
q statement why. This also meant
the withdrawal of the three delegates
from that organization. Mrs. Sperry,
the secretary of the Council or Wo-
men then handed in her resignation
as a delegate from the Clio club. THIS
was regrettably accepted by the or
ganization.
Statement Of Mrs. Mueller
EVERYTHING was poceeding nicely
until Mrs Adolph Mueller read the
following, statement. Then there was
an explosion OF indignation on the
part Of the pretty ladies present.
To the Members OF the ManKato
Council Of Women: wish to make
statement justifying my communi-
cation of April to The Free Press
and also in regard to the resolutions
adopted by the w. c. T. U. April IL.
! "First, want to say that the exc
cutive board of the Council OF women
is not involved in any way In TINS
matter. I acted on my own lnltia.
tive and will see this affair through
to finish.
'When Mrs. Brandrup's communl- :
cation stated that she spoke as a
member of the Council of Women In
regard to the city's administration,
Immediately excitement began to
brew among the members. or the
many organizations that Mrs. Brand
rup is a member. why did she men
ton bShs Council of Women in her
political eyiews? 1t was interpreted
by many as a veiled implication that
the Women's Council was unanimous
for DR.. Beach and was intended to
influence the ladies of the city Tor
whom to cast their vote. !, as presi-
dent In ahs0luta fairness and Justice