Evening star., 1924-12-07
Continued from Second Page.)

election. After a little reflection,
! however, ! was forced to admit to
! myself that the question was not an
unreasonable one, because the nature
of my campaign, or rather the one
that was made for me by my friends,
was as unusual as was the outcome,
| placing a woman in high executive
office.
During my husbands campaign he
| travelled over the State in the Gus
tomary way, making from one to
! three speeches a day, clearly setting
| forth, with unmistakable directness,
the chief things which, if elected. he
| hoped to accomplish during the four
year term.
The lamentable circumstances which
brought about my candidacy pre-
cluded, of course, the possibility or
propriety of any such method of cam
| paigning; and let me say, in passing,
| that it was only because of the un-
usual situation created by my hus-
| bands unexpected death, at the end
| of two years service to the State,
| that I was thought of or could have
allowed myself to be considered as a
| candidate to complete his unfinished
| term.
The delicate way in which / was
|
husbands and my party in regard
| to the nomination is something ]
shall always cherish in my memory.
When it was finally offered me as the
! unanimous will of the emergency
| convention. l accepted with the un-
| derstanding that l was to make no
| public appearance during the cam
| patgn or make any active effort in
my own behalf.
| This understanding was strictly
| adhered to. My only utterances to
| the public were in my letter of less
than thousand words accepting
the nomination, and in another ad-
dressed to the women of Wyoming.
| These two letters may be said to
| have constituted my platform.
From numerous inquiries I have
| received from many parts of the
United States since my nomination
| and election, there seems to be a
| widespread impression that a woman
| in office would necessarily launch a
| militant feminist program or be
tempted to spectacular or radical ac-
tion. 1t gives me some satisfaction,
! judging from the expression at the
polls, to see that that fear is not felt
by the people of my own State.
Among the amusing questions
| have received Is a typical one from
New York:
DO you expect to appoint any men
| to office, or women exclusively?"
/ shall not be surprised If 1 am
yet asked whether 1 consider any
| man fitted or worthy to hold any
place OF public trust. To those who
are uncertain on that point or fear
! full, / would say that / do not expect
| to conduct my administration in the
! interest OF women as class, or any
group of people as a class, but in the
| interest of the whole State of wyom-
| ing. il wisdom may be given me.
T REGARD my election by so splen-
did a majority as an eloquent ex-
! preston of my States estimate of my
husbands character and his record
in Office, and of its confidence in me,
as in a sense, his representative, to
| carry out to the extent of my ability,
his interrupted program and policies.
| ! realize, however, that new Ques-
! tions, situations and demands will be
| constantly arising. 1t is my hope,
as know 1t is that of my State, that
| shall be able to meet them with
| the same high courage, ability and
| unfaltering loyalty that characterized
! him.
1 L expect 10 approach all questions
| requiring executive action with an
| open mind, availing myself of what
| ever sources of information I can, to
lead me to Intelligent decisions. 1t
Is my hope also, that l shall be
alert to opportunities that will sure
ly arise, placing it in my power to
| accomplish things that will be of
real and permanent value to the
people of wyoming.
From my Letter accepting the nom
ination / shall quote one paragraph
which very well epitomizes my attitude
/ toward the great responsibility which
| a few weeks ago was as foreign to
my. thoughts as to any woman's in
America:
IF the people OF Wyoming see fit
! to commit to me this great trust. ]
pledge that the best interests of the
State shall ever be to me the su-
preme consideration in the determin-
alton of all official matters that shall
be presented to me. My single pur-
pose shall be, SO far as lies within
my power, to serve and promote i'm
partially the interests OF all the
people OF our State"
State government, It seems to me,