A WOMAN AS MAYOR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 15 August 1911, Page 2

A WOMAN AS MAYOR.

Onehunga at one time boasted ol a woman Mayor, and she' certainly did not have a happy time as Chief Magistrate, but her troubles were nothing compared to those of the woman whoYas been elected to the oflice in Hnnnewcll, Kansas. She at once asserted her right of authority as a representative of the people, and appointed a woman Cliiet ot Police, and set on foot other changes. But the other members of the City Council—all men—refused to have anything to do witli her. They treated her proposals and orders with contempt, disobeyed her calls to meetings, and transacted business without her. She had also to endure severe criticism from a section of the public. She then appealed to the Governor for protection, and received a gallant, but unsatisfactory reply. The authority of the State would bo used to help her, but she was advised to smile and not take the comments of citizens too seriously. “When one enters public service, "he or she must lie prepared to take criticism. All the little doings of a public officer occupying the high position of Mayor are the subject of free comment on the part of tree citizenship.” The latest news from Hnnnewcll, however, indicates that the Mayor’s troubles are far from being over. Under order of the Governor the members attended a meeting called by her, bub little bnriiigss was done. She had appointed a woman as town clerk, but the" Council refused to confirm the appointment. “Well, I’ll .just keep on appointing her at every meeting,” she said. Other appointments made by her were also vetoed, "and it took her more than an hour l to induce the Council to adjourn. Nothing excuses the conduct of the Council, but it seems injudicious of the Mayor to start out by appointing women to such positions as Chief of Police.