An Example of Women in Politics

An Example of Women in Politics

BY MARY W. HOWARD, LATE CHAIRMAN OF THE TOWN BOARD OF

KANAB, UTAH

[It appears that the Town Board of Kanab, Utah, was recently com-

posed of women entirely. The following history of their election and

what they have been able to accomplish was written October 19, 1913,

to Mrs. Susa Young Gates, by Mrs. Mary W. Howard, who was the

chairman of the Board. As showing what women can do for the

advancement of the conditions of a country settlement in Utah, the

account is an inspiration, and we believe will interest the readers of

—

the Era. Editors.]

As you have no doubt heard, our election was intended as a

burlesque, and we all treated it as a joke and had no idea of quali-

fying, but the leading men all insisted upon our doing so, they

pledged us their support, volunteered to secure our bonds, and

left us without an excuse, so we consented to try and do the best

we could, and as we are now nearing the end of our two-year

term we feel that we have accomplished a little good. In fact,

our supporters say that we have done more for the town than all

the male Boards they have ever had. They urge us to run again

at the coming election, but we are not at all selfish, and are per-

fectly willing to share the honors with others. We are in hopes

they will elect other ladies to fill the vacancies, as we know they

are perfectly able to carry on the work; and, in fact, are better

able, because the men are away from home most of the time look-

ing after their sheep, cattle, etc., and the town is left without any

supervision.

It is a noted fact that nine-tenths of the people never knew

before who the members of the Town Board were, or that there

even was a Board, but you can ask any child on the street who

the present Board is, and they can tell you every one of our names

for we are discussed in every home for good or ill. Don't think

for one moment that we haven't any opposition to contend with,

for we feel sometimes that we have more than our share of it.

Some members meet it every day in their own homes, but they

are all women of character and have been able to hold their own.

They have come out on top of every skirmish so far, but it makes

it very unpleasant for them, as you may know.

Our first official act was to increase the license of the ped-

dlers and traveling merchants who infested our town to the detri-

ment of our local merchants whom we felt it our duty to pro-

tect.

866 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Second. We prohibited cattle, horses, and other animals

from running loose upon the streets.

Third. Prohibited any person from building any corral,

stable, or feed yard within fifty feet of any street or public high-

way.

Fourth. Placed a tax on dogs and had all killed that were

not registered before a certain date.

Fifth. Prohibited the use of flippers and slings within the

town limits, thus protecting our feathered friends.

Sixth. We had the cemetery surveyed and platted and are

now giving deeds to all parties who pay a small fee for the lots.

Seventh. We purchased lumber and built bridges over all

the irrigating ditches in town.

Eighth. We joined with the Irrigation Company and built

MEMBERS OF THE LADIES TOWN BOARD, KANAB, UTAH

a huge dike above town to protect our homes and property from

the floods which have been a menace to our town ever since it

was settled. This enterprise cost $1,000 and we are paying one-

half of the amount.

Ninth. We have had the Indians all moved out of the town

limits for sanitary reasons.

Tenth. We appointed a clean-up day and offered a prize of

$10 for the cleanest and best kept street and sidewalk sur-

rounding any home, $5 for the second best and $2.50 for the

third best. You will know that this meant a lot of work for the

people, as most everyone owns a quarter of a block and lives on

the corner, so they had to clean two sides of the street.

WOMEN IN POLITICS 867

Eleven. We prohibited all foot races, horse races, ball games

and all other noisy sports on the Sabbath day.

Twelve. Prohibited gambling and all games of chance, and

during the past week three young boys were arrested and fined

$2.50 each, for breaking this ordinance.

Thirteen. We passed a liquor ordinance which was prepared

by the Municipal League of Utah, under the new liquor law passed

by the last legislature. Our greatest trouble has been in fighting

the liquor evil, which is a terror to our town. A year ago now,

liquor was being shipped in here on the U. S. mail, which carries

express as well, and our town was full of it. We could get no

redress through the courts, so we wrote direct to the Postmaster

General, at Washington, and explained our situation, and asked

him if it was necessary for us to put up with such conditions.

He answered that the matter would be investigated immediately,

and in a very short time the mail contractors all along the line

had strict orders not to carry another drop of liquor from Marys-

vale to Kanab, so we have not had much trouble from that source

since, though it is still shipped in by freight and other ways. They

know we are on the look-out, and they have to be pretty sly about

it. Our marshal seized twelve gallons at one time which was

addressed to different parties some of them were able to prove

;

to the satisfaction of the justice of the peace, though not to ours,

that it was sent for medicinal purposes, and were allowed to keep

theirs, and the rest about six gallons, was poured out on the

ground in front of the court house.

September 12, 1912, we tendered a reception to His Excel-

lency, Governor William Spry, and his party, who were touring

this part of the state at that time. May 16, 1913, we held a

"Greater Utah Development" meeting, and had an excellent pro-

gram. Could you have witnessed the enthusiasm on that occa-

sion you would know that we are loyal citizens of our beloved

state.

September 10, 1913, we prepared a great fruit festival, in

honor of the Utah Automobile Club, on their pioneer trip to the

Grand Canyon of the Colorado, as they are boosting for better

roads into our country, and that is one of our greatest needs. We

sent to Dixie for grapes and peaches, furnished the melons our-

selves and treated the entire town.

Now these are a few of the many things that we have done,

though there are very many other little things that we have tried

to do for our civic improvement. We have always been united in

our labors, have laid aside our personal feelings and always worked

for the public good.

Mrs. King of the Utah Legislature, writing to us about our

work, aked if we were married women of families. I told her

emphatically yes, that each of us had from two to seven children,

;

868 IMPROVEMENT ERA

and that three of the five members have given birth to babies dur-

ing our term of office.

We do all our own home work, make our own carpets, rugs,

quilts, soap and all other things that pioneer women have to do.

I clerk in the store part of the time, and do my own work, which

at this season includes bottling fruit, preserving, pickling, drying

corn, etc, etc., between times

and then there are my religi-

ous duties which I try not to

neglect. I am local superin-

tendent of Religion Class,

teacher of the second inter-

mediate department in Sun-

day school and treasurer of the

Relief Society.

and my two boys, which is

I,

allthe family I have, each re-

ceived a badee of honor for Mrs. Mary W. Howard, former

never being late nor absent Chairman of the Town Board of

from Sunday school, last year, Kanab, Utah, and her two children.

and have made the same record so far this year, so you will see

that I haven't much leisure.

send a photo of myself and children taken six years ago.

I

It was a pretty good one, when taken, but, of course, I have

changed much since then.

Hoping that the information which I have given will be satis-

factory, I am

Your sister and co-laborer,

Mary W. Howard.

FIELD SECRETARY OSCAR A. KIRKHAM, TEACHING GAMES TO M. I. A.

SCOUT MASTERS, VERNAL, UTAH