Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1920 — TOWN KILLS ADAGES [ARTICLE]

TOWN KILLS ADAGES

municipal Offices Now in the Hands of Women. Suffragists of Yoncalla, Ore., Prove That They Can Keep a Secret and "Play Polltica." Yoncalla. Ore.—Yoncalla in now strictly a woman’s,town. In spirit and In fact womdn are the town’s leaders since the recent election when they elected a woman mayor and a woman to every other place In the city government unbeknown to the men of this little town. ' • The women say the election has permanently disposed of two old adages, to the effect that women can not keep a secret and that they can not successfully “play politics." Over teacups, at social gatherings, after prayer meetings and from hoiue to bouse the women carried on their

political campaign secretly prior to election. It had been "whispered,” they said; that the men Intended to let the Incumbents hold over without bother of a new ticket. The women did not like the administration. They bolted and went to the polls and marked In the names of their candidates. The men were concerned with national Snd state politics only. The men did not bother about the city election. Result: Mrs. Mary Burt, mayor, native Oregonian, graduate of Pacific college, class of 1873, who hA lived here .43 years (Rep.). Councilwomen —Mrs. Jennie R. Lasswell, wife of the retiring mayor and prominent clubwoman; Mrs. Bernice ' Wilson, pioneer school teacher, and wife of postmaster; Mrs. Nettie Hannan, wife of a retired capitalist The women have no definite plans for promoting *fhe welfare bf the town, Mayor-elect Burt said. “We Intend to study conditions,” she

said, “and do all in our power to give the city of Yoncalla a good, efficient government. > “At the worst we can not do much worse than the men have done.” Mayor Jesse B. Lasswell, who has lost his job, said his cohorts “were taken off their guard,” but he has promised the women his help.

The longest tunnel In * the world, fifteen nilles In length, is planned by a Russian railroad to save an 188 mile detour.