An Example of Women in Politics

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 38, 1970, No. 1

An Example of Women in Politics

BY MARY W. HOWARD

A .s 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 qualifying, 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 perfectly 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 looking 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 peddlers and traveling merchants who infested our town to the detriment of our local merchants whom we felt it our duty to protect.

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 highway.

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 town limits, thus protecting our feathered friends.

Sixth. We had the cemetery surveyed and plotted 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 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.

We appointed a clean-up day and offered a prize of $10 for the cleanest and best kept street and sidewalk surrounding 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.

Tenth. We prohibited all foot races, horse races, ball games and all other noisy sports on the Sabbath day. Eleven. Prohibited gambling and all games of chance. Twelve. 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 course, 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 Marysvale 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 medical 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 Excellency, Governor William Spry, and his party, who were touring this part of the state at the time. May 16, 1913, we held a "Greater Utah Development" meeting, and had an excellent program. Could you have witnessed the enthusiasm on that occasion 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 ourselves 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, asked if we were married women of families. I told her emphatically yes, that each of us had from two to seven children, and that three of the five members have given birth to babies during 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 religious duties which I try not to neglect. I am local superintendent of Religion Class, teacher of the second intermediate department in Sunday school and treasurer of the Relief Society.

I, and my two boys, which is all the family I have, each received a badge of honor for never being late nor absent from Sunday school last year, and have made the same record so far this year, so you will see that I haven't much leisure.

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