A Woman for Mayor | Page 4

chairman's desk.
"We are sure to give you a surprise," began Mrs. Bateman, "so we may
as well tell you at once. We are going to enter city politics."
"That's good," answered Allingham. "I trust you're going to offer us an
available candidate for mayor? That's the greatest need in Roma today."
"We are," said Mrs. Bateman, smiling.
"Good!" cried Allingham, with enthusiasm. "I was just saying to
Morgan, here, that if Judge Bateman would consent to run,--or rather,
he was saying it and I was assenting, when you came in. I hope you're
going to offer the Judge on the altar of municipal duty, Mrs. Bateman.
He would carry the city."
"No, indeed. Better than that," replied the Judge's wife.
"Far better, we think," added Mrs. Stillman.
"Mr. Allingham, the women of Roma are going to put forth their own
candidate," pursued Mrs. Bateman.

"Good, again. Since the women can vote, I don't see why, if you all get
out and work, you can't elect anybody you see fit."
"O, do you think so? Do you really believe that?" said Gertrude Van
Deusen, who had not spoken before.
"I do," solemnly asseverated the young man. "'You women can do
whatever you undertake. Women without the vote can do almost
anything they choose, here in the United States. But where they have
the right of suffrage, they have absolutely everything in their hands.
You've given me great courage. For, if you women really mean
business, and will join your forces with the Municipal League--" he
paused a little.
"That's why we have come," said Mrs. Stillman.
"Then we are sure of victory. Now if you can bring Judge Bateman
or,--a better man, I think you said,--to accept the nomination, we can
overthrow the gang of grafters at City Hall and establish good
government here in Roma once more. Who is your man?"
"Miss Gertrude Van Deusen." Mrs. Bateman's eyes twinkled as she
pronounced the name; for she knew well the conservative position
occupied by all the Allingham family on 'the woman question.'
The chairman of the Municipal League gasped. Surely he had not heard
aright. He turned to the younger woman, who sat smiling at him,
confident of his support. Alas! What had he been saying?
"I am delighted to feel that we have the Municipal League behind us,"
Mrs. Bateman was saying. "We mean to arouse every woman in this
town, and make them vote,----"
"But, ladies," began Allingham, already floundering in the dust of
expediency, "have you thought?--Do you realize what you are doing?
Under ordinary circumstances--in well-regulated towns perhaps,--but a
woman for mayor?--In Roma? I'm afraid it wouldn't do."

"But you just said we could do anything we pleased?" began Mrs.
Stillman.
"In the way of help, yes," replied the chairman, sore beset. "But this
would be such an innovation."
"Now, Jack Allingham," said Mrs. Bateman, who had known him all
his life, "I know this comes with a shock to you,--I know how difficult
the problem seems at this minute. But don't decide now. Take time to
think. Consult with some of your leaders. We want your co-operation.
We believe that together we can establish the right kind of government
in City Hall. But we are determined to fight for our candidate,--and to
win. Unless, indeed, you succeed in putting up a much better man than
any yet mentioned for the place."
"Then here is where you throw down the glove?" asked Allingham,
recovering his equanimity, "and I've to--"
"You're not to decide until you've had time to think, to reason with
yourself, to consult your leaders, and to arrive at a conclusion,"
answered Mrs. Bateman, rising. "And now, we'll go."
They said good-by and left him standing in the middle of the room,
dazed and indignant at the tide of affairs. Even then he noted that turn
of Miss Van Deusen's fine shoulders and the invincible way she carried
her head.
"What a splendid woman she must be," he said to himself. "A
genuine,--but I'm an egregious idiot,--a blanked blunderer. A pretty
scrape I am in! Why didn't I wait until they declared themselves? And
Miss Van Deusen! She must think me a fool. But a woman for mayor,
indeed!"
"What do you suppose I've just heard?" exclaimed the secretary,
hurrying in again. "Blatchley says the club women of Roma are going
into the campaign with a vengeance,--that they are going to put up a
woman--the daughter of old Senator Van Deusen. I don't believe
it.--And yet, wasn't she one of those women who just went out?"

"She was," replied Allingham. "She is. Whether she will be, remains to
be seen. You can't tell what a woman--"
"Then it's true?" Morgan's tone was incredulous.
"Yes, I suppose so," returned the chairman. "The women are going to
turn in