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The Incomparable Mrs. Salter
Manage episode 302354118 series 2969272
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Picture it: 1887. Argonia, Kansas. A small Quaker village incorporated only two years earlier elected the first female mayor in the United States. Susanna Salter, who received this honor, was one of a number of women mayors elected during the years after the Civil War when women were renewing their demands for more political rights.
Salter was both a member of The Prohibition Party (PRO), as well as an officer in the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). PRO is a political party in the United States known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the United States and the third longest active party at 152 years old.
Granted the right to vote in the same year Salter was elected, the WCTU made enforcement of a state prohibition law a prime issue for the Argonia election. The group called a caucus to select a ticket of men whom they considered to be prime choices to fulfill their desired policies.
Two men of Argonia felt that the field of politics was not for women and attended the WCTU caucus. They heckled the proceedings and attempted to nominate a candidate. However, they were voted down. After this caucus, these men called a secret meeting of twenty men, where they decided to teach the WCTU a lesson.
This faction of men drew up their own ticket of candidates identical to the WCTU ticket, except for one major difference. They substituted Susanna Salter's name for the mayor's office. They assumed that the women would vote for the slate of men that the WCTU had drawn up and that no other men would vote for a woman. In essence, they aimed to embarrass Salter and the WCTU.
Candidates did not have to file prior to election day, so Salter appearing on the ballot did not cause any issues. The Republican party in Argonia sent a delegation to her home upon seeing her on the ballot for mayor. They explained the prank by the faction of 20 men and decided to show these other MEN a lesson...by campaigning all day to elect Susanna Salter.
The initial intent of placing Mrs. Susanna Salter's ballot was a prank. However, this "joke" ended up electing the first female mayor in the United States.
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