USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume III > Part 17
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Because women such as Mrs. Rowe do not consciously adopt an altruistic design for living. They live in accordance with this design quite unconsciously, without even knowing they have done so. Even superficial survey of such lives reveals a quality of self-effacement in direct proportion to the services they give and to the value of the contribution they have never known they made.
During the fifteen years that Margaret Anna Rowe headed the board of managers of the Children's Hospital of Cincinnati, thousands of sick and suffer- ing little beings were restored to health and strength by the free service to which she contributed unsparingly of her time, her energy and her means. It was through such giving that this institution has now become one of the finest centers of child saving in the whole world.
During the twenty or more years that Mrs. Rowe has devoted to the art and science of horticulture, she has exemplified the same characteristic of personal unpretentiousness allied with unflagging zeal.
Although she has avoided official leadership whenever and wherever possible, Mrs. Rowe has been drafted from time to time to head organizations. Notable among these has been the Cincinnati Garden Club, members of which have con- cerned themselves with expanding possibilities of home and community gardening.
But Mrs. Rowe's services in this field did not stop here. Realizing the dis- couragement that faces every amateur gardener depending on his or her own efforts for success of a project undertaken with the initial enthusiasm of utter ignorance, Mrs. Rowe set herself, about ten years ago, to the task of writing down, in simple and practical form, what she had learned of gardening through her own experience.
Her book, "Living with Our Flowers," is said to have proven an inestimable help to countless flower lovers. It is marked by the characteristic unpretentious- ness of the author. "Work in my garden has been a great joy, a great labor and a great puzzle," she says in introduction. "My experience has taught me how little information we struggling amateurs find available and practical for our use. I will be glad if I can, in any way help others to see how their gardening may be fraught with success and pleasure."
Mrs. Rowe was born in Cincinnati where her parents, both of English descent, were reared. Their home was at Riverside, then an attractive suburb where many other old Cincinnati families had residence. Here took place, on June 12, 1879, the marriage of Margaret Anna Richardson to William Stanhope
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Rowe, destined to become one of the leading bankers of the midwest. Mr. Rowe began as cashier, advanced steadily and was for five years president of the First National Bank of Cincinnati. He served for five years as director of the Federal Reserve Bank at Cleveland and in many other important capacities.
Their present home, "Goodwood," on Indian Hill, is a spacious and beauti- ful estate, with gardens that are visited by horticulturists from far and near.
But there is hardly an annual or a perennial, hardly a shrub, or-bulb, or tuber, that is not known intimately to the garden owner. Many of them were planted and nursed to maturity by her own skilled and solicitous hands. Insofar as her health permits, Mrs. Rowe is still living with her flowers.
"We should make more and more of our gardens," says Margaret Anna Rowe. "We need beauty, variety and mystery-the true appeal to the heart and to the senses. This is what gardens are for."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Women in Political Life and Public Service
KATHARINE KENNEDY BROWN
Dayton, Republican National Committeewoman for Ohio
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
WOMEN IN POLITICAL LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE
By KATHARINE KENNEDY BROWN Republican National Committeewoman for Ohio
As this book goes to print, the women of Ohio and of the United States are celebrating their eighteenth political birthday. They have come of age politically. With sufficient experience behind them, they now look forward with that rare enthusiasm and expectancy which only an eighteen year old girl can know and the future glistens brightly as women are more and more learning the art of this "Great Game of Politics."
Looking at the score today, as to women's contribution in the world of politics, one fact seems to supersede all others in importance. It is the fact that the great army of field-workers, the County Chair- women, the Ward and Precinct Women Executives, and all those who assist them, have been so able, so efficient, so conscientious and so effective in their work, so untiring and painstaking and loyal, prac- tically every man as well as woman, with any wide political knowledge, will admit, that one woman is worth ten men when it comes to the actual canvass. Also, the increase in the number of women voting, shows the growing sense of responsibility in their citizenship which is most heartening.
A second item of importance is the obvious fact that nearly all the political education which is going on in our cities and rural dis- tricts today, is sponsored and carried on by women's clubs and organizations.
Men tell us that politics is on a higher plane since women have been voting. We should like to take credit for this, and in some measure it is undoubtedly true, but perhaps modern methods and ethics have also contributed much to this betterment.
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A fourth conclusion seems interesting, and it is the fact that most of the women who give so lavishly of their time and energy in political work, do so from patriotic and good-citizenship motives, and not with the idea of a build-up for public office.
The other side of the picture is less encouraging. It seems certain that the great majority of the better educated women, and those with talents for leadership, who have time and the desire to give of them- selves in public service, rarely choose the political field for their efforts. They engage in all manner of civic and philanthropic work, but eschew this field as if it was still a questionable avocation. This is a curious attitude for any American citizen to take.
Senator Taft once said, "Political parties are a particular form of organization. They have to meet the competition of all kinds of special organizations-people who want to organize for particular purposes ... But parties are essential to our government. The under- lying reason for political organization is to secure a sufficient number of people acting together, interested in one or more fundamental principles, interested in electing to office men who represent those principles, in order to secure the effective carrying out of the Gov- ernment of the United States. However beneficial special organizations may be, if we do not have also party organization, we will simply have a series of groups, no one of them strong enough to carry out effective government, no one of them probably strong enough to carry out the particular objects for which the particular group has organized. The argument is unanswerable that party organization is more important from every standpoint."
Republican women of Ohio have a fine record-a fine tradition. An Ohio woman was chosen as vice chairman of the Republican National Committee when women first came into the political picture in the United States. Harriet Taylor Upton served in this capacity before there were any National Committeewomen elected to represent this or other states.
When the new law took effect by which one woman as well as one man were elected from each state as members of the Republican National Committee which is the controlling committee of the party in the nation, that splendid leader, Mrs. John Gordon Battelle, became
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Ohio's first Republican National Committeewoman. There followed in succession, Mrs. Todd, Mrs. Wilma Sinclair LeVan and Mrs. Hugh Clark.
Not until 1928, did the law provide for the election to the State Committee of one woman as well as one man from each Congressional District, and since that time a woman has also always been. elected vice chairman of this committee. Mrs. Louise Ogden DeVoe of Ash- land, Miss Gertrude Jones of Findlay and Mrs. Mary L. Forrest of Cleveland have held this distinguished position.
In the various county organizations throughout the state, a woman is appointed County Chairwoman, and in the 88 counties this leader- ship is constantly gaining in importance and responsibility, for under the direction of these women are set up the women's organizations for each county.
Few women place their names on the ballot for the County Central Committees, preferring to serve as appointees with the man rather than to battle with them for the elective positions.
When the National Program Committee was set up last year-to study issues and present their findings to the Republican National Committee for use of the next Platform Committee, three women from Ohio were selected on the delegation of eight from this state-Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Mrs. Chester C. Bolton and Mrs. Wilma Sinclair LeVan, while Mrs. Bolton was appointed vice chairman of this committee.
The colored women of Ohio have shared in the general program, and Mrs. Lethia Fleming of Cleveland, has several times been chosen to serve at National Headquarters and lead the colored women of the nation during a national campaign.
For public office, women have been more reluctant to compete, but where they have matched their wits and ability, the outcome has been exceedingly creditable.
Genevieve Cline of Cleveland, was one of the first, her appointment as judge of the Court of Customs being for life.
Rose Moriarity of Cleveland served on the State Industrial Com- mission and Mrs. Hugh Clark on the Parole Board.
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A number of women have served in the State Legislature and it Is not an uncommon thing today, to find them as County Treasurers, or holding other Court House or municipal offices.
As in other fields then, women have quietly but effectively taken their places in the world of politics, and yet by comparison with other avenues of women's work, this particular vocation is barely touched.
WOMEN IN POLITICAL LIFE By MILDRED R. JASTER (MRS. JOHN JASTER)
Democratic National Committeewoman from Ohio
Women, down through the years of recorded history, have de- fended the home as the only sure foundation on which to build human progress and happiness.
This defense, for far too many centuries, she was required to maintain alone and her struggles were marked, at times, by failure and futility. Men made wars, men signed treaties and abrogated them, men made laws and broke them, and men achieved the political liberty symbolized by the ballot. Women remained at her appointed post in the home, bringing children into the world and insisting, timidly and ineffectually at first, that these children be given a decent chance in life.
Here, in America, it has been relatively a short time since women were first permitted to project their social philosophy into the field of practical politics. We have come a long way since the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. There is still a long way to go.
Women did not come into the political arena equipped or, frankly, disposed to argue the relative merits of the protective tariff, reciprocal agreements, states' rights or balanced budgets. Women made their belated entrance into politics to fight for the program they have never forsaken-the safeguarding of the home.
What has been the benefit of the participation of women in the work of the major parties? I say that women have brought to the major parties a social consciousness that was unknown before the
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MILDRED R. JASTER Columbus, Democratic National Committeewoman for Ohio
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adoption of the 19th Amendment. Government is doing great things today because women have insisted that they be done.
Women have been the spearhead of the winning fight against child labor. Women have fought for the secured clinics for the pro- tection of the public health. Women have demanded a chance for underprivileged children. Women have insisted upon the beautifica- tion of ugly places : they have supported with telling effect the slum clearance projects, and the one thousand and one things which gov- ernment is doing today in order to make America a better place in which to live.
What has been the effect of women in politics? I say that no major political party dare write a platform these days unless it embraces a specific program for the improvement of the family, the community and the society. Public service, to women, is social service in its finest sense. They will accept no other interpretation of it.
Women of Ohio know that their task has only just begun. They know there are still thousands of underprivileged children in this state being denied the decent chance. They know that our state welfare institutions are pitiably inadequate to care for those who need care. They know that slums persist and that poverty is blighting many young lives. But women know the problem and their course is set.
Perhaps, in my enthusiasm, I make too strong a case for women in politics. Party conventions are pretty much the same as they were years ago. Campaign appeals are about the same. The organization of precinct, ward, county and state remains unchanged.
Perhaps women have not wrought any political miracles. But they are working desperately to tune party machinery to the tempo of our challenging times. Most of all, they are committed eternally to the proposition that political action must be translated into terms of human betterment.
While they may not have succeeded yet, women will not stop until they change the spelling of word heeler from h-e-e-l-e-r to h-e-a-l-e-r.
Among outstanding Democratic women of Ohio are:
Mrs. Bernice Pyke, collector of customs, Cleveland.
Miss Constance Keller, probate judge, Crawford County.
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Mrs. Helen Howard, clerk of city council, Columbus.
Miss Mabel Yochum, county recorder, Brown County.
Miss Helen Jacobs, county clerk, Auglaize County (serving third term).
Mrs. Ann Makley, secretary of Parole Board, formerly deputy clerk, House of Representatives.
Mrs. Myrna Smith, member Parole Board, formerly secretary to the Governor.
Mrs. Margaret Allman, formerly Director of Welfare.
Miss Elaine Sheffler, formerly supt. of Minimum Wage.
Miss Esther Pinsky, formerly ass't. to the Attorney General.
Miss Mary Herlihy, formerly recording clerk, House of Repre- sentatives.
Miss Gertrude Fortune, formerly superintendent of Charities.
Mrs. Luetta Magruder, formerly superintendent of Charities.
Miss Audrey Mizer, former member State Real Estate Board.
WOMEN MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE, TO DATE-
Nettie B. Loughead (Rep), 504 Vernon Manor, Cincinnati-Senate, 1923- 1924. 86th and 87th General Assemblies.
Maude C. Wiatt (Rep.), 13464 Clifton Blvd., Lakewood-Senate, 1923-1924. 86th, 87th and 88th General Assemblies.
Mrs. Nettie M. Clapp (Rep.), 3027 Warrington Rd., Shaker Heights-House, 1923-1924. 86th, 87th and 88th General Assemblies.
Mrs. May M. Van Wye (Rep.), 3525 Biddle, Cincinnati-House, 1923-1924. 86th, 87th General Assemblies; member Senate, 88th General Assembly.
Mrs. Lulu T. Gleason (Rep.), 1475 Milburn Ave., Toledo-House, 1923-1924. 86th, 87th General Assemblies.
Mrs. C. J. Ott (Rep.), 432 Emerson Place, Youngstown-House, 1923-1924. 86th and 87th General Assembly.
Mrs. Clara Wood Derr (Rep.), 8929 Hough Ave., Cleveland-House, 1925- 1926. 87th and 88th General Assemblies.
Mrs. Viola Romans (Rep.), 1832 Summit St., Columbus-House, 1925-1926. 87th General Assembly.
Florence H. Wells (Rep.), 2346 Monroe St., Toledo-Senate, 1925-1926. Member House, 87th General Assembly.
Miss Osa Penny, (Rep.), 1826 Riverside Dr., Dayton-House, 1925-1926. 87th General Assembly.
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Grace E. Makepeace (Rep.), 1019 Starkweather, Cleveland-House, 1925- 1926. 87th General Assembly.
Mrs. Virginia Barker Harding (Dem.), Cheshire, R. R. No. 1 -- House, 1927- 1928. 89th General Assembly.
Mrs. W. E. Slagle (Rep.), 146 W. Earle St., Youngstown-House, 1927-1928. 88th, 89th and 90th General Assemblies.
Mrs. Sarah E. Hyre (Rep.), Society for Savings Bldg., Cleveland-House, 1929-1930. 89th General Assembly.
Mrs. Elma P. Valentine (Rep.), 2589 Cleveland Ave., Columbus-House, 1929-1930. 89th General Assembly.
Miss Emma M. Cramer (Rep.), 1228 Fourth St., Portsmouth-House, 1929- 1930. 89th General Assembly.
Mrs. Myrna Hanns (Rep.), 823 N. Main St., Bowling Green-House, 1929- 1930. 90th General Assembly.
Mrs. Ila Marshall (Rep.), East Liverpool-House, 1933-1934. 92nd Gen- eral Assembly.
Mrs. Anna F. O'Neil (Dem.), 853 Kenmore Road, Akron-House, 1933-1934. 92nd General Assembly.
Mrs. Grace V. Ford (Rep.), 511 Todd Avenue, Warren-House, 1933-1934. 92nd General Assembly.
Mrs. Alma Smith (Dem.), 6411 Hampstead, Parma-House, 1935-1936. 93rd General Assembly.
Miss Ruth Lloyd (Dem.), 833 Sixth St., Portsmouth-House, 1935-1936. 93rd General Assembly.
Mrs. Blanche E. Hower (Rep.), 60 Fir Hill, Akron-House, 1935-1936. 93rd General Assembly.
Mrs. Eva Fuller (Dem.), R. R. 5, Warren-House, 1937-1938. 94th General Assembly.
Margaret A. Mahoney (Dem.), 1745 Standard Bldg., Cleveland-House, 1939-1940. 95th General Assembly.
RUTH SPENCER BECKMANN
RUTH SPENCER BECKMANN, placement manager, social work person- nel, Ohio State Relief Commission, served overseas with the American Red Cross, the Polish Red Cross and the Latvian Junior Red Cross. She was boru at Sandusky, O., the daughter of Wilson and Ida Spencer educated at Lake Erie College and early showed ability for the type of administrative work which she has conducted efficiently ever since.
Mrs. Beckmann is an active member of Lake Erie College Alumnae Asso- ciation, of the Women's Overseas Service League, has written excellent chil- dren's stories and was decorated by the Austrian Red Cross and other Euro- pean branches for her service to their countries in time of greatest need. Her home is at 111 Sturges Ave., Mansfield, O.
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MABEL THORPE BOARDMAN
In the minds, of many people throughout the world the name of MABEL THORPE BOARDMAN, secretary of the American Red Cross stands close to that of Florence Nightingale.
She was born at Cleveland, the daughter of William Jarvis and Flor- ence Sheffield Boardman. She attended private schools in Cleveland and New York and completed her education abroad. She received the honorary degree of M.A. from Yale University, the degree of LL.D. from Western Reserve University, Smith College and George Washington University and L.H.D. from Converse College.
It is probable that Mabel Boardman's more than thirty years of unre- mitting service in this great cause has contributed directly and indirectly to the saving, healing and protecting thousands of human lives and her in- fluence in extending this indispensable human service is incalculable.
Miss Boardman was the United States delegate to the eighth and ninth International Red Cross Conferences, held in London, England in 1907 and in Washington, D. C. in 1912.
She was decorated by the King of Sweden with his personal order in 1909, received the gold crown from Italy the same year, was presented with the fifth order of the crown by the Emperor of Japan in 1912, and was pre- sented with similar decorations by France, Portugal and Serbia.
Mabel Boardman is author of "Under the Red Cross Flag." Her present home is at Washington, D. C.
HARRIET DAY BRICKER
"If John Bricker had chosen his wife with the governorship of Ohio directly in view he could not have done better" was the way friends of Governor and Mrs. Bricker summed up their opinion of the new first lady on inauguration day, Jan. 9, 1939.
Because it came from those who knew the qualifications required to meet the high standards established by other first ladies of Ohio, this was praise indeed.
Nor has HARRIET DAY BRICKER failed to justify the tribute. There is not one of the important organizations to which she has given time and energy during the years that she has lived at Upper Arlington, a suburb of Columbus, but would attest this fact.
Mrs. Bricker has worked enthusiastically for the Children's Hospital, the Y. W. C. A., the American Association of University Women, Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and other welfare civic or cultural groups.
She is a board member of the Family Service Bureau, of the West Side Day Nursery and of the Ohio Avenue Day Nursery and is active in the work of the Hannah Neil Mission.
Yet on the very day Harriet Bricker moved into the Governor's Man- sion she had a tea for 2,500 guests and at night a buffet supper for 50, both
MRS. JOHN W. BRICKER
Columbus, wife of Governor of Ohio
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of which functions went off perfectly. While still at Ohio State University, from which she was graduated, Harriet Day learned to budget her time. Her courses were heavy and despite her popularity, she took them seriously, so much so that she was able to accept the position of teacher in general science and chemistry at Urbana, O., her home town, after she left university.
Harriet Bricker is the daughter of the late Dolf and Mrs. Maude Day. The home of her mother is now at Worthington, O. The Brickers have lived in Columbus since 1920. But Urbana is still "home" to Ohio's first lady and to most Urbana folks she is still Harriet Day. Her family name is carried on in that of Governor and Mrs. Bricker's eight year old son, John Day Bricker.
Both Mrs. Bricker and her husband trace back to sturdy pioneer stock. with deep seated characteristics that seem to have come right on down through both families. Through the governor's mother, for instance, MRS. LAURA KING BRICKER of Mt. Sterling, O.
Both Mrs. Laura Bricker and Mrs. Maude Day attended the inauguration of Governor Bricker. His mother took a carefully wrapped package with her to the ceremonies, nobody seeming to know what it was until her son stood up to take the oath of office. The volume of Holy Writ on which he swore to faithfully discharge his responsibilities was old, its registry pages were full of entries in faded ink. It was Governor Bricker's mother's most prized possession-the Bricker family Bible.
CLARA F. BROUSE
CLARA F. BROUSE, chief inspector, Ohio State Department of Nurse Registration and chief examiner of the Nurse Examination Committee, Ohio State Medical Board, was born at Akron, the daughter of Myron D. and Hermine Brouse. She was educated at the University of Akron, where she took her Ph.D., and took special courses at Kent State College and at Western Reserve University. Miss Brouse was formerly a teacher in several schools of nursing, director of nursing of the Peoples Hospital at Akron, O., and superintendent of the Park Ave. Hospital, Rochester, N. Y. She is an ex- president of the Ohio State Nurses' Association and active member of many civic and professional organizations. Her residence is still at Akron, 94 Charlotte St.
KATHARINE KENNEDY BROWN
Two important "firsts" stand to the credit of KATHARINE KENNEDY BROWN (Mrs. Kleon T. Brown), of Dayton, O., Republican National Com- mittee woman for Ohio, 1932-1940. She founded and was first president of the Dayton Junior League and she organized, in Montgomery County, the first complete ward and precinct representation of women in the state of Ohio, after equal suffrage was established in 1920.
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Mrs. Brown was born in Dayton, the daughter of Grafton Claggett and Louise Achey Kennedy. On her mother's side Katharine Brown is de- scended from three Colonial Governors, Thomas Dudley of Massachusetts, Thomas Wells of Connecticut and Slayton Goodyear of New Haven Colony. Six leading ministers of Colonial days were among her maternal forebearers.
On her father's side are also notable Revolutionary period ancestors, among them Henry Claggett and Samuel Magruder.
She attended Dana Hall and Wellesley College. In 1912 Mrs. Brown helped to found the Dayton Day Nursery of which she is president. She was director for a number of years of the Visiting Nurses' Association of Dayton, of Barney Community Center and is now president of the Dayton Fresh Air Farm.
Her practical ability and natural gift for leadership resulted in the ap- pointment of Mrs. Brown in 1926 as regional director for six states of the Junior Leagues of America. Her marriage to Kleon Thaw Brown, widely known Dayton business man, took place in 1921. Mrs. Brown's work in or- ganization of Republican women was recognized by her appointment as dele- gate at large to the National Republican convention in 1932 and as Republican National Committee Woman for Ohio the same year. The Brown home "Dun- carrick" is on the outskirts of Dayton.
Other organizations in which Katharine Brown is active include Dayton Country Club, Dayton Woman's Club, Jonathan Dayton Chapter, D. A. R., Colonial Dames of America and Women's National Republican Club of New York.
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