A Woman Claims the School Office — and the County Lets Her Keep It
Miss Ella Guptill takes the superintendent's records while the state Supreme Court decides whether a woman may hold office in Washington.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The county commissioners have turned over the records and documents belonging to the superintendent of schools to Miss Ella Guptill, having decided that she is entitled to the office pending a decision of the supreme court. The suit is to decide whether or not a woman is eligible to hold office in this state. The commissioners took this action upon the advice of the county attorney, who cited the law providing that an appeal from a decision in a contested election shall be governed by the same laws applicable in civil cases, unless otherwise provided. In the event of a supersedeas bond having been given — which action was taken by Miss Guptill — the case must remain in statu quo pending the decision of the supreme court. Consequently Miss Guptill would be entitled to the office, at least until such decision is made.
“Consequently Miss Guptill would be entitled to the office, at least until such decision is made.”
Washington was years ahead of most states in letting women vote and hold office, then years behind in securing those rights; Guptill's case shows the question was fought office by office, not settled in a single headline. The same pattern echoes today, when formal rights can coexist with practical barriers and legal challenges.
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