From the Weekly Kansas Chief (Troy, Kan.), 9/12/1872, p. 1, c. 6

[Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.]
THE PRESIDENT’S OPINION OF FEMALE OFFICE-HOLDERS, AND OTHER MATTERS.

I found the President looking none the worse for his trip from the “Cottage by the Sea,” and quite ready for business, chat, or diplomacy, as the case might demand.

There has been so much written and said about the President’s being no talker, that I was very pleasantly surprised to find him entering into conversation without the least hesitation, and giving his views quite freely upon the political situation.

The President said he had met with political opposition whenever he had appointed women to office, but that he had favored such appointments always, and made them whenever he could.

He has had a great deal of trouble with the politicians about the office which is held by Miss Van Lew, at Richmond, Virginia. Delegation after delegation has visited him, to have her removed. There is no fault found with her conduct of the office, but the argument used is that the party needs it for political purposes. The President has been unmoved by all the clamor raised. He hears their story quietly, smokes his cigar, and continues the fight “on the same line.” I asked him if women had generally made good officers.

He replied that out of the three hundred that he had appointed but one had proved unworthy, and that was a postmaster who was a chronic defaulter, and they were obliged to dismiss her; but he appointed another in her place. He said he hoped to see many more of the clerkships in the departments filled by women.

In answer to an opinion expressed in regard to the influence that women might wield in a political campaign, he answered that he thought they might do him as much good by talking for him, perhaps even more, than by voting.

[remainder of article pertains to other matters and was not transcribed – MDG]

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