Mayor Wheeler credited women for his re-election. Highlighted equal rights in his inaugural address in1922.
“…I was re-elected by the largest vote and the largest majority ever given a mayor, and our city has made the best showing of any city in the state…
“…The time has come when the women must be recognized in our body politic. This year I have put on the ward officers several women and anyone visiting the polling places where ladies were working could easily see a cleaner influence was at work. It has been freely said that the women of Gloucester elected me. Very well, I am proud of it and I hope to make them proud of it, too.
“And I will say right here at this time, there are some offices in City Hall that would be better run if the lady assistants were the heads and the heads the assistants,
and the organization of women in this city I predict will do more for the advancement of our city and the cleaning of our politics than a dozen boards of trade or chambers of commerce. Yes, if I am a women’s mayor, I am proud of it and I thank them one and all for their support, and I will turn around and help one of them to be Mayor if you men don’t fight cleaner than some of you do now.”
Hon. Percy Wheeler, Mayoral address following re-election, Jan. 2 1922, Gloucester, MA
