A Political Force: Sadie Wright

Written by: John Michael Benson

Politics and Wind have both been known to change directions on a whim.  For some Arizona has been a staunch Republican state since polling maps started identifying “red” and “blue” states. But this wasn’t always so. There was a time when Arizona was just as blue, and just as Democratic as any. One reader remembers his first voting experience (as a Republican) under watchful Democratic eyes.

I will never forget the stunned silence that fell over the polling place, when the poll worker called our Republican. I was handed a ballot with all eyes on me and stepped into the booth. As I started to cast my ballot, I heard a familiar voice cry out, “Oh doesn’t your heart just break for poor Clifford and Ann, to have a child betray you like that.”  As I deposited by ballot, I found myself faced with a group of people all with a look of great disdain for me on their faces. But there was one in particular who stood there giving me the evil eye, she was the person who had cried out and actually believed I was a Judas and should burn in hell for such betrayal. It was none other than the indomitable Sadie Wright, a true partisan and when it came to the Democratic Party, a force to be dealt with, a genuine character.

I did for some years at election time share this little story and now find it hard to believe so much time has passed, that so few people can recall having known or even having heard about the inscrutable Sadie Wright.

She was a true daughter of the South, having never lost that delightful accent or those fine southern manners. She was college educated at a time when few women were and she loved good old American Politics. She and her husband moved from the Deep South to the mining camps of Miami, Arizona to build a life and future for themselves. The only thing she liked as much as politics was business and she had sharp business acumen. She and her husband made a fortune when they owned and operated the garbage dump which was then located in the vicinity of Allstate Insurance and Pioneer Hills. They made a lot of money selling tin cans to the mines.

Sadie was no small potatoes in the Democratic Party, for she had been a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at a time before the candidate was chosen by a Primary to stand in the General Election. She was also very active in the Business and Professional Women Associations. She often hosted people from these two groups at luncheon. Not too long after Danko Gergovich built the Copper Hills, Sadie decided the area now had a place, as she would say “of quality” where one could host a luncheon for the State Association of Democratic Women. Ernest McFarland was governor and a democrat. Edna McFarland, the 1^st lady of Arizona was invited to attend in keeping with prescribed protocol and etiquette. Sadie requested that Mrs. McFarland call at her home prior to the luncheon, where she wished to present several of the local ladies. Mrs. McFarland arrived at the Wright home in Miami having been driven there by an Arizona Highway Patrolman in a plain white car. Sadie had in attendance Margaret Harding Webb, who was the Gila County Assessor and one of the most influential and prominent politicians in the State of Arizona and the sister of the prominent Judge Thomas of Bisbee. She also had Lillian Brayton, the wife of Dr. Nelson D. Brayton, a member of the Arizona State Legislature. The ladies spent some 30 minutes visiting and then Sadie call Danko to advise him of their departure and there were protocols and manners to be adhered to on such an occasion.

Sadie requested Mrs. McFarland ride with her and the other ladies, however, when Mrs. McFarland opened the door to the car, she found the bottom half of a toilet sitting there and looked at Sadie who responded, “Oh Edna that’s just some of Ellis’ work, just push it to the side.”

In those days a visit by the 1^st lady of the State was considered an important occasion, especially if you were in the hospitality business. So Danko was standing at the entrance to the Copper Hills in order to greet Mrs. McFarland and welcome her to the Copper Hills. He noticed Sadie’s car and signaled for her to pull up under the canopy. He opened her door and for a man who was very seldom at a loss of  words, found himself speechless as he found the First Lady of Arizona sitting there with one foot in the toilet bowl and the other on the floor. Mrs. McFarland extended her hand in order to be helped out of the car and smiling said to the stunned Danko, “ Just a little of Ellis’ work Danko, nothing to worry about” and got out of the car and joined the rest of the guests in the dining room.

Part of the political activities revolved around the membership in the Business and Professional Women groups to which she belongs. One summer the National Convention was to be held in Phoenix and Sadie was to be a major participant in the Convention program. A few days before she was to depart for the Convention, she called by mother and asked if she thought I would like to accompany her, because she was taking her

Grand-daughter who was a friend of mine and thought I could keep her company. She offered to compensate me for my time, as she knew I would have to take a day or two off from my job at the drugstore. I elected to accept, as I thought it would be fun.

On the day we were to depart Claudia and I sat at Mrs. Wright, all packed and ready to go just waiting for her to come and pick us up for the drive to Phoenix.

Mrs. Wright had a store located between the T&M Garage and the Chevron Station, all of which were then located next to the Miles funeral Home in Miami and where she had a large collection of antiques, many of which she had salvaged from the garbage dump. So a couple times a week she would put on a large pair of boots and work the dump; often finding treasures with which to help stock the store. She had been working the dump the day of our departure and at long last pulled up to the house and honked. Claudia and I picked up our luggage and joined Mrs. Wright in the car, however Mrs. Wright took no luggage and we departed for Phoenix with her wearing the clothes and boots she had on while working the dump. Upon our arrival at the Adams Hotels she was treated by the desk clerk like she was some kind of bag Lady, which at that point in time she did resemble. By the time Claudia and I were hiding behind one of those large square columns in the lobby- neither one of us embarrassed in the least.

Mrs. Wright at long last demanded to speak to the general Manager of the Hotel whom she called by name. In a few minutes he appeared and personally registered Mrs. Wright while apologizing for the desk clerks action.

Once we were ensconced in our suit of rooms, Mrs. Wright went to work. First she called the Hotel Beauty shop, advising them she needed a complete “do”, including a good steam bath with massage. Then she called Mr. Downtown, as he was known then, Ben Projan, owner of Hanny’s advising him that she was attending the Business and Professional Women’s Convention and when she had departed Globe her housekeeper had failed to place her luggage in her car and told him the things she needed from his store. She then placed calls to Bob Goldwater of the Goldwater Department Store and Ed Korrick of Korrick’s Department store advising them of her situation and what she needed for them to supply. She then call tom Chauncey and Harry Rosenzwiz because she needed some first class jewelry and who better than these two prominent Phoenix jewelers. Before Mrs. Wright had returned to the suite from the beauty shop the requested items were delivered. Nothing was signed for; although a couple of the store clerks stayed to make sure everything fit and met with Sadie’s approval.

 

I’d like to see someone try that today.