The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-11-10
WOMEN AT THE POLLS.

LER, MRS. WooDHuLL. MISS CLAFL1S, MRS.
THOMPSON, AND OTHER woMAEs RIGHTS
WOMEN AT THE ELECTION IN NEW YORK.
MRS. MILLER VICTORIOUS.
A Mrs. Margaret N. Miller, residing at 5S
Dey street, New York, succeeded in get
ting her name registered as voter at the
polling-place (No. 191 Greenwich street, Of
the district in which she resides. On Tues
day morning Mrs. Miller determined to go
and vote, and of her experiences upon
that occasion the New York World gives
the following account:
Reaching the polling-place, accompanied
by gentleman friend, she was accosted by
the inspector. who said, 81 suppose you
want to vote? ?"
eyes" replied Mrs. Miller, 81 have
come here for that purpose, but suppose
you will challenge me z"
"Oh! no. rcjoined the inspector, owe
know you, Mrs. Miller, and we have no
objection TO accepting your vote"
at this point the Republican inspector
interfered, having an objection 10 the vote,
but after some conversation they unanl-
mously agreed to accept it.
| Mrs. Miller, who had kept The tickets
! tightly rolled up in her hand, endeayored
| Inspector interlcred and kindly uufolded
| the slips and deposited them i'll tllcir seve-
| raj receptacles.
"That is all, I suppose" sid Grf.
; Miller, and bidding the inspectors good
morning. she left the place.
| Mrs. Miller speaks in high terms Of the
gentlemanly behavior Of the Inspectors,
asserting that no unScemly OF unwarranted
remarks were made as she left or entered
the place, and describes her treatment as
being most courteous. She is in high glee
at her achievement, as she Is the first
woman who voted at the election, and last
Notwithstanding all that they said of the
Boss,' went for old Bill Tweed"
Less successful, it seems. were Mrs. Vic
toria e.. Woodruff and Miss Tennie G..
, Claflin in their attempts to deposit their
, ballots. These ladies arrived ut the polling
booth in Sixth avenue escorted by Judge
Reymert, and provided with their tickets,
fully prepared to test their right to vote as
citizens of the United States. Since these
ladies registered their names on Friday
last, at which time not the slightest oppo-
sition was mantle sted towards them, much
; had been said relative to the issue of the pro-
! ject. Consequently there were 4 number OF
! loiterer> hanging about the polls, anxious to
. catch glimpse of the woman's rights cham
| pion, but to their credit may it be said,
| they INDUCED in no unseemly language or
| behavior Of any kind as the woman suf-
fragists passed by. The Inspector, how
= ever, refused to take their vote Oh the
grounds that the first Constitution Of New
! York, in regard to Wboeis entitled to the
| privilege Of voting, reads, " All males,'
etc. Judge Reymert vainly referred to the
second article, which says that call citi-
zens'' are entitled to vote. The inspec-
| tor, Notwithstanding nuplcrous threats Of
/ law suits, and being Informed that he
would be liable to heavy penalty if he
. persisted in declining to deposit the bal
! lots, stcadfastly refused to accept the vote
| Of either of the ladies', who at LAST rcIi ed
in great dudgeon. 1t is said that immediate
steps are to he taken by Mrs. WoodhulPs
lawyer to sift the matter light through and
j.; test the question whether the rejection of
! Mrs. WOodhulrs protiered ballot "as justi-
: fled or not.
| Equally unsuccessful were the attempts
Of Mrs. Thompson, of 100 Sixth avenue,
Mrs. Pa;ker, and Mrs. Frances Rose Nc
j kinley, also Of Sixth avenue. The lnspec-
| tors OF election had evi0cntiv-so the ladies
! thought-entered into 4 aconSpiracy, for the
| refusal TO receive their votes seemed TO be
! quite unanimous and unhesitating. Mrs.
! Leland, who resides in Fifteenth street, and
| who, not having resided thirty days in her
ward, was for that reason disqualified tor
| polls The ladies, SO says the World, went
! uuproyiGed with escorts, feeling more safe
| from insult alone. The Office was in cigar
store on Eighth avenue, and Tiled with
numerous friends of the TammsDy inspec-
| tors and the chnllcDgers and policemen.
! There was hardly room to move. The III
spector had just called out TO The polling
! clerk, "All right, Bill?" " Yes; votes the
whole ticket" when the door opened and
everything was instantly hushed.
Make way for the ladies'" called out 4
made was Immediately provided.
| The would-be voters, Mrs Thompson,
closely yelled, IN the rear of Mrs. Leland,
who took the lead very firmly, stepped to
the counter and rendered the little bunch
| of tickets.
ono, mann: can't receive thcm," said
the inspector, with all awkWardly-poltte
; bow.
| Nothing more was said. The ladies re-
| tire d. with the crowd smiling SLIGHTLY but
| significantly. The inspector heaved sigh
Of relief, as il a duty very disagreeable to
| his sense of delicacy had been discharged.
The other ladies Jared no better than
Mrs. Thompson, although Mrs. Mckinley
carried with her to the polls copy of the
Constitution Of the United States elabo-
! rately bound in blue and gold. The World
thus describes her experiences in the bar
Der. shop Of Mr.. Charles LeitZ, No. $40
| Third avenue, which served the purpose OF
polline-place in the twenty-fourth district
! of the Nineteenth Ward, to which that lady
| belonged:
addressing Dir. George II. Iovelace, chair
man Of the Board of Inspectors @ reg
istered as voter here the other day, sir,
and am now deSirouS of Yoting.'
For aesthetic effect there had been a cur
: tain of calico hung across the barber shop
so as to divide the voting-place from the
place in which the barber proprietor eXer-
cised bis art, and as the last word of Mrs.
McKinley's sentence died away the North
German voice of Mr. Leitz was heaad.
" Oh mine Colt, shentlemens, dere is dot
lady as wants to vote"
The sounds of the rapid razors stopped,
and even the shuttle Of impatient subjects
of the barber were no longer heard. Mr..
Loyelace gave a wistful look al his fellow
inspectors, and Strengthening himself up,
said in submissive way, - Madam, re-
eret to inform you that your II rue is not
on the registry. In fact. ". removed 1t
from the registry, and 1 cannot receive
your vote"
MIR. Lovelace bowed with q sympathlzing
air, as If to say the day seemed dark before
him in consequence Of the obligation which
had devolyed on him. Mrs. Mckinley
said, "But the Constitution provides thai
all citizens exclusive OF sex are entitled to
register and vote"
swell" said Mr.. Lovelace, "perhaps
you think a boy OF twelve years can vote.
Il's no use talking, madam. you can't vote"
"Well," said Mrs. Mckinley. "if you
have taken my name of the register there
is no use in my waiting any longer" !" and SO