Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-14
WOMEN AT THE POLLS.

We mentioned day or two ago, that a
Mrs. Margaret NJ. Miller, residing at % Dey
street, New Y ork, had succeeded in getting
her name registered as voter at the polling
place (No. 191 Greenwich street, OF the
district in which she resided. On Tuesday
morning, therefore, Mrs. Miller determined
to 90 and vote and of her experiences up
on that occasion the New Y ork 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 yote?'
ssYes,n replied Mrs. Miller, "I have come
here for that purpose, but suppose you
viii challenge me 2"
@Ohi no." reioined the inspector, 1--WE
know you, Mrs. Miller, and we have no OBJ
lection to accepting your vote"
AT this point the Republican inspector in
terfered, having an objection to the vote,
but after some conversation they unani-
mously agreed to accept it.
Mrs. Miller, who had kept the tickets
tightly rolled up in her hand, endeavored
to place them in the box herself, but the
inspector interfered and kindly unfolded
the slips and deposited them in their sew
eral receptacles.
sThat is all, suppose" said Mrs. Miller,
and bidding the inspectors good morning,
she left the place.
"NIrs. Miller speaks in high terms of the
gentlemanly behavior of the inspectors, as
serting that no unseemly or u1warranted
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
evening she remarked to a World reporter:
Notwithstanding all that they have said of
the Boss l went for old Bill Tweed"
Less successful, it seems, were Mrs. Vic
toria G. Woodruff and Miss Tennie & Olaf
lin, in their attempts to deposit their bal
lots. These ladies arrived at 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 OppOSi-
ton was manifested towards them, much
had been said relative to the issue of the
project. Consequently, there were number
of loiterers hanging about the polls,
anxious to catch glimpse of the woman's
rights champion, but, to their credit may it
be said, they INDUCED in no unseemly Ian
guage or behavior of any kind as the wo-
man suffragists passed by. The inspector,
however, refused to take their vote, on the
grounds that the first constitution of the
State of New York, in regard to who is
entitled to the privilege of voting, reads,
''all males" etc. Judge Reymert vainly re-
i Al. yrl,i hot
''aIl citizens" are entitled to vote. The in
spector, notwithstanding numerous threats
of lawsuits, and being informed that he
would be liable to heavy penalty if he per-
sisted in declining to deposit the ballots,
steadfastly refuse to accept the vote of either
of the ladies, who at last retired in great
dudgeon. 1t is said that immediate steps
are to be taken by Mrs. Woodhulfs lawyer
to sih the matter right through, and test
the question whether the rejection of Ms.
Woodhull's proffered ballot was justified or
not.
Equally unsuccessful were the attempts
of Mrs. Thompson, of 769 Sixth avenue,
Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Frances Rose McKin-
lev, also of Sixth avenue. The inspectors
of election had evidently, so the ladies
thought, entered into a conspiracy, 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 disquali-
fed for voting, pioneered Mrs. ThOmp-
son to the polls. The ladies, SO says the
World, went unproyided with escorts, feel
ing more safe from insult alone. The office
was in cigar store on Eighth avenue, and
filed with numerous friends of the Tam
many inspectors and the challengers and
policemen. There was hardly room to
move. The inspector had just called out
to the polling clerk, "All right, Bil?' "Yes;
votes the whole ticket" when the door
opened, and everything was instantly hush
ed.
Snake way for the ladies'" called out a
policeman, and all the way that could be
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.
ssNo, mann, can't receive them," said
the inspector with an awkwardly polite
| bow.
Nothing more was said. The ladies re-
tired, with the crowd smiling slightly, but
significantly. The inspector heayed sigh
of relief, as if 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 a copy of the COnstitu,
ton of the United States, deliberately bound
! in blue and gold. The World thus de-
| scribes her experiences in the barber shOI
| of Mr.. Charles LeitZ, No. $40 Third avenue
which served the purpose Of pOlling-place in
| the twenty-fOurth district of the nineteenth
ward, to which that lady belonged:
Entering the shop, Mrs. Mckinley said
addressing Mr.. George E. Lovelace, chair
man Of the Board of Inspectors: 81 regis,
tered as a voter here the other day, sir, and
am now DESTROYS of voting"
| For aesthetic effect there had been cur
tain of calico hung across the barber SHOP
so as to divide the voting place from
| tie place in which the barber pro,
prietor exercised his art, and as the
| last word of Mrs. McKinley's SEN
tence died away, the North German voice
! of Mr.. Leitz was heard, "Oh mine Colt
! shentlemens, dere is dot lady as wants tC
vote"
The sounds of the rapid razOrs stopped
and even the shuttle of impatient subjects
| of the barber were no longer heard. Mr.
! Lovelace gave a wistful look at his fellow
inspectors, and Strengthening himself up
said in a submissive way, MADAM, regret
to inform you that your name is not on the
registry. In fact, We removed it from The
regis ry, and l cannot receive your vote"
! Mr.. LOvelace bowed with a sympathiZine
air, as if to say the day seemed dark before
him in consequence of the obligation whicl
had devolved on him. Mrs. Mckinley said
''But the Constitution provides that all citi
zens exclusive Of sex are entitled to registe
| and vote"
"Wen," said Mr.. Lovelace, ''perhaps you
think a boy Of twelve years can vote. 1T
no use talking madam, you can't vote"
'Wen,' said Mrs. Mckinley, eff you hav'
taken my name of the register, there is n,
use in my waiting any longer" and so sh
departed.