Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-08
now WOMAN SUFFRaGE WOE

r y
The following letter, written by Judge
Kingman, Associate Justice of the United
States Supreme Court for Wyoming Terri
tory, tells how Woman Suffrage operates in
that territory, where it has been established
three years. The letter was in reply to a
request from the Pennsylvania Woman Suf-
frage Association for information in regard to
the practical effect of giving woman the bal
lot:
LARAMIE CITY WYOMING TERRITORY, !
Dec. &c, 1872.
To the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation:
1t is now three years since the act was passed
giving women the right of suffrage, and the
right to hold office, in this Territory, in all
respects the same as other electors. Under
this law they have been elected and appoint
ed, to various offices, and have acted as Jurors
and Justices of the peace. They have gen.
orally voted at all our elections, and have
taken some part in making the nominations :;
and although there are some among us who do
not approve of it as principle, l think there
is no one who will deny that it has had a
marked influence in elevating our elections,
and making them quiet and orderly; and in
enabling the courts to punish classes of crime,
where convictions could not be obtained With
ont their aid.
For instance When the territory was first
organized. almost every one carried a loaded
revolver on his person; and, as a matter
of course, alterations generally resulted in
using them. / DO not remember a single in
stance where a jury of men has convicted
either party for shooting at each other, even in
a crowded room if no one was killed; or for
killing any one, if the victim had been armed.
But with two or three women on the jury,
they have never failed to follow out the in
structions of the Court.
Again the Courts have been nearly pow
erless, with only men for jurors, in enforcing
the laws against drunkenness, gambling,
houses of ill-tame, and debauchery in any of
its forms. Neither Grand nor Petit iuries
could be relied on; but few women on either
pannel changed the face of things at once
and from that day this kind of vice has trem-
bled before the law and hidden itself, where
formerly 1t stalked abroad with shameless
front and brazea confidence in protection from
punishment.
There are, comparatively, so few women
here, and these are so generally kept at home
by domestic duties, that the Courts have been
unable to obtain as many of them for jurors as
was desirable. But those who have served
have uniformly acquitted themselves with
great credit. Not a single verdict, civil or
criminal, has been set aside, where women
have composed apart of the jury.
This has not been the case, by any means,
when they have not been present They have
given better attention than the men have to
the progress of the trials have remembered
the evidence better; have paid more heed TO
the charges of the Court; have been less influ-
enced by business relations, and outside con-
sderatons; and have exhibited keener con-
scientiousness in the honest discharge of re-
sponsibility. And have heard of no instance
where they have incurred any odium, or ILL.,
will or want of respect, from having served
as jurors. On the contrary, am quite sure
that in every instance, they have been more
highly respected, and more generally appre-
ciated in consequence of it.
There is one other influence that has grown
out of the presence ofwomen in the court room
both as jurors and bailiffs, that has been most
apparent and welcome; it is the quiet order
and decorum, the decent and respectful be-
havior, the gentlemanly bearing that has al
ways been observed in their presence. The
spectators come there better dressed, chew
less tobacco and spit less, sit more quietly in
, their seats, walk more carefully on the foor
! talk and whisper less; and in all respects the
court room assumes a more dignified and bus
iness-like air; and better progress is made in
disposing Of the matter in hand.
Certainly the whole effect on our courts and
on our community, resulting from the pariici-
patton of women in the administration of the
| laws, has been most beneficial and satsfac-
tory; and it seems to me peculiarly proper
that those who who suffer most from the COM
mission of crime and the evils of vice, should
take part in its suppression and punishment.
| There is another matter in which we have
hana cd h,,,k ,slo 4 :,
the change it has wrought on election days,
and its influence on the polls. Formerly our
elections were scenes of drunken reyel and
noise; Of fighting and riot. But when the
women came to vote, they were always treated
with the attention and respect everywhere
shown to women in the United States. If
there was a crowd around the polls, they al
ways gave way when woman approached,
and were silently and orderly while she depos-
tied her vote and went away. Ifmen became
intoxicated, they did not remain there, where
the women would see them. No noisy discus
sions would arise around the polls, because in
variably when woman came up, all such
conversation would cease. The fact has been
that very few people gathered at the polls and
noise and fighting, riot and drunkenness have
been entirely unknown there. If men drank
too much as they sometimes did, they remain
ed at the drinking shops, each political par
ty by itself; and consequently avoided the
quarrels and collisions that so often occur !;
while the people went to the polls and voted
as quietly as they go to church. This, of it..
self, has been a gain in our community of no
small moment.
AT first there was quite a number of women
who refused to vote, but at every election that
number has grown less, until now, very few,
if any, fail to exercise the privilege. Many
refuse to vote as their husbands do, but
have not heard of any domestic discord or
trouble growing out of such a course.
In conclusion / wish to say, as broadly and
as unqualiiedly as can express it, that while
1 have seen great many advantages and
much public good grow out Of this change in
our laws, l have seen none of the evils or
disadvantages so generally apprehended, and
so warmly denounced by the opponents of the
measure. Very respectfully,
j. w. KNGMAN,
Associate Justice L. S. Supreme Court,
Wyoming Territory.