The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-12-05
How Women Voted in Kansas.
[From the chIcago Ralance. !

From the Chicago Balance.l
We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing interesting account of how q
number of ladies voted at an election
for stockholders in Kansas. 1t was
written by one of the lady voters to her
aunt in this city:
WATERvILLE, Kan, May l, 1873.
Ny Dear Ai0t:-I have q bit of news
for you to-day, which will be as inter-
esting as the number of flounces l have
put on my last new dress.
The society here is divided betw cen
two parties, one wishing to build up the
town and make it a permanent home,
the other wishing to stay here while
they can make it pay, and then move
on. When the new sehoOl-hOuse ques-
tion was agitated, the latter class op-
posed it vehemently, and it was likely
to be a pretty close struggle, so the
school-party called out the women, and
they voted for the "bOndsn 'to a man,
So we got the school-house.
But that was a very quiet affair.
wrote you when / voted. But this
spring, when it came time to elect a
new school board, the party that was
defeated then was determined to put in
their men, at any cost. They rode night
and day, electioneering every man in
the district, and appeared at the polls
on the eventful day with beaming
countenances, sure of victory. But
alas! they had forgotten the women,
twenty-one of whom had gathered
quietly at a house close at hand, and
ten minutes before the polls were closed,
marched up there the election was held
in the new school-housel. But my pen
falters here-I cannot do justice to such
a scene. If that did not try mems souls,
to have us walk in so coolly and take
their hard-earned victory at the elev-
enth hourl Just for one instant there
were symptoms of trouble; then it al
subsided, and everything was as quie
and orderly as if it were at church
They understood it at glance, and tn,
only thing left for them to do was L
challenge our votes. We were all sworI
/ in, and then, instead Of going off quietly
to our knitting and darning, and giving
the men a chance to fight it out, we Sc
down to take a part in whatever bust
ness there was to transact. That was
"the unkindest cut of allu' Not ever
give them a chance to swear! for, no
tice, nothing of the kind was Heard any
more than if a company of men anC
women had met together on any other
I business.
As soon as the house was called to or
I der, the men all sat down and took of
[ their hats, something that never before
[ happened at an election i'm this town
/ Those who could not contain themselves
went off to the saloons, where they
could feel at home.
l noticed one little incident that
pleased me considerably. Harry Ther
little boyl got uneasy, so / took him
out in the Yestibule. Presently | heard
a couple of men come swearing up the
stairs. When they reached the door,
they stopped short-there sat ne ttpenty
1CODleR in their best bonnets. They
both stepped back, and one said to the
other-"I don't want to go in there" ,"
and down stairs he went, as still as 4
mouse. The other one pulled of his
old cap, gave few "claws" at his hair,
and slipped in next to the wall
So | have come to the firm conclusion
that American women have only to
conduct themselves as ladies, and they
will be treated as such by American
men eUerylUhere, for there never can be
more aggravating instance than the
one have just recorded.
Affectionately, YOUR NIECE.
Who voted at the last election.