The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-10-22

xz,,y~, C.SDIDATEs-Tbe discussions which
have been held in this paper regarding women
candidates for certain offices, has elected re-
snopse from an unexpected quarter, which We
tbi, week publish with pleasure. The writer is
one of the foremost lawyers in the State; has oc-
cupied the position of District Judge, in which
position he stood high; and who now occupies
position requiring the very best legal ability
He more than sustains our views-he insists that
women have no legal right to vote or hold office
in School Districts, and that anything effected by
their votes or performed by them in office, is IL
legal and void.
Now, for some law and legal opinions on our
side of the question. Last Winter, bill was be-
fore the Senate to authorize women to vote at
school meetings An able lawyer, reviewing the
bill, wrote as follows, and quoted from decision
of the Supreme Court bearing strongly upon the
question:
sRHETE NO. g.
This bill proposes amend section % of chapter % laws
ntisIed TO VOTE at any district meeting all
qualifications of electors as denned by the
~ ne Si t@e Of Offering to vote at elections
second all female persons ouer ne ag, g tSeyons gear
nnd article fifth of Constitution Of the State and who
shall residents of the district at the time on 3vsrhe %
word female but this bill would be- and SAID original
section and every other existing provision Of our stat
rs 20 far as the proposes attempts to authorize
nae persons to any school district meeting or
al any election is absolutely void 1t cannot be done and
ceased to bore RuguT holes with gimet FOR the Den
eft of class Of men who sometimes eSa % Sa. o
what have decided beg leave to call the aiten
ton Of the Senate beg agan tbe
attention of ali those who think they qualified to make
and construe Constitutions and aws to the case OF Car
HiliduaS and others, decided by the
Supreme Court of Kansas at the July term ieog ana re
In tbe case were these Mrs Wnans except that
fsmAle, and not male possessed all the 9ualncanons
as She went TO the polls the general election in 1s6s
and offered her ballot for County Superintendent
was refused and she board for refusing
her The District Court decided rgans her and she
appealed 20 the Supreme Court Mr. Justice Valentine
delivered the opinion Of the Supreme Court and quote
mo one claims that either the Constitution the
ntes anywhere provide BY express words for females yo
distinctions buhe whole claim for such night is teun
upon section % of article of the Constitution which
sehooi o@sers Article Of the Constitution is devoted
the legislative branch Of the governments and in defining
the powers aud duties of the Legislature among other
things provides Sec 2 that the Legislature in proy
ding the formation and regulation Of schools shall make
We hardly suppose is necessary to enter upon argu
ent Of this question probably lawyer in the State
ss Spn9i nsTousy % thinks that have g9
right for either STATE or County Oh
Public Instruction The Judgment OF the court below
affirmed"
Now the Constitution restricts the right Of suffrage to
males An election authorized be held school
district meeting is as much election is the gene
raj election the clerk treasurer or director Of school
district elected such a school district meeting is
much public officer is County or State Superutsn
dent So als0 tax voted election at school dis
trict meeting be valid must be voted by legal eecfoTs
and Others aud if voted by those who are not legal
electors it is void The Legislature has the same right to
authorize males under years of to vote as
females 81 Of age vote; and just
legally authorize girls of sixteen and eighteen to vote as
can females 81 years of And Though not peril
pent TO B. 63 is fundamental that to be eligible to
eEersire oSes one be legal elector abette County
pease due notice. and govern herself accordingly