The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-11-06
had been SO construed as to admit single

or single, and even women of color. AT
contested election in Huntington
County in 1902, the votes of two or
three such actually elected member
of the Legislature. 1t is remarkable
that these proceedings did not sooner
bring about repeal of the laws which
we're thought to sanction them but
that event did not occur until 1897
and it is noticeable that, as the practice
originated in Essex county, SO the
fragrant abuses which resulted from il
reached their maximum in that county
and brought about its prohibition
In the year 1906 new court house
and Jail were to be erected in the
county of Essex. Strenuous exertions
were made to have them located else.
where than at Newark, which had been
the county town from a very early
period. Sufficient influence was brought
to bear upon the Legislature to secure
the passage of an act approved No.
vember 9th of that year,, authorizing a
special election, at which " the anhaj.
ttonts of the county, qualified tn
vote in elections for members of the
State Legislature" ETC., were described
as the qualified electors to determine
by their votes where the buildings
should be located. The contest caused
a great excitement throughout the
country, and, under the existing laws,
when the election was held in February,
1917, women of a." full age whether
single or married, possessing the re
quired property qualification, were per-
mitted by the judge of election to vote.
But as The conflict proceeded and the
blood of the combattants waxed warmer,
the number Of female voters increased
and it was soon found that evcry singl,
and ecery married woman in the county
was not only of " full age but also
4" worth 800 proclamation money, clear
estate" and as such entitled to vote if
they chose. And not only once, but as
often as
BY CHANGE OF DRESS
or completely of the inspectors they
might be able to repeat the process.
This was not confined TO any one
precinct, but was, more or less, the case
in all, and so apparent were these and
many other frauds that the legislature,
the ensuing session, did not hesitate to
set it aside as having been illegally con.
Quoted and, by repeating the act
authorizing it, left the buildings to be
erected in Newark, to which they le-
Ultimately belonged, And, in order
that no future occurrence of the kind
should take place, an act was passed
approved November 18th, 1907 the
preamble to which is as follows
WHEREAS, doubts have been raised
and great diversities in practice OBJ.
tanned throughout the State in regard
to the admission of aliens, females and
persons of color or negroes to vote in
elections, as also in regard to the mode
of ascertainipg the qualification of voters
in respect to estate and whereas it is
highly necessary to the safety, quiet,
good order and dignity of the State to
clear up the said doubts by an act of
the representatives of the people de-
claratory of the true sense and meaning
of the constitution, and to ensure its
just execution in these particulars &C
cording to the intent of the trainers
thereof Therefore" etc, etc.
The act confined the right of suffrage
to free ,chte male citizens twenty.one
years of age, worth $50 proclamation
money, clear estate, and disposed Of the
property qualification by declaring that
ccery person otherwise entitled to vote
whose name should be enrolled on the
last tax-lists for the State or county
Should be considered as worth the e5O, |
thus by legislative enactment determine
ing the meaning of the constitution, and
settling the difficulty. The law re.
NAMED unchanged until the adoption of
the new constitution a few years since,
which instrument is equally restrictive
as to persons who shall vote, and re.
moves the property qualification al
together.
Very recently refusal to respond to
4 demand for taxes legally imposed,
was received from distinguished ad.
vocate of " Woman's Rights" in one of
the northern counties who gave as her
reasons that women suffer taxation,
and yet have no representation, which
IS not only
UNJUST TO ONE HALF
Of the adult population, but is contrary
10 our theory of government and
that when the attention of men is called
10 the wide difference between their
theory of government and its practice
in this particular, that they cannot fail
to see the mistake they now make, by
imposing taxes on women when they re-
fuse them the right of suffrage.
Similar arguments were advanced by
a sister Of Richard Henry Lee, in IT'S,
when, if ever, they we're calculated to
receive due attention, yet the dis
4 inotrieha1 V,ro,n,a, Al !