The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-22
CORRESPONDENCE.

Mrs. Mary j. Collins, Corr. See.-Dear
Mddam:-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your letter of the sth
inst, with circulars. II will be impos-
sible for me to be present at your meet
ing, and 1 can only reply hastily to
your questions in reference to the prac-
tical working of Woman Suffrage in
Wyoming.
In public and private conversations,
in official and unofficial correspondence,
whenever and wherever have had oc-
casion to express any opinion upon the
subject, have shown that our Legis-
lature, in enfranehising woman, did an
act Of simple justice, which has not, to
say the least, been followed by any
painful results. This fact seems to be
almost universally recognized by our
people-so much so that in the last Leg
islature no attempt was even made TO
interfere with the existing order Of
things, which fact may be taken as a
sufficient refutatiOn of the statement
that "their conduct had thoroughly dis
gusted the better class of citizens" The
other arguments which you say are ad-
duced by the opponents of impartial
suffrage seem to require no answer from
me, for if "the women will not vote, {"
they certainly cannot "vote as their
husbands do"
The fact is that in Wyoming, as in all
other portions of the country, the women
almost unanimously take advantage of
all the rights and privileges that are ac-
corded to them, and in voting they ap-
pear 10 be influenced by the same con-
siderations that influence the men, and
to "vote as the men do''-i. G., just as
they please. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. A. CAMPBELL,
lGovernor Wyoming Territory
Cheyenne, April %, 1874.
Mrs. Mary j. Collins-Dear Lady,
Through the politeness of Mr.. C. W.
Tappan, we have perused the letter oi
4th inst. from you to his address, in
which an invitation is extended to
Woman Suffragists of Salt Lake tC
either attend your annual meeting oil
address a letter for the occasion; fol
which please accept our thanks.
The receipt of the note being at late
hour yesterday evening", afforling tor
little time consistent for attendance a
your Convention, we are happy to ad
dress you, although hastily.
Realizing as we do, that the womeI
of Utah are highly privileged, we ART
not Indifferent TO the interests of ou
sisters abroad, and would be most happy
in assisting them in their wise ant
laudable efforts. For their encourage
ment we can truly say that, with US, 81
far, the franchise is a success-refutin.
many of the objections against it by il
opponents.
1t is presumable that our then acting
Governor, when signing the bill confer
ring Woman Suffrage in Utah, felt
} little tremulous-it certainly was a bolt
step on almost untrodden ground, as w
were preceded by neither State nor Ter
ritory for example, except Wyoming
but, having seen the working Of ou
ballots, he pronounces it, rs well b
may, "the proudest act of his life" Tn
unaccountable ignorance of peopl
abroad concerning the state of society
and especially the social position {
woman in Utah, augmented the risk c
the Governor in jeopardizing his repu
, tation as a Government officer in thi
responsible and magnanimous act.
. In all ages of the world, the introduC
ton of beneficial principles and praC
tlces has to combat established customs
usages, prejudices, and, above all, th
. ignorance of mankind and in this n
, spect, the generations do not seem
, have so very much improved since til
time of Christ and His apostles, or sine
the days of Socrates and Gallileo, a
q though the mode of warning oppositio
!, is somewhat modified.
. With intense interest we have watcht
the movements of the ladies of Califo
;, MIA and elsewhere in our behalf, an
have heretofore publicly acknowledge
our appreciation of their noble, enc
getic efforts, and now feel constrained
say that, in opposing the passage
> those unjust and ignominious bill
e which disgrace the American Congress
}. you have not only aided us by your il
! fiuence, but have done honor to IL
e cause which you bravely and earnestl
d advocate.
e With many kind wishes for your su,
i i cess in every laudable enterprise, we a
a your fellow laborers for the promotion
e good, Miss Z. r. Snow,
e Mrs. L. GREENE RICHARDS,
= Mrs. S. NJ. KIMBALL,
i, MRS. NJ. ]. HORNE.
k Salt Lake City, April 26, 1915.
II Mrs. Mary F. Suo1C-Dedr Madam.
5, I take great pleasure in acknowledge
y the receipt of your kind note of the ?.
II inst, with accompanying document
extending to me an invitation to
present at and participate in the annu
s. meeting Of the California Woman Su
y frage Association, at Mercantile Libral
y y Hall, San Francisco, on the Goth inst.
E. regret that am compelled, by Il
DR. pressure of my professional duties,
rs make you reply that / cannot induI
a the hope of attending the meeting. Al
le my absence will be the moro regretf
to me, from the reflection that | sb,