Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-09-24
1rlluws falls Uimes,
Woman Suffrage in wyoming.

ueNoteu some tliht W SdbheiihS INC uo-
tails, gives the following interesting facts
on the practical workings of woman sut-
frage in the Territory -
The first notable point is that there
are not women enough in the Territory
to make any particular difference in the
state of government, though they were
ever so active and wise. The popula-
ton is estimated at $4,000, of which
1000 are under the age of twenty-one.
This leaves 10000 adults, of which
1000 are women eligible as voters. This
would leave 14,500 male voters, though,
in point of fact, il is very rare for all to
vote, so many being remote from the
polls. Ten men to one woman is, how
ever, the usual proportion. The moral
and social statistics are worthy of note.
Cheyenne has thirty-fve saloons and for
ty-five prostitutes-known as such. Lar
anime has twenty-six saloons and some
twenty prostitutes. This includes beer
jerkers and variety girls of all grades.
In Evanston there are supposed to be
eight saloons and twelve prostitutes.
billiard, Rawlins, Sweetwater, Fort Lar
anime, and other places, average about
the same in proportion to population,
the summary being that the whole Ter
ritory contains at least 100 saloons and
800 prostitutes. This does not seem to
indicate that woman suffrage has tended
in any great degree to abolish either of
the social evils"
But the most interesting facts are in
regard to ladies as jurors. Good and
evil are strangely mingled in the new
territories, and Wyoming contains a
large proportion of intelligent and emf
nently religious and good women it was
hoped, therefore, that great good would
result from placing them on juries. AZ
ter few trials, however, the system was
quietly abandoned, and has never been
revived. The reasons for this are many.
First is the fact that so few women are
eligible The following classes are, from
The necessity of the case, exempt. All
nursing mothers all approaching con-
dition of maternity; all the delicate,
nervous and hysterical all who from
temporary physical condition are not fit
for sitting on long trial all of noto-
riously bad character, and all who are
exempt from the same causes as men
would be. These classes include nine
tenths of the whole sex. When to these
are added those who have sick or very
young children, who need frequent care,
it seems that all Wyoming has no more
than hundred women, at any one time
fit for jury duty. The system, therefore
was given up, not as a failure exactly
but as utterly impracticablc
Another difficulty presented itself
When jury, consisting of men and
women Give Of the latter was long de
tanned and locked up for several hours
the resulting inconvenience was so great
and the expense so much increased, thai
both sexes were heartily sick of the ex
pertinent. The general result is said t.
be that both the friends and foes of wo
man suffrage are disappointed, as neither
the good nor evil predicted has come tt
pass. One good is claimed l. that there
is better order at the polls than formerly
If any other benefit has resulted, it il
not apparent yet. Some complain tina
the cost of running for coffee has vastl,
increased, as the candidates have to brin,
out their lady supporters in carriages
but the ladies, in their convention fs,
weeks since, unanimously resolved
against it, declaring themselves as abb
to walk to the polls as to church or mar
ket" A few fights have resulted fror
challenging the votes of ladies. TIL
first lady whose vote was challenged a
Lamarine, dropped her ballot and il
dulged in good cry, whereupon her e'
cort sailed in and made it hot for he
challenger After few fights on tn
subject, challenging ladies was, by con
mon consent, discontinued, and in tina
particular at least they have an advar
tage of the men.
As to the effect of suffrage on the Ii
dies there are almost as many opinion
as there are people in Wyoming. TIL
majority, however, declare themselve
unable to see any change. AS far as ca
be known the ladies divide their vo
between parties much as men do, rath,
more, perhaps, voting for persons
friends. To sum up the opinion of Il
best informed, is that woman suffrage
Wyoming has resulted in making ever
thing just as it was before, only lit
more so.
William" observed Danbury W
man to her husband, "Mrs. Holcom