The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-23
Women MS Voters, Oniee Holders, Jury.
men md PnIIfIcInns

I
We published in Wednesdays ISrELLr
GENcER letter from Wyoming Territor!
to the St Louis Republican, giving som,
detailsas to the practical working OF iemal,
suffrage in that Territory. AS is vel
known, Wyoming is the only locality il
the United where women vote the same n
men. The idea that led to its adoption
was, first, that Wyoming being the young
est Of all the States and Territories, shoult
be progressive, and, second, to throw into
politics an element to aid in counter.bal
ancingthe influence Of the roughs, thieves
cut-throats and highwaymen, who then
constituted large share OF the population.
According to the correspondent Of the
Republican the experiment Of investing fe-
males with suffrage proved sorry failure.
He estimates that half the women in the
city Of Cheyenne have not cast ballot
since the first or second election. The
politics of the Territory have not been
purified by the experiment.
| The correspondent OF the RepuJlican is
reinforced in his statement by Capt. S. Fl.
Winsor, OF Indianapolis, who has lived
several years in Wyoming, and who has
been interviewed on the subject by the
Indianapolis Journal. He is an educated
and observant gentleman and was former
ly receiver Of the public land Office at
Cheyenne; was u resident of the territory
when the woman suffrage law took effect
and for several years afterwards. The
substance OF his views is as follows:
~ regard woman suffrage in Wyoming
as an utter failure, and think it is so re-
garded by the best men and women of
the territory. So far as can be discovered
it has accomplished no good results,
while it has certainly worked. badly in
many respects. For about two years after
the law was passed nearly all the women
in the territory used to vote, my wife
among the rest. But after this expert
ence the better class became disgusted
with the operation OF the law and quit
voting. AS an instance OF how female
citizenship worked in one case, remem-
Der a jury trial where the defendant was
charged with rape and murder. The
Jury consisted OF six men and six women.
After the trial had progressed about two
weeks one OF the women was taken sick.
The trial was postponed several days on her
account, but she was unable to resume her
duties, and new jury was ordered, and a
new trial from the beginning. During this
same trial knew OF three mechanics and
hard working whose wives were on the
Jury, and who in consequence OF that fact
had to quit work and stay at home to take
care OF their children. AS IN instance OF
the demoralizing influence OF politics on
women, l remember seeing q lady, the
wife OF q candidate for office, standing
ut the counter OF beer.saloon drinking
beer with parcel OF colored men. ! could
mention her name, but will not. She was
from Ohio, and was well educated and
entirely respected, but she was so intense
" interested in her husbands success that
she resorted to this means Of getting votes
for him. saw this same lady and u school
teacher OF Cheyenne in their buggles
driving colored men and women, and even
known harlots, to and from the polls. In
such ways rs this regard the operation OF
the law as demoralizing to the women.
There may be others who differ with me,
but simply give my views Of several
years experience OF the law: may add
that my wife, who enjoyed the elective
franchise during the period OF my resi-
dence in Wyoming, entirely accords with
these views"