The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-12-13
WHOLE NO. 1888.
Correspondence of the Lansing Republican.
IL'Oman Suffrage IN Wyoming
CHEYENNE, WYOMING TERRITORY,
Nov. q. 1878.

CHEYENNE, WYOMING IERRIIORY. I
Nov. 9, 1878.
Yesterday was election day in the territory
OF Wyoming, and in this fastest city OF the far
west / observed with interest what to me
seemed an odd phenomenon. 1t was the
practical operation CT
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
under free, full, and lawful sway-the women
voting as the men, unmoles.ed unhampered
by even the faintest public sentiment.
Cheyenne is wicked town. 1t is the home
OF many vicious and abandoned women. There
are more saloons in proportion to the popula-
tion than perhaps IN any other city, and there
are probably more houses OF prostitution than
saloons. IL woman suffrage will work here, 1t
ought TO work anywhere. l was born and
brought up to believe that it was wicked for
women to vote that their business was to
make pies aud quilts and take care of babies.
was taught TO believe that il one did vote, she
would be called upon at once to shoulder
musket and fight battle; and that il they all
voted, every social restraint would be broken
all respect for the sex would cease; and DIS
order, anarchy, and hbertinism would be
rampant / therefore watched the event of
yesterday with peculiar interest, and was
soemny impressed with the result. There
we're but few Offices to be filed, but few can
dldates in the field, and political feeling ran
high. There we're those around who vote early
and often: those who button-hole the weak
minded, and those who buy and sell and barter
votes. There were reckless ow-punchersD
from Texas and Oregon, Black Hills adveptur-
ers from everywhere, castsways and wanderers.
All conditions were favorable for disorder, and
unfavorable, 1t would seem, for peaceful and
quiet day. But (and l say IL with all possbe)
cando0 have never IN my life Witnessed
more orderly and dignifed election. and do
not see how one could be made or desired more
peaceable and decorous.
About the polls were gothered the usnaI
cluster Of eager men. The ladies' were driven
up in carriages, assisted TO alight, ana OF course
closely scrutinized while they deposited their
ballots. But there was no swearing no booush
staggering, no ieering, no loud talking even.
The scene was impressive, and there was some
thing OF solemnity about il. Aged matrops.
whose gray heads and bending forms seemed
IL.
put in their votes, while the bys;anders kent
breathless silence: the fond mother with her
babe cllnglng TO her bosom, ,--embiem OF fidelity
and iDnocence-cast her vote with seriousness
and seeming perfect propriety; and gay young
girls, just Of age, who l supposed we're never
expected to know, or think, or care anything
about politics or political science or good gov
ernment, deposited their ballots with evident
earnestness and thoughtful intelligence.
At the voting place where watched lor an
hour there was stationed near the window,
where the votes were received the dIgnifed
and imposing figure CT the estimable governor
of the territory, Hon. j. w. Hoyt OF Wisconsin,
All the men near by wore a gentlemaniy ap-
pearance; the ladies' were attired N their
prettiest, and all seemed doing their best TO ne
good. l did not see manifested toward the
women voters any sentiment save that Of re-
spect. During all the day the carriages came
and went; and when the noted queens Of tl,
demi- monde, in their gaudy, costly dresses,
came to exercise their right, the hangers ON
seemed TO remember that they once perchance
had been women, and to respect them fer the
virtue they then had. Nor when the soed
doves" Of lesser dignity (the lowest Of the
abandoned) came, was there any disIespect
shown them? Not even when tall, thin,
nervous, wIre-pulling Irishmau democrat of
course) led by the arm a fat and fabby Old
negress, who strutted laboriously with feet
wide asunder and eyes cast heavonvard did l
observe more than slightly audible smile
pass over the assembly. The day was one
more than ordinarily respectful aud orderly.
Although 1 viewed the event not at all as a
sympathzer but as one strongly prejuGced
against what was transpring, / can truly say
that with what saw OF the practical working
OF the doctrine of womans suffrage, was most
favorably impressed. Since the election there
has been no unbridled plundering, neither have
seen any women with guns. The experience
OF yesterday did more to change my views con-
corning this matter than all the argument
have ever listened to; and 1 am now not sure
that any good people should deny to every in
telligent, mature human mind the same nights
and privileges, no matter in what kind of q
body it happens to be clothed withal.
HENRY A. HAIaH.
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