Connecticut western news., 1878-12-11
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN WYOMING.
HOW THE WOMEN VOTED IN CHEYENNE
 SCENES ABOUT THE POLLS.

Miss Matilda Hurdman writes in the Denver Mirror About ten years ago the women of Wyoming were enfran. chised. The opposers of the measure prophesied failure. "You have" said they, thrust this burden upon the women. They did not ask for it, and do not want it. You have done the ig. norant and lewd women favor perhaps, for they will doubtless avail themselves of the opportunity of making money by selling their votes. But respectable women will not degrade themselves by gong to the polls. It will not be many years until you will be glad to undo what you have done today" Arriving In Cheyenne the day before election, we made inquiries of those whose intelli- gence, position, occupation, and busi- ness best fitted them to give the desired information. Seven of the eight. four gentlemen and four ladies, with whom we talked, spoke in highest terms of the beneficial results of the measure. The eighth, though declaring himself in favor Of equal rights, because Che be- leved cultivated, educated woman was as good as an ignorant negro or 8 drunken white man." yet, he must say,
 female suffrage is not 8 success. When asked, after he had asserted that only y women who could be bought voted, Ii he said respectable women did not vote, he answered that he would not say so. Finally he said he could give no statistical information on the matter. One gentleman, who is considered an opponent to woman suffrage said to us that two very beneficial results had come from the enfranchfsement of women. One was that both political parties had been compelled to nominate better men for office. Though men would, for the sake of party, vote for immoral men. their wives refused to do so, often voting Tor the opposing candidate, and their nusbands commended them for 1t. The other good spoken of was the protection ot property owners ill their right. Most men who own property" said ne, have wife, sisters, and mother. whose votes offset the votes of the reck- less, worthless renegades who have no property, kind of floating population that believes those who have property are their enemies, and who at every op- portunlty vote against the moral inter- ests o1 the town" "But you will see how many and what class of women vote Ii you stand near the poll" said all with whom we talked, except one.
 In the town are two polling places. At one of these, nicely-furnished room Tn the lnter-Ocean Hotel, the most of the women vote, and some gentlemen who have accompanied their wives and sisters, with others who, on account of the order, quiet and neatness that pre- walls, doubtless prefer to cast their votes here." In this room, the floor of which IS covered with Brussels carpet, sat the judges and clerks of the election-tbree ladies and two gentlemen. The bright, intelligent and pleasant faces of the ladies, and the dignifed and pleasing manners of the gentlemen, gave home- Ike appearance that was very agreeable. and one could not fail to ask why obiec- tons should be made to women partici- patlng Tn matter of so much importance as the government of their country women voters were coming and going during all hours. Many came in their own carriages, some in carriages sent by political parties, but many walked, pre- 1errlng this, rather than to place them selves under the appearance of being influenced by riding in carriage pro- v1ded by any party-though men do not scruple to ride when they have the op- portunlty. The ladies brought their ballots with them. They knew before they came for whom they were going to vote. Having the tickets beforehand. they knew exactly whose name to scratch, and some at least did not vote the straight ticket The ladies do not forget a mans political record. His moral character has much to do in gaining or losing their votes. There was no elec- tloneering ct the voting places not a word was spoken; occasionally a gentle man in the crowd that stood on the side walk would bow to lady acquaintance. but not one word did we hear durino the time we remained.
 The dispatch with which they voted was @ marvel. The average time for g lady to walk from her carriage across the sidewalk, deposit her ballot, and seat herself in her carriage again, was twenty eight seconds. The longest time taken by any one lady, while we noticed tn em, was forty-five seconds; the shortest, eighteen seconds. The verdict of every honest mind as to the character of the majority of these women would un- doubtedly be, respectable, good women" We were told that it was ouite rare for woman's vote to be challenged though men were there all day for that purpose. Ten years of political life has not corrupted the women so that the men cannot trust them. Though large num- bers of men stood around the polling place, not single loud word was heard no smoking and no splitting on the walk over which the ladies had to pass. The way was always kept free for them to pass through. If these were not gen. tlemen, they were the best commercials we have ever seen. The whole appear ance and bearing of these men bear tes- tlmony of their responsibility.
 Worse than Hogs.
 The hogs kept in the yard of the poor