Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-28
Woman Suffrage IN Wyoming Ter
ritory.

III uas Deen uSuai, OF late, IN all ar
gumenis for the immediate and uni.
versal granting of the ballot to women,
to point to Wyoming Territory as a
practical illustration, bright and
shining example, Of the ease with
which woman can take upon her
shoulders the burden Of electoral duty.
Aud there is no donbt that the sys
TEN has worked there with surprising
smoothness. Nevertheless, Wyoming
is not a test case, aud il may not be
amlss at the present time 10 offer to
the public some OF the impressions
formed during three years resi-.
dence there.
The larger part of this great tract
al land is still deserted and wild, but
the few small towns, all laying along
the line of the railroad, are full OF
energy and lite. They have all had
their dark days. through which thew
have emerged into the sunlight of
prosperity-days when the drinking
saloons outnumbered tue dwellings,,
when riot and bloodshed held carui.
val, and day and night were hideous
with the sound OF oaths and pistol.
shot and drunken revellings. The,
respectable citizens were, happily
men of decision. They organized
vigilance committees and they gave
women the right to vote; and in a
wonderful short time out OF this
chaos was evolved order, and these
pandemoniums became peaceab,e,
law abiding communities The dan
gerous element is now almost elimi-
mated, but the population is still rath-
er oddly mixed. Yon will find there
not only the hardy frontiersmen, the
Irish and German settlers-drops
from the tide OF Immigration that in
undates the land-but enterprising
business men driving surprisingly
brisk and profitable trade; young
men from the New York and Boston
families who are seeking health or for
tune or adventure in ranchmah's
life; IN short, representatives of al
most every social class.
This motley community has, how
ever, one object. They are there to
get their liVing-if possible, to make
their fortunes. They take compare.
lively little interest IN the more alb.
stract questions that sway the great
mass of the public. since their atten
fc,a al
welfare, and politics. that talismanic
word, which, as Count Smorltork
says, surprises in himself" so many
dire sources of strife, is robbed of
much of its fatal significance. They
cannot vote for President. Their
governor and all their Territorial off
GERS are chosen for, and sometimes in
spite of, them, and their own free
choice is confined to the town and
county offic crs, members CT the Leg
islature and their delegate to Con-
gress, who can only represent their
necessities there, and has no vote.
Undcr those circumstances party
spirit does not run high, and party
lines are not rigidly drawn. The
"best men" are looked for--the men
who will be energetic, who will not
run away with the public money-the
men who are popular. And it is not
uncommon to see the same name fig.
ure in two different years on oppo-
site tickets, or for both parties to
unite on one candidate, who is, of
course, unanimously elected. A great
deal of interest is manifested during
the canvass for delegate, but it is not
of SO much importance that he should
be Republican or Democrat as
that be should be likely TO push Ter
ritorial interests, to urge the building
of this bridge of that road, to look
we'll after the private claims entrusted
to his care.
Naturally, therefore, the element of
bitterness is in great measure left
out of Wyoming politics. There is
some sparring, some sharp talk, be
fore election, but it is mere froth on
the surface that evaporates in day.
From this to come into the fierce tur.
mol, the bitter, vindictive partisan
ship, of campaign in New Eng
land town of the same size, is reve-
lation. And it was the force OF such
contrast that impressed upon the
writer most wildly that for women
to vote was one thing in Wyoming
and another in Massachusetts or New
Hampshire.
The differences in the method OF
conducting elections there are also
greatly in their favor. Yet there are
still Objectionable features, though
perhaps not sufficiently marked to
Justify the truly emancipated woman
in negleciing to avail herself OF the
full measure of her privileges. In
Laramie, the second town in size and
Importance, and the only one of which
the writer is qualified by experience
tnspeak, the streets begin early OF
eiection-day to present an animated
aspect. Vehicles of sundry descrip
lions, adorned with patriotic red
white and blue, and perhaps the
names of the respective candidates
are driven from house to house t
pick up their fair voters. But man,
prefer to walk quietly to the court
house, deposit their votes and return
as speedily as they may. The judge
of election, two of each party, sit il
a small room separated from the larg
er one by temporary railing, read,
to receive the votes, to challenge then
in doubtful cases, and to see that al
is conducted fairly. The names ar
all printed on one paper, which doe
away with the tediousness of yotinl
separately for each officer, aud pre-
vents the fearful excitement whic
perva1es the swaying, strugglin
crowd that in New England "towr
meeting stands awaiting the coun'
ing and announcement OF each ballC
by the moderator. And it also pre-
vents intimidation, since no one nee
know how his neighbor votes. A
sunset the polls close, the votes al
counted by the judges Of election, an
the result announced IN the paper
next day.
All this il admirable. Yet here;
, elsewhere, are sights and sounds fro
/ which a gently woman, how
! ever advanced" must shrink ST
, may not much mind being surrounde
: hy an aagar crowd who ahout Oh el