Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-09-18
A Woman's Rights Paper.

female cuff az III Wyoming doubts
ihe sxpediency Of granting Tho bal.
bot to women, although he admits
that the system has worked with
surprising smoothness," there.
II is an undispnted fact, that so.
ciety in new country, is more
rude and lawless than 10 the older
States, and there is no reason why
this system which has worked so
well in Wyoming. should not work
anywhere. Even this writer admits
that Wyoming has seen its dark
days. when the drinking saloons
out numbered the dwellings. when
riot and bl2odshed held carnival, and
| d y and night were hideous with
the sound of oaihs. pistoLshots and
drunken revelings." They gave
women the right to vote and these
same drinking, riotous, murderons
communities became peaceable and
prosperous He thinks it ia one
thing for woman to vote IN Wyo
ming and another in refined, edu.
Gated, liberty loving Massachusetts
or New Hampshire. Now, if ire
spectacle citizens,n with the aid of
the female vote wrought such
changes in Wyoming. might they
not work still greater changes In
these same Eastern States, where
the women ontDumber the men, and
where education is almost univer.
sal? If the manner of conducting
elections. outside of Wyoming rem
ders IL disagreeable to women to
vote, it would not be very serious
matter, for refined and intelligento
men to 80 amend the laws that they
might vote with the same ease as IN
that Territory or, perhaps better
still. give them the ballot first, am
let them aid in amending the laws
to suit their own wants. 1t is at
least probable that to vote in W.
oming was no pleasant task at first.
To talk of the unpleasant sights
and sounds of election day, as if
such things existed nowhere else, is
simply nonsense. Tbeeeager crow d"
at the polls is not much more often
sive to woman, than is the noisy,
screaming crowd that greets her, as
she steps from the cars. Gently
matured"women do rot shrink from
going 10 the Fair or Fourth of July
celebration just because drinking,
smoking, chewing men are likely to
be there. Offensive tobacco stencil
greets them almost everywhere.
Only too many of these same won.
en- have husbands, fathers or broth
ers who use tobacco n one form or
another, and who occasionally IN
dulge in strong drink. With care.
fully executed laws, elections may
be conducted without insulting any
woman. Respectable women need
not, and it is TO he hoped. would
not, stay away from the polls. for
fear OF brushing garments with
their disreputable sisters, for on the
street, at the merchants counter,i in
the dress-maker's or miliner's shop,
LbCt iub thO oh.tjO IiSh. duQ IL k1CS0
debased women are more cloud
mouthed' on election day than at
other times, it is because they are
oountenanced, licensed by the "re-
fined and intelligent" men who
make such wise laws for MS. Even
then, will Their presence contami-
nate US, any more than the pres
ence OF equally degraded men, con-
teammates our husbands, fathers and
brothers, now? Give women the
right TO vote, and licenses for sa-
looms and bouses of prostitution
will not be so literally granted as
they are now. Ii these matter at
least, women will not be ruled by
their hueba nde' ofinions.
Although women do not all vote
aud some, only on special occasions,
this writer admits that they turn
out with alacri'y at certain times.
They are ready enough to vote on
measures closely concerning them.
1t will not be lorg before women
will see how s!l measures for the
public veal concern them. Instead
OF depressing an inquiry of your
daughters n politics, as tendii z TO
strong mindedness, cultivate it as
tending to intelligence. Encourage
them to study politics as you would
encourage yonr sone, and the wom-
en- of the future will not be slow TO
exercise the right Of suffrage. An
insight into politics will make won
en- wiser and none the less woman
ly.
This same writer thinks that the
women of Wyoming would BIO bet.
ter off, if the law gave them share
of their husbands property and de-
MED them the ballot. This may be-
true, but it is not indispensable to
female suffrage that husband and
wife should hold their property in
absolute separation If the laws
of the States are less faulty 10 this
respect than the laws of Wyoming,
you have but TO lot them alone, they
will not interfere with the right Of
female suffrage.
II is asked, How has the ballot
benefited the women of Wyo.
ming ?" How? Why, they now
have voice in making the laws
they live under. If unjust or OPP
pressive laws have been made for
them, they may at least try to alter
them. 1t admits them to the GLORY
aud honor of citizenship" not that
there are no men wise enough to
leglslate for them, but, because it is
woman's right to have . voice in
making tho law which Furnishes her
for violating it.
Women have proved their ability
to become competent clerks, teach.
ers, book keepers, telegraph opera
tors, even lawyers and doctors.
They have established their repnta
/ ton as successful jurors, school com
missioners and County Superinten-
dents of schools, and it is at least
probable that they would fill other
+ offices with equal fitness
4 Office is not usually forced upon
/ dny one. and the woman whose
home duties would interfere, or
whose inclination make office dis
4 tasteful To her. ia not liKeiv in he