Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-28
Women and the Rum Traffic.

The temperance people have for years con-
stantly asserted that if the women had the
power of suffrage they would soon put a stop
to the selling of rum, at least so far as that
could be done by Legislation. There have
heretofore been no data upon which to pred
cate such result. The women never had
until few days ago such power, therefore
the claim that they would take vigorous
measures if they had the opportunity was
only assumpton-it could not be demon
strated. Knowing women's hate of rum, her
vigorous temperance work in the way of per-
suasion, aud the fact that that she is inconl-
parably greater sufferer from it than the
male sex, it was comparatively safe to pre-
ict strong measures If she had the power
10 make the laws. The matter is no longer
one of doubt. 1t was left Tor little town
away in the western part of lllinois-Keths-
burg by name-to try the experiment of CIV
ing the women ballot on the question of
rum or no rum. On April 9th in this little
town of one thousand inhabitants, washed
by the muddy waters of the Mississippi, was
inaugurated this grand experiment-an ex-
pertinent whose results can hardly yet be
imagined-an experiment which will doubt
less soon be an established custom, not only
IN the town and state of its origin, but in
the nation. He would be bold person in
Iced who would set a limit to its geograph-
ical bounds or the magnitude OF its results.
II was not in educated refined New Eng
land Ohe more shame to her) that such an
important event had birth, but in a little
town so far west as to be considered by cul-
Iured New Englanders almost outside the
pale of civilization. The occasion of the
ballot was the charter election. The ques-
ton was license or no license and the women
voted as a unit against license. The work
Of the eventful day was begun by prayer
meeting at seven o'clock in the morning. At
he close of the prayer-meeting, the fifty
ladies who were present marched two by two
IN solemn procession to the polls, where the
eager throng that were watching the strange
scene stood silently back, making way for
the ladies', as one by one they quietly depos-
tied that precious ballot. Two ladies were
among the judges of the election, and two
others stood as challengers. The ladies
then, a few at time, tarried near the inter
rsting spot, speaking quietly and earnestly
to many wavering ones, and helping them TO
decide for the right. Not loud or rude
word or jest was heard in their presence, but
the utmost decorum was observed Indeed,
a strange awe seemed to rest upon the peo-
ple Carriages were running all day to
bring the aged and infirm to the polls, and
it was touching sight to see the aged
women, with their gray hairs and feeble
footsteps, coming so grandly to the rescue.
Most noby did these brave women labor all
day, going from house to house, persuading
the hesitatiug and faltering ones-and all
day groups of three or four were seen wend-
ing their way to the accustomed place. In
several instances wives came with their hus.
bands, who had always voted for license be-
fore, aud together they put in the ballot for
no license During the morning the band
came out without solicitation and played its
sweetest tunes, saying it did it in honor of
the great event of the women casting their
first yote.-Rutidnd Herald