River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-11-03
QUEER SCENES AT THE POLLS.
Women Voting in school Election
at Flushing.

at EtuAnfuE.
From the New York Times, Oct IL.
An interesting contest took place at
Flushing, Dong Island, yesterday, over
the election to fill the office of member
of the board of education. One of the
contestants for the office was lady,
Mrs. Harriet S. Judd, the wife of Or
ange w. Judd, Esq, the opposition
nominee being Mr.. BENZ. w. Downing,
district attorney of Queens county, and
for several years president of the beard
of school trustees of Flushing. Party
spirit has run high in the village since
the candidates were announced, each
having many and warm adherents. AS
members of both sexes were allowed to
vote, it was believed that in the strug-
gle yesterday the ladies' ballo.s would
secure Mrs. Judd's election. The ladies
made lively canvass, and succeeded
in polling an Unexpectedly large vote.
This is the first time that women have
voted in Flushing. Yesterday at noon
the polls were opened. A large crowd,
including several females of the Irish
persuasion, had gathered about the
town hall, where the voting was to take
place. All persons were allowed to vote
who we're over q years Of age, owning
real property or paying hire therefor,
and being citizen of the United States
residing within the school district OF
Flushing. The gentler sex distinguished
itself by getting in the first vote, and
for two hours after the polls were
opened the hallway was filed with a
struggling mass of men and women,
and the shrill tones of feminine voices
arose above all other sounds. 1t was
quite apparent from the appearance OF
the streets of Flushing that something
extraordinary was taking place. In
stead of the usual crowds disposed
about the street corners were little
groups of women discussing the bust
ness Of the hour. In the immediate
neighborhood of the town hall women
who had come to vote, but had not yet
exercised that privilege, gathered in
groups and cast hesitating and coquet
fish glances toward the polling place
During the early hours of the voting
most of the female voters were of the
Milesian order and adherents of Mr.
Downing. They came to the spot in
carriages furnished by the candidate by
th1ees, and tours, and families. At the
desk of the inspectors some funny dia
logues were heard, especially when the
ballot sought TO be deposited was chal'
lenged. Mrs, Margaret Galley APP
preached the desk with an open ballot
in her "unpurchased hand" but evi.
IDENTIFY nervous. When the chairman
informed her that her vote was chal
lenged, she threw down the ballot and
said: "Ahl don't We be bothering about
il at all, at all, J" and began edging to-
ward the door, but her supporters
pushed her forward and induced her tc
hold up her hand and take the required
oath. A great deal of nervousness was
shown by all the ladies, indignation
however, being confined to the roHghe,
classes, who could not understand the
restrictions imposed on voters. One
woman said, after her vote was re
fused, can why shouldn't / vote. an
me having given soldiers and soldiers
wives to the country?" The ladies o
color rode up in their carriages Crane
as countesses, and when they haC
voted were driven hame again. The
lady voters were by no means confined
to the humber and more vociferou'
classes, for all day long silks and sat
ms rustled about the hallway, iostlinl
the dirty pantaloons of freemen, anC
their wearers casting their votes as they
came.
The polls closed at eight o'clock, anC
later in the evening it was announced
that ], LII votes had been cast, of which
Mr.. Downing received 675 and Mrs
Judd 442, There were $50 female votei
cast.