The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-11-01
MISS GRAVES IS ELIGIBLE.


"A great effort is being made to con-
vince the voters Of this county that
women are ineligible to the, Office of
Superintendent of Schools. This is in
the face Of the fact tina W. men have
held the office in Minnesota and that
Mrs. Baker is now heldil.g that Office
in the county of Mile I.Hcs.
In the American Law Review for
September-O October, 1883, there is a very
able article written by an eminent
jurist under the head of Fright Of Wo-
men to Oftice.' This writer shows
very fully that even under the g. mmon
law, in England, a woman could hold
any Office which might be filled by
deputy. The writer, in applying it TO
this country. says:
In our country this principle of tie
common law has been applied even to
elective offices. for the incumbents OF
which women might not vote.
The writer cites il number of author
tiles, among them Opinions Of Justices
la Mass. 6O2. .. ;,.. ......
Women can and will hold the office
in Minnesota until it is judicially de-
clded to the contrary, which has rev.r
been done.
So much us to the general rulings.
Now rs to the State of Minnesota
The Adrian Guardian of last week con-
tains the opinions of the Attorney
General and of G. X. Davis, the latter
the leading lawyer Of the State, both
to the effect that women are eligible TO
the office of superintendent of Schools.
The Guardian Says:
First we are authorized to say that
Attorneys l.. NJ. Lauge, Geo W. Will
sou and j. n. Town, of WOrthington,
and l.. 5. Nelson, of Adrian, have
looked up the law and give it as their
opinion that there is no doubt but that
the lady is eligible to the office, and
their opinion is backed by the opi inion
of Atty. Gen. Hahn, given Dec. IL,
1881. lie SAYS:
by the amendment Of 1875 to the
constitution (Sec. s, Art. y the legisla-
ture was empowered 10 extend the
elective franchise to females at any
election held for the purpose Uf choos-
ing amy officers of schools, and to au-
thol ize them to hold amy office pertain
ing solely tothe management of schools
The legislature having made the neces-
sary provisions, and the office Of Ceun-
ty Superintendent pertaining solely to
the management OF schools, women,
otherwise qualified. are eligible TO that
Office.'
And to settle the question beyond
the poradvtnture of amy doubt. County
Snpt. l.. :. Nelson wrote to Ex-Guv
Z. K. Davis for an opinion on the sub
jrct. and following is his reply. Gov
Davis stands at the head Of the Mime
his opinion on quest ions of law, when
it car, be obtained, is almost equivalent
to a decision from our Supreme Court.
lie writes:
LAW OFFICE OF e.. X. DAVIS,
McQuillan Block,
st. Paul. Minn., Oct. IS, 's3.
l.. 5. Nelson, Esq, Adrian.
Dear Si::-l am in receipt of your
esteemed favor Of the 10Th inst. stating
that I'VE lave Il lady candidate for
county superintendent Of sch"nls in
this county, and the question of eligi
bllity is ra,s-d," and requesting my
Oplninn on that lOint.
Tie early date 1T which you require
in answer prevents me from Civ.
ing full statement of the reasons
which have brought me to my cOnclu-
sion. can only state that am Of the
opinion that any woman who is Il quail
flied eltctor II der section S, ;,rticIe7 OF
tie constitution and the statutes en-
acted III pursuance thereof. is eligible
to that Office. The principle of cor
Structi"n applied to constitutional pro-
visions of the character Of the one il
question, is that they are to be literally
construed in favo: of the franchise
granted. and under sucl, Il construction
and l think under Il rigid construc
tlon-the office of county superinten
dent does pertain solely to the man
agement of schools. Yours Truly.
&. X. DAVIS.
Now, Dr.. Craft and his friends kuom
that Miss Graves is eligible, but they
attempt to deceive the people. and
when men resort to fraud and decep
tion to obtain votes they are unfit t.
hold amy office. DR.. Craft further at
tempts to deceive the people by saying
in his card that if elected he will give
the office his entire attention. Yes h-
IS Il promising man. But. can the
leopard cha 'ge its spots? Is it not u
known fact that he is naturally easy
and slack in his business and other
habits. and is it at all probable that H.
would change his whole being if he is
elected? Hardly. Then if You would
have 4 superintendent who rlN attend
to the duties of the office, cast your
vote for Miss Graves