The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-12-13

among them accomplished scholars, pure and
upright citizens, and men associated with
the largest interests OF Wyoming, who saw
elected in preference TO them "rum-seIlers"
and nliterate fellows solid with the boyA"-
aud girls. h lady was right. however, in
claiming that I admitted that Wyoming
women do not rush Into public life, that they
do not neglect their homes for their political
interests, and that woman suffrage breaks up
no families. The charge 1 bring against
woman suffrage in Wyoming is that through
1t no evil, social or political, has ever been
remedied,a and that II was an act OF injustice
to the state to create a class Of voters who
are helpless In supressing disorder. who bear
none OF the burdens OF making or ndnhnister-
Ing law, and who, by being voted like slaves
before the war. add to the corruption OF poll
tics. The Wyoming experiment Is a fat fall
ure. Its women number one third tho voters
OF the territory. which has many patriotic
men ready to Join with them In dealing with
evils commou In every community until re-.
formed by the better elements. 1t has a good
proportion OF virtuous and Intelligent women
notably In Cheyenne. Yet, when this city
is called upon to make ashowlng OF its work
1t Is proved to be ~behlndhand, as compared
with communities OF its age and AiEe, In al.
most every respect.
The reckless adventurer. OF the FIRST legis-
lature OF Wyoming passed the woman sur.
frage act to advertise themselves and boom
the territory II has been customary since
with those Wyoming Statesmen, who r. gard
ed as serious the argument that women
would neglect home for politics, to say that
woman suffrage worked very we'll IN the ter
ritory. The Wyoming newspapers Juggle In.
sincerely with the subJect-their patronage
is small aud n few active advocates OF woman
~. 49, 1911 GH--
patriots who hope 10 serve In congress are
careful not to iacite the women to "knife''
thsm. and so speak well OF their voting for
men OF merit. Yet, when challenged to point
out n single benent TO Wyoming brought
about by woman suffrage. Its advocates are
lost. Its supposed friends In the territory
can make no reply In response to the appeals
or their party friends in the east for testlmo-
ny In Its favor. Where are the leading edi-
torials. the letters TO the eastern press. the
circular letters signed by public men prompt
ly and explicitly denying an anonymous
newspaper correspondents assertions, which
should have come from Wyoming to be
brought TO the attention OF tire press OF New
Englands
The assumption that woman suffrage
is a failure in Wyoming because crime
still exists and because women do not
generally hold office, is unjustifable.
Rome was not built in a'dsy, and a
community with the culture, refine
ments and careful observance of the
outside appearances of social purity
found in eastern cities, cannot be
evolved from the hybrid elements of
a frontier community In a year, or in
ten. We are still in a chrysalis state.
Our political status is held In sub
servience by the restrictions of terri
torial government, and until we are al
lowed to govern ourselves, solely and
entirely. any deductions drawn from
present political conditions must Of
necessity be unfair. We have the
highest authority hat woman suffrage
has been a benefit here, and this au-
thority Is not likely to be overthrown
by a word picture made up with evil
dent design Of the blacklist shades to
be discovered, with no relieving tint OF