Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-09
STRONG SUFFRAGE TESTIMONY.
[Olympia Courier.

On the occasion of former vote on
the school tax question, when 1t was
voted down by a three fourths majority
We expressed profound surprise and dis
| appointment that so many women voted
| against the tax, as we had always ar
gued and believed that whenever woman
| secured her right to vote, she would cast
her ballot on the side of intelligence,
temperance and good morals. We now
| wish to put the matter on record that
nearly all the women, who are advocates
of the enfranchisement of women, voted
last Saturday and at the recent special
election for schools, net few of them
against their husbands; and nearly all
of those women who voted on the other
side are opposed to woman suffrage.
The women have found that the oppo
nents of free schools are also opposed
to woman suffrage; that intelligence
and the spirit of justice go hand in
hand, that the man who is willing to
tax himself to pay for the schooling of
his neighbors' children, is likely to keep
pace with the spirit of the times and
work and vote to put his own or his
neighbor's wife right before the law. as
we'll as to educate his childEen. Another
thing was demonstrated. Although a
great deal of interest WAS taken IN the
election, there was none Of the trouble
so often predicted by opponents of wo-
man suffrage. Women went to the
polls singly, in pairs, and in numbers,
and selected their tickets and voted as
intelligently, and certainly more quietly
thau men ordinarily do, and not by
look, word or deed was any woman Of
Tended. Woman's influence is civil
izing and ennobling. and 1t will be felt
in that way at the polls and public
places as we'll as in the home circle.
Americans are chivalrOus in their vene-
ration and devotion to woman. be she
young or old rich or posr. 1t Is proud
boast that a woman can travel alone all
over the civilized part OF the United
States, on all routes of public travel, and
incur no danger of insult, but on the
contrary find every man prompt TO serve
or protect her. Why then should there
be fear that when she becomes voter
all this will change, and that the whole
nature of fathers, brothers and sons
will be transformed and she suddenly
be rendered defenceless, and the sub
ject of indignities? No sensible person
will believe it for minute. Some say
il will not do for her to sit in the jury
room. Very well, let her not do 80 if
she so elects. Hsw few male voters
ever act as Jurors. The writer has been
a voter for nearly twenty years and has
never yet been called to act as q juror.
"Woman cannot fight" is another OBJ
lection. Very true, and nine-tenths OF
the needless, causeless wars OF history
would never have been fought had
woman been allowed to vote against
them. Her love for her father, husband,
brother or son will offset the "love Of
glory" that impels man to war upon his
fellow. Every old soldier will testify TO
the usefulness, devotion and courage OF
woman after the battle in the Operating
rooms and hospitals. "Woman will not
90 and vote il she has CHANCE" OBJ
jects another. Experience proves that
not 30. Last Saturday there were 2lO
votes polled, and of those 62 we're cast
by women. We, personally, would base
the right of suffrage upon education
and intelligence, not on sex, and we
would let all vote who can do so under
standingly, making the ability to read
and write the chief test of qualification.
We let the ignorant, depraved and
criminal of all lands and shades Of color
vote. Man goes out of the workhouse,
the thieves quarters and the peniten'
tiary to vote, but the most gifted OF her
sex is not thought capable of casting a
ballot understandingly.