The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-13
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
How Experience has Chanseo the Opinions or
Former Advocate.


The following letter from a lady resident
OF Wyoming Territory was read in the
Massachusetts House Of Representatives
bv Mr.. Williams, Of FoXboro', during the
recent debate on woman suffrage. Mr.. Will
liams explaining that the letter was written
by one who was herself an advocate Of
woman suffrage before she saw how the
" reform " worked in Wyoming:
WYOMING TERRITORY. January p. 1884.
Mr.. Williams: / received few days
since a request 70 make a statement with
regard 70 womsn suffrage in Wyoming.
presume you wish my opinion OF liz work
ings-wbetber il works well or not. II
looks 10 the like this: The man who has
wife controls two votes instead Of one. and
be who has gr0wn-up daughters controls
lust a. many - he has daughters. Women
are emotional and will invariably do as
desired 10 make the home pleasant. | have
lived in Wyoming eight years, and in a
town where 500 votes are polled, and have
looked into this matter with a good deal OF
interest. and a. vet i have not known
one half-dOZen women b vote different
10 the male members Of the family. And
! have seen and known OF very bitter feel
ings being engeDdered because one woman
did not vote for another woman's husband
when he was running for office. have
talked With many women, not only IN
b, but in Lawrence City, With re-
gard 10 whether they wished 70 vote, and
without exception they unanimously vote
Il q bore and dread election-time. ] am
Republican. and naturally wish 10 see that
psrtv triumph, and tell you csndidly ]
would never vote only that think nv vote
will make some Democratic woman's vote
null. ! cannot say how woman suffrage
would work in Massachusetts,. There The
women are better educated and desire SUI
frare. and many women pay taxes on
property: here | don't know Of one who
paw anything but q poll-taX, and our
population is largely foreign. being made
up Of all natiOnahties. and, indeed, |
know very few have any idea Of politics,
and could not tell what Democracy consist
ed Of. and have not the least idea OF the
difference between 3 Democrat and Re
pulijcan. Now. we in a Territory only
vote for county officers. and we wo-
men have no voice IN nominating men
for office. primaries and conventions
being only open 10 men; hut after dele
gates have made the nominations they are
verv glad 70 have the women come in and
help TO elect them, and they eau make
themselves these candIdates) very agree9-
bic 10 the ladies up % eloction-time and ig-
more them after. We women might, Of
course. demand 10 be admitted 20 prima-
ries. but have been unable. after conside-
rable effort. 10 get one half-dozen who
would 20. They simply don't care any
thing about il only so far a. helping some
one they are interested in who i running
for Office. Now, we all readily admit that
the best nan should be elected. regardless
OF party: vet ! venture 10 say not two
women in the Territory would vote for
Republican if her husband were Dem
ocrai. or rice uerSG, and. indeed. most wo-
men take their tickets from their hus-
bands and never look al them At ali. but
east them in. and II there i any scratch
ing done IL il never by the women. This
i brief statement Of the question 81
see H. Respectfully.