The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-03-20
woMAS SUFFRAGE VETOED

Gov. Pierce justified the expectations
Of the public to-day by returning to the
house Pickler's woman suffrage bill, with his
%disapproval Following is the message in
full:
Executive Office, Bismarck, Oak, March 13,
lSS5.-To the Speaker OF the House Of Repre-
sentatives: / hereby return House Bill No. II,
with my objections to its becoming a law. A
measure of this kind demands careful and can
did consideration, both because of is impor-
lance and because of the acknowledged sincerity
and high character OF those who favor 1t. There
ire certain reasons, however, why l cannot APP
prove such a measure at this time. and other
reasons why / cannot approve this particular
bill. It In desirable, in my Judgment, that we
act so far as possible as IL we were governed, re-
strained and guided by a constitution adopted
by ourselves. III we had a constitution
modelled after the state, an extraordinary
proposition like this would be submitted to
The people. If congress thinks woman suffrage
wise, it has the power to establish it. 1t is un-
FAIR TO shift the responsibility on the territories.
and then hold them responsible for alleged i'm
prudent legislation. / am assured the enactment
u this law will DELAY our claims to statehood.
and at 40 critical a period 1t is better that no
pretext whatever be given for such postpone
ment. 1t is doubted by many IL a majority OF
the women of Dakota want the franchise. The
point is made, and a very good one, that the fact
that one woman does not want a right Is not a
lustifable reason for refusing it to another who
does: yet it must not be forgotten that the en-
reimbursement OF women confers not only a
privilege, but a grave burden and responsibility.
We condemn the man who ~neglects TO vote as
recreant to his duty. II women are enfranchised,
the right conferred becomes an obligation as i'm
perious TO them as to men, as binding on those
who oppose as those who favor this act. think
the women Of Dakota
SHOULD HAVE A VOICE
In determining whether they should assume
This burden or not. So much for the general
proposition. There are two other icsVuTe5 of
This bill which I can scarcely think satisfactory
70 the advocates Of woman suffrage themselves.
[ am satisfied that they should appear In a
measure claiming to advance the rights OF
women. IL the vote Of women is needed any
where 1t is in our cities. In many existing city
charters a distinct clause appears providing
that males alone shall possess the qualifications
Of electors. II tlis bill the wcrd male is only
stricken out Of one chapte. Of the code. leaving
The disability still standing against hundreds or
women equally entitled to recognition. Inc
women of Sioux Falls, the women OF Mitchell.
the women OF Bookings, OF Chamberlain, OF
1st important cities in Southern Dakota
would be disqualified from voting under
these special enactments, even though this Oil
utCDIue n Jaw Az lHi3 NGIN CCbcA(A Vic
have been created with that provision retained,
and they would make this bill aborfiye ana
largely imperative. a still more obJcctionabiS
feature, and enc deliberately Aerted. Is the
clause dcbarring women from the right to hold
Office. III the word male had been stricken
out Of the code and no other action taken they
would have been eligible, ana ! believe rneIg " :
those connected with penal anc benevoiens IA,
situations, could be most appropriately niieo
with women; but this clause practically loIDius
their appointment. II women are good enough
70 vote, they are good enough to be voted
for. II they are qualified to choose
not say / would approve this measure were IL
otherwise worded, but I certainly would not en-
dorse q bill which thus keeps the word OF prom,
ise to the ear and breaks It 70 the nope; when
deliberately and avowedly debars and d1squaii-
hes women while assuming to exalt and nonor
them These ehiecstons are apart from the aD-
stract right of women to the ballot, but tncy
show how necessary IL lis to approach such 2 SUD-
lect with elaboration. II women are to be en-
tranchised let tt be done not as . tnlrty--uay
wonder, but as q merited reform resulting from
science and sanctioned by the enlightened judg-
ment OF the people; p,r,cv cova,ror.
NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED.
The council this evening confirmed the
nominations Of trustees, regents, dlrectors,
etc of territorial institutions, railroad COM
missioners, board of health. etc as IohoWs.
University of North Dakota--Ws N. Roach and
FIR Fulton. Grand Forks county, =
North Dakota Hospital for the lnsane-f. r.
county: v. r. kennedy OF Brown county, ana "
Il. Fry Of Cass county.
North Dakota Reform School-John Haggart Oh
Cass county. Jud La Mourc OF Pembina-
Normal School at Spearfsh-Albert Powers
Samuel Cushman, II. M. Gregg. m.
School OF Mines. Rapid City-Edwin Van use
and Charles w. Mather, OF Lawrence county n
J. Simmonds and John w. Nowlan, OF Pennlng-
ton county; George Roland of Custer county
School for Deaf Mutes-Frank II. biacknian'
=. =. Livinpston. p. II. Rlnkle, >, IA. bro"hsop'
Alexander Hinckley.
Normal School at Madison-J. A. Trow, ~
Kennedy and Wesley Hill for four years, anu y
N. jerks and II. r. Ii. Coffin for two YEAR,
Dakota Hospital for the Insane william
Powers, Benjamin 8. Willlama and Robert ooa
OF Hankton county, Alfredo. Hneston OF h'noVli
county. A. ". Colby 0f Yankton.