Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-11
the peon,e throughout the terri

the people throughout the terri
tory. In but a single instance
was l refused a name, and in asecond
case a man hesitated, saying, "Well,
now. if It's as many rights you're
wantin' es / hey got fur meself, you'll
be after signin' my name fur me-fur [
niver do any writin' at all fur meself.'
And yet that man, whose name had
to write. has more rights in this his
adopted country than l and all other
women have in this our native land.
The right of franchise. which has here
tofore been regarded us II privilege,
should lie more considered Il right and
a duty which should be exercised by
every citizen for the public good. If
there is not another woman in Dakota
who wants tu vote, l do! and have my
opinion of the men who deny me this
great privilege which they demand for
themselves. There is no doubt that
many women are Indifferent upon this
subject, but when once given the ballot
you will then see that their progress
will equal if not exceed that Of the
emancipated slaves in the south.
Look at Wyoming territory, where
woman suffrage has had a fair test, and
no one will deny it has proved a mark
ed success. Elections there now are
conducted with quiet and are more or
derby than they are elsewhere. Before
the enfranchisement of Wyoming, cleo
ton days were a terror generally, being
both boisterous and riotous. 1t is
really true that Dakota men are the
most energetic and enterprising any
where to De found, and in number they
largely exceed our women. Gentlemen,
make this the most advantageous state
for women and they will soon be wend-
ing their way hither. Woman sutfrag-
lists have been granted select commit
tees in both houses of congress. and,
better still, each OF those committees
has given us a majority report in favor
Of u sixteenth amendment tothe constl-
tuition of the United States, prohibiting
the disfranchisement of citizens on ac-
count of sex. Gentlemen, delegates OF
this state constitutional convention, |
now appeal to your highest sense OF
honor and justice, with all the earnest
ness of my woman's heart-give us the
right to vote-give it to us, not because
we possess any particular merit, but
give it to us because it is u right
Then Dakota will in fact be "a home OF
the free,"-honored by all nations, and
the banner state of the union. Jap.
plauSe.
The address and petition were refer.
red to the committee OF elections and
suffrage.
ADJOURNMENT.
At the conclusion OF Mrs. Bones i'd.
dress, the convention, ut 4:lO p. NJ, adj
journed to 10 o'clock A. NJ.
Fourth Day
OPENING.
The constitutional convention was
opened with prayer by Rev. +. b
Meredith of the First Baptist church.
Sioux Falls.
The roll-call disclosed the presence
of e%ighty-five delegates. The hall
slowly filled with delegates, however
and at 1890 most of those in the city
were in their seats.
A. j. Knight Of Lawrence. l.. e
johnson OF Brown, and W.. M. ID. Van
VelsOr of Hughes We're sworn as dele
gates.
; PROHIBITION.
\ petition from citizens OF BrookingS
county, praying for the insertion Of a
prohibition clause in the constitution
was read and referred to thecommittee
on legislation.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
n memorial from the National
Women's convention was read to the
convention. 1t asked for a; woman's
suffrage plank in the constitution. Re.
ierred to committee OH elections and
rights OF suffrage.
EXECUTIVE REPORT.
The state executive commi tees re
port was read. 1t stated that it was
the duty of the committee appointed al
Huron to procure the necessary print
ing for conducting the election of dele
gates to the constitutional convention
that an apportionment of the expense
it incurred WAS made to several coun'
ties south of the forty-sixth parallel
and it was found to he $3.50 for thu
membership in each county. The
committee found it could not rely up
on the slow process Of making collec'
lions in the name at first prepared
so it called 10y telegraph upon severa
of the Oldest counties for specific
pledges of certain amounts. All o.
them responded and readily paid their
quotas, except one county. The com
mitteee had printed $500 copies Of thu
proceedings Of the Huron convention
500 of which were in pamphlet form
also 1000 poll-books and 200 abstracts
together, with circulars, postals, etc
Had all the counties responded to tn,
assessment in accordance with the or
iginal request Of the committee, il
would have received $1,125. The com
mittee actually received $59O.5O, o
which they paid $413.5O, leaving a bal
ance OF $117, which was turned owe
to this convention to be used for asim
liar purpose.
!, COMMITTEES, ETC.
The president announced us addi
tional members of the ways and mean
committee Hugh ]. Campbell Of Yank
ton, Henry NJ. Miller of Hand, A. j
!, Knight and Dolph Edwards of Law
renee.
!, The president also appointed the fol
lowing pages: Sioux Grigsby, Will
5 Mccormack, George Dickon, Lynn
Parmley.
The following were appointed a spe