Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-07
HOW WOMEN VOTE IN WYOMING.
Facts and Incidents Observed Mt the Poli'
in Western Town.

in q western AOhh'
"Carsos' IN Nelr York Scr.
1t was my good fortune to spend sn
election dsy in Wyoming Territory. There
the women are permitted to vote, hold Of
fee and exercise all the rights OF the
s,erner sex-evsn thst Of popping the
momentous question. l stopped OF at
RawIins, in Carbon county, small town
with two principal streets. one on each
side Of the Union Pacific Railway traoa.
It was 8 typical frontier town. The
houses are rude in appearance, built OF
unplaned lumber and unhewn logs, rooted
With either heavy canvas or native soil.
Tie main street was devoted almost ezclu'
sivsIy to business, twothirds Of which
came under the head of rum selling, with
gambling room attachments. The most
opulept man in the town was merchsct
who formerly served in the capacity OF
clers in au Omaha house, saved some
money, got some credit and . stock OF
goods. and made bold strike for the far
West and established himself IN business
As result of his enterprise and push he
now lives in prosperity and hand painted
house. ,
The polls opened ST 9 o'clock in the
morning, and in short time every vehicle
m the town was on the streets, the horses
bsdecked with flags and ribbons, and each
conveyance bearing banner upon which
was painted either the word Democratic
- Republican"
AT he polls all was fGiet AID orderly
No drunkenness, no boisSeroq5 language
no profanity; there vas nothing but re-
snectful decorum, which wss due, OF course
10 the presence of the fades.
The election was local ore, set party
lines were c!osely drawn, and the contest
WAS a spirited one. Tricks agd strategy
were resorted TO by the party leaders on
either side, some OF which, tor shTe"dnesS
of plan and boldness OF execution, would
do credit to your New York political Wirs
pullers.
the voting OF Queen Ann. l was stand
ing near the polls, taking deep interest
in tue novelty of observing woman vote,
vhen the somewhat discordant strains OF
brass band around corner OF the street
caught my ear. l asked gentleman near
me what il meant, ami he replied. " The
| ooys are going after Queen Ann. de then
! exclaimed TO me that Ann johnson Wss
a hugely built negro vo2su, who oEhcisted
"a cook in the county Hospital, end Who
proudly bossted, as did the party, that she
was The only black Republican IN the
comfy. went around the corner to view
TIA royel spectacle. A wagon, upon which
| vas .-ec,s5 throne, decorated with hags
and ribbois auS drawn BY six gaily csPar-
isoned horses, headed ths procession, icl'
lowing the band. BEHIND il game shout
twenty carriages, buggies and wagons ana
a esyalcads Of citizens, hunters and COW
boys on horseback. The procession VAS
lust starting for the hospital, quarter OF
mile distant, and with crowd oil curious
strangers I stood on the corner aSaiung
the return. Strains Of alleged music SION
notified us that her Majesty was approach
ing, and the procession came into view 9
square distant. The huge negress, dressed
in bright red and protuselJ decorated, 81
mon her throne with o cold dignity tGai
would chill the blood in the veins OF
polar bear. A guard of honor. CONSISTING
Of four hosemen, two on each side, attend
ed her. She looked neither 10 the righl
nor TO the left, but sat there cool, calm and
digni6ed, as If she were veritsble savage
nuaen receiving the homage OF her ioya
subjects. At the polls she handed her bal
lot 10 the officer, and, with 81 imperial
wave of the hand, exclaimed
"Dsr gees auoder blow to freedom an
anodsr boost 70 de Republicans from Dc
only black Republican in de county.
Three cheers for the Queen were tneE
given. and, with the same pomp and eere
mony, she was escorted bsck 10 her greas!
room of state in the hospital kitchen. 1
must not be inferred that al this eeremou!
was intended as p mark of honor to he
black MsisstY. 1t is ls!k the boys IN
dulge in every election day, and they ar
sc,usted only by a spirit OF pare tan.
! saw Ann ut the hospital the next mora
inc. and she bore little resemblance TO tn
lriehly.robed queen of the previous day
She wore q dirty calico dress splolcheC
With grease, her face shons With the sam
substance, here arms were barred to tn
elbows, and before responding to nS said
tation she elected food Of tobacco juic
from between her monstrous lips and CAV
a grind or two at the weed which she seen
, ed to so rsiish.
Daring the day an old lady Of Y cam
M, leaning on the arm Of her son, to d.
pcsit the FIRST and perhaps the last vote
her life. How proud she looked, snd VIA
. A beautiful smile lit up her features Is 81
: walked up to the window, rejecting thu
> she had lived to see the day when 81
oorld be permitted to cast real vote Tor
r>sl candidate at real election. As 81
was about 10 Fsisc her wriukled and tren
: bling hand to pass in hsE ballot prom
: nent citizen of the Town stePRsa Up 81
said:
: "GrAndms, / am sorry, butt viii ha'
/. to challenge your vote.
The lcok of distress which spread oy
Is the dear old creatures face was real
!: touching. Were her fond hcpes TO be DIS
a ed to the ground2 Was she to be deni
!, the nriv;lese for which abe had lopged o.