The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-16
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN UTAH.
Views of a Prominent Lady Upon
the Subject.

The subject of woman suffrage.
brought up in considering the Edmunds
mea.ure now before Congress, has
created no little criticism, which APP
pears to increase with time. A prom
inent lady resident OF Lafayette, Ind,
has this to say OF the matter, in a COM
munication to the Inter Ocean:
LAFAYETTE, Ind. March 25.-Two
wrongs never made a right. Every
right-minded woman in The coun. y
wants poiygamy in Utah stamped ous,
and the sooner the better, but they want
this done on strict constitutional
rights and vi h)ut adding any greater
indignities TO woman than are
placed upon them now, by the
written laws Of the land, and
this is why the circular letters of one Of
the earlier pioneers of the woman suf-
frage movement, DR.. Clemencie Lozier,
has been called forth. In the editorial
of the Inter Ocean upon this circular il
is said that woman suffrage has been q
failure in Utah, and all right-minded
Loziers should aid Mr.. Edmunds in
doing away with the institution in order
TO weaken the curse OF pOlygamy-
Mr.. Edmunds' section does not
weaken, but strengthens the polyga
nous vote of Utah. Already the test
oath of the former Edmunds bill
has DISTINGUISHED all men and women
living in polygamy in, Utah. and
il is acknowledged that this element
is about eliminated from Utah
elections. Let il be remembered
that only about one waltz Of
the Mormons are polygamous. by the
reimbursement Of the Gentle women
and the non-franchisement OF nom
polygamous Mormon men the Mormon
vote Is strengthened in Utah, and Mr..
Edmunds knows II.
Upon the same principle that Mr..
Edmunds proposes TO disiranchise
women innocent of wrong in Utah,
every man in Chicago. no matter how
Just and law abiding he may nave been,
be disfranchised because Mr.. Mackin
and his co-conspirators have abused the
p iSileges OF the ballot. III polyga = 8
declared a crime. then let Jue punnlSn-
ment fall alike upon both men and
women practicing it, and upon no 9TH
ers. Mr.. Edmunds has no constitu-
tional grounds To stand upon in the ty-
rannical attack upon the vested right of
the ballot in the hands OF a non-crimi-
nal class. The whole history
of Mr.. Edmunds' course in Congress-
shows a contempt for, not only
political, but industrial rights
OF women, and is another proof that a
non-voting class Is an unrepreSented
class in American legislation. Mr.. Ed
munds made his apology for asking the
Acknowledgement of women that ''wo-
men do not want the ballot" He has
been showered With letters and resolu-
tons SO extensively denying this state
ment that he acknowledges his inability
to answer these communications courIe-
ously, so he is sending out printed
circular letter which has been written in
such undue haste and couched in such
terms as 10 leave no doubt as TO his
pIque or lack of courtesy toward women.
His insulting paragraph telling women
tuat" they don Z understand the situation
IN Utah" Is but q lair sample OF the man.
The women of the country are showing
n thew understand rhe situation in
U ali and VT. + imunds; TO-. n 1t lie
hotter than the gentleman wishes. Poiyg-
amy Can be done away Will ON Gun
situtional principles. III men in Con-
gress are incapable OF killing this mons
Ter OF polygalny that they have pursued
along by their shilly-shallying. 10, these
many years, then let the LoZiers take
their seats for time and it will be done,
and done without adding another wrong
TO the great wrongs already inflicted.
Mr.. Edmunds IS manufacturing the
demagogue's capital for Presidential
succession, so he thinks. but he. OF any
party who may nominate him, viii
nnd that the silent influence of women"
of which he has so much TO say, Will
come like whirlwind 10 defeat him
whenever or wherever he may raise his
political head in the future.
HELEN n. GoCGAR.