Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-08-26
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN WYOMING.


belonu TO woman's rights club
tics correspondent of The Detroit
Erss Press, and last spring we decided that
:. 1rould be a good idea to send one of
onr members to Wyoming territory to see
tbe practical workings of woman's suf-
srsge. We hoped that great deal would
"a Zone for our cause in our state by the
oeu legislature which was to be elected,
and 40 wanted all the information we
ooDld obtain. / have cousin living in
Wvoming, and at the request of the sis
+ers I agreed to 60. | must say / was
surprised at the methods used to obtain
votes. NV cousin Theodore seemed to be
meek sort of a man different from the
otber members of the Hopkin family.
Dav afte day he staid quietly at home,
tokinp care of the children, while Elmina,
his wife, was electioneering fer she was
candidate for an office. This Just suit
ed me. for it gave me capital chance 10
act the desired facts as | accompanied
her in her tour among the voters. One
day she drove the shaggy little pouy up
70 settlers shanty, before going in she
said: II do hate to go among such PEG.
nile. but one must, you know, for every
vote counts" So she smiled sweetly on
the slovenly woman who met us at the
door and said; ''Mrs. Higgins, my duties
are many and my leisure moments few
which must be my excuse for not coming
sooner. Just then a hungary looking pig
trotted in as if thoroughly at home |
knew Elmina was shocked to the very
depths of her soul, but she was equal to
the occasion, and said: "Oh, what cum
ing pet piggie you have; so tame docile,
too
"Then taking up the baby, who was
eating bread and molasses, and whose
face and dress were both far from clean.
she exclaued "And what a dear, cute
baby YOU have; how old is it, and how
many toothies has it got, and what is its
name"
Mrs. Higgins replied
Yes. mum. we think he's a right peart
Young 'un His name is Abraham. He
hez four teeth, and kin say pap and nam
rale plain when he's mind to-"
Then Elmina said:
Next Tuesday, you know. is election
day, and as l know you have no way of
getting out | will be glad to send my
pony and buggy after you, and do bring
the sweet baby, too, for hen be taken care
Of"
"Nal, WALL said Mrs. Higgins, "ef that
don't beat all creation. I'm gittin' popu-
lar must say, fur Miss Bennett was jist
over Yesterday and promised to SEN her
kerridge out to tote me in, and / promis-
ed to be ready. Too bad, mum! I'm rale
sorry, | am, indeed, an her runnin' agin
We as she is makes it seem so much wus-
sel.'
Another woman on whom we called
said:
NO, nam, I'm not votin' woman, not
by no means, but take off yer bunnits and
set to and take bite with US, fur dinner
is jist ready, and my sister in Missouri
sent me lot o. dried apples which I've
cooked up inter as good sass as you ever
see"
We declined, however. We were treat
ed kindly at most places, but one woman,
when she found out who Emma was,
said:
Il don't want nothin' to do with no
Bomans rights palayerin' around me; |
ant voted yit and never expect ter vote.
My man does all that kink o. bizness for
this ranch and | don't low that he's agoin'
to vote for no woman not eff | knows my
self he amt"
At last the eventful day arrived. Emma
was not so well known as her two OPP
ponents, one being man, the other
woman, for three candidates were in the
field for nearly all the offices. She hired
large hall, borrowed rocking-chairs and
cradles from her constituents, and then
the tireless pony went to and fro bring
Ing i'll old women and invalids' some of
whom had not left their homes for years
before. They we're duly installed in the
easy chairs. Some were knitting, some
piecing quilts, and for those who smoked
there were plenty of pipes and tobacco.
Many of them rocked a cradle with one
foot so that the mother of its occupant
could work outside trying to influence
doubtful voters. lunch with hot tea
and coffee was served at noon to a merry
crowd. motley group it was assembled
there, and what a babel of tongues! Yet
IN justice l must say all was peaceabie,
with no cry of fraud in the land. Ell
nina had been in doubt as to how Theo
dore felt on the subject of woman suffrage,
and she had fear in her heart that in
spite of his quiet acceptance of the
household duties which she had put up
on him he was not in favor of women
either voting or holding office. She said
ne was greatly opposed to 1t
though he said nothing against it, now
she half feared he held the same views.
so we plotted to keep him away from the
polls on this day.
Providence seemed to aid us, for the
baby was far from well, and so Elmina
SAID: 1T is too bad Theodore, but you
Will really be obliged to stay with the
poor little dear; you know she will have
nothing to do with a stranger, especially
when She is sick, or | would hire a woman
20 stay, and we will try and get home in
ume for You to goin before the poles
close this evening"
The town was only half mile dis
want. We meant, however, to be un
sFolkabiy delayed or pretend we had
oeen. My cousin said nothing. and l
really was quite indignant to see Hop
AIMS have so little spirit.
About o'clock in the afternoon Ell
nina who had been suffering all day
with a headache, came to me and said;
am obliged TO go home; my head is
sIoWing more painful SO / accom-
panied her. When we arrived there she
SAID to her husband; II am 80 sorry you
oaohot go to town, but | am suffering