Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-17
WOMAN sUFFRAGEiN WYOMING.
An Election I'm Which Women Were
the Candidates-A Husband Who
Eludcd His wife's Vigilance
and Voted Against Her

Eludcd His wife's Vigilance
and Voted Against Her.
belong to woman's rights club,
writes correspondent OF The Detroit
Free Press, and last spring we decided
that it would be good idea to send
one of our members to Wyoming terri
tory to SEQ tho practical workings of
woman suffrage. We hoped that
great deal would be done for our cause
in our state by the new legislature
which was to be elected, and so wanted
all tho information we could obtain. /
have a cousin living in Wyoming, and
at the request of the sisters Iagreed to
60. | must say was surprised at the
methods used to obtain votes My
cousin Theodore seemed to be meek
sort of man, different from the other
members of the Hopkins family. Day
after day he staid quietly at home,
taking care of the children, while
Elmina. his wife. was electioneerng,
for she was a candidate for an Office.
This just suited me, for it gave me n
capital chance to get the desired facts
as accompanied her in her tour among
the voters. One day she drove the
shaggy little pony up to settlers
shanty, before going in she SAID: 81
do hate to 60 among such people, but
one must. you know, for every vote
counts SO she smiled sweetly on the
slovcnly woman who met US at the
door and said: Mrs Higgins, my
duties are many and my leisure mo-
ments few. which must be my excuse
for not coming sooner. Just then a
hungry-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 a cunning pet
piggie you have; SO tame and docile.
too.
Then taking up the baby, who was
eating bread and molasses, and whose
face and dress were both far from clean,
she exclaimed: "And what dear,
cute baby YOU have; how old is it, and
how many toothies has it got, and
wha. is its Nance"
Mrs. Higgins replied:
Yes, mum, we think he's q right
peart young 'un. HIS name is Abra-
ham. He hez four teeth. and kin say
pap and nam ralc plain when he's
mind to-
Then Elmina said:
Next Tuesday, you know. is cleo
ton day, and as | 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 he will
be taken care Of
"Wal, wal" said Mrs. Higgins, 'ef
that don't beat all creation. I'm git
tin poplar, must say, for Miss Ben
nett was jist over Yesterday and prom
ised to sen her kerridge out to tote
me in, and I promised to be ready.
Too bad mum. I'm ralc sorry, l am.
indeed, an her run'in agin ye as she
is makes it seem WISER
Another woman on whom we called
said:
NO nam, I'm not votin'
woman. not by no means, but take off
yer bunnts and set to and take bit
with us. fur dinner is jest 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
treated kindly at most places but one
woman, when she found out who Ell
nina was, said
Il don't want nothin' to do with no
woman 5 rights palaverin' around me;
l ain voted yit and never expect ter
vote. My man does all that kind O
blzness fur his ranch and | don't low
that he's agowin to vote fur no woman,
not eff knows myself he ant"
At last the cventful day arrived.
Elmina was not so well known as her
two opponents, one being a man, the
other n woman. for three candidates
were in the field for nearly all the
offices. She hired a large hall. bor-
rowed rocking chairs and cradles from
her constituents, and then the tireless
pony went to and fro bringing in old
women and invalids, some of whom
had not left their homes for years be-
fore. They were duly installed in the
easy chairs. Some were knitting. some
were piccing quilts, and for those who
smoked there were plenty of pipes and
tobacco. Many of them rocked a era
die with one foot, so that the mother
OF its occupant could work outside try
/ ing to influence doubtful voters. A
lunch with hot tea and coffee was served
at noon to a merry crowd. A motley
group it was assembled there, and what
babel of tongues Yet in justice