The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-12-02


lately ratified by the people is in perfect
keeping with the impractical character
of the people who advocate woman suff-
rage. There can be no question that
woman suffrage will come when there is
demand from the proper source-the
women themselves. But it is only the
unquiet spirits, VINO are dissatis-
fed with creation as it exists, who are
the advocates" and this against the
protest of the womanly women. Wher-
ever you find a woman whose home is
neglected. you will find woman sufra-
gist. Wherever you find man who
believes he can reform the world through
the agency of societies, you find wo-
man suffragist. The time may come
when the ,oonen of the country will de-
mand the right of suffrage and they will
get it by unanimous consent.
The amendment just passed is as crazy
as the typical woman suffragist. "For
woman's suffrage in school matters" is
the form the crazy scheme took and
what it means or what are its limitations
there is ''never a man in this world that
knows" 1t will certainly allow women
to vote for superintendent of schools
and state superintendent as well as at
school meetings. 1t is just possible it
may give them the right of absolute stuff
rage, but this is not at all probable
The intention was to limit the right of
suffrage to annual school meetin rs, some
thing highly proper.
But it ia very questionable whether an
amendment to the constitution giving the
right Of suffrage to women can be adopt
ed Ia the manner in which the late
amendment was.
There are two difficulties in the way.
The constitution empowers the Legislature
''to extend the right of suffrage to per
sons not herein enumerated" the law
subsequently, to be submitted to the
people for ratification. This is specific
provision for an amendment extending
the right of suffrage. All other amend
ments are adopted through different
process. An amendment to the consti-
tuition in pursuance of this special pro-
vision. simply adds one more class of
persons to the classes enumerated as
having the ri ht to vote at any election.
II is simply an additional class to Sec.
Art. III, and must be in harmony with
the first clause to which all are made to
refer. But this introduces an enumer-
alton of persons having the right to vote
at any election, and that affirmed privi-
lege is to extend to all the classes enum
Grated including woman suffrage at
school meetings." SO tt at those having
the right to vote at school meetings have
a right to vote at any election. But it
may well be questioned if the constitu-
ton extending absolute right of suffrage
to women can be passed in this manner
The persons enumerated as having the
right Of suffrage must each and all,
together with the specified qualification
mentioned in the classification, have the
general qualification mentioned in the
Introductory clause, viz: MALE, q
gears, residence in the state one near.
Thus, citizens of the q. S.-the first
class mentioned-must not only be citi-
zens of the .. S., but must have the
qualification of age, sex and residence.
The same is true of persons who have
declared their intentions and so of each
class. 1t is evident that every class of
persons to whom the right of suffrage is
extended in pursuance of this special
provision must have the general qualifi-
cations mentioned in the opening of Sec.
l, Art. Ill, aud one of these qualitica
tons is sex. If not, then a woman not
Il years of age may vote, or woman
not resident of the state. The effect
Of such an amendment is to strike out
the word "male," power not granted
by the constitution except by the regular
manner of amending.
1t would seem that partial suffrage can
be extended to no one in the manner
provided by this clause, and general suff
rage to no one not male 81 years of
age and resident of the state for one
year. The woman suffrsgists cannot
override the constitution and it is not
easy to see how the bogus amendment
can be held good.