The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-12-23

The Kansas Equ&i Suffrage AssociA-
ton and the State Woman Christian
Temperance Union through their exsCu-
tive officers have agreed 70 combine II
petftiOning the legislature at ia nexi
session for municipal woman suffrage
The women Of Kansas TASK for thil
crumb of suffrage, not because they dc
not understand that they have an In
AlIenabIe right to the whole, but because
the legislature has the power to grant
municipal suffrage to women by statute.
without amending the constitution.
As the vote In municipal elections
creates and controls the Institutions
which surround the home, and mold the
characters of the children who must
grow mp among them and as the care
and guardianship Of home and children
Is most largely entrusted to women, the
property and expediency, a. well as the
| simple Justice of confefriDg the privilege
of municipal suffrage upon women must
be conceded by all.
Women of Kansas, do you not desire
TO have your opinion counted in the
matter Of saying whether or not there
shall be, In the town where you live,
| billiard saloons, ten-pin alleys, secEeI
places where liquor IL sold, and other
pernieious and debesing devices With
the Communicating Influences OF all theif
low and vicious associations 70 entice
your sons from the paths OF rectitude,
and rob them, not only Of their money,
but Of their honor and character g.
well?
Have you not sufficient interest in all
mat ers pertaining 70 the public schools,
and in the sanitary condition OF your
city, upon which the health and lives of
yourself aud Others depend, TO prompt
you to record your most carefully con-
aidsred and intelligent opinion upon
them?
Finally, do you not desire to have q
voice In saying how your hard earned
money, Of which you are periodically le-
gsllY rObbed-for it amounts to Just that
so long as you have no voice In their dis
bursement-t0 support set of men in
Office whom you have no voice IN elect
ing; to build city prisons In which to
combine crimInAlE-perhAps your own
loved Ones-msde such by institutions
these same officers permit to exist, and
to which they give the sanction OF legal
responsibility by licensing them TO do
this very work?
Municipal woman suffrage confers the
right upon women equally with men 90
control all matters Pertaining to the gov
erDment of cities.
That all women OF ordinary intelli-
geDce who understand II, do desire IL, is
proved by the large proportion of those
who sign the petitions, being fully nine
tenths Of all who have had an OppOrtuni-
ty to do so.
The reason why this proportion of all
the women OF Kansas have not Slready
thus peEitioned, is because they have had
no opportunity; and we appeal to you,
women, TO whom this may come, TO aid
the earnest workers. who are doirg all in
their power to aid you, by both signing
and circulating petition, so that the
OppOsers Of this measure may no longer
be able to say that the women of Kan-
sas are not asking for municipal suffrage.
Men Of Kansas, you who have the
broader views which generations OF alb
soiute freedom to surround yourselves
with the highest conditions possible
under our civilization, and to take ad-
vantage OF those already made to your
hand, we appeal to you to remember us
who are in bonds" aud relying upon
your sense Of Justice, we confidently ask
you TO give the Influence Of your name
upon our petition and your vote when
ever the opportunity presents itself, and
assist in restoring to US our right Of self
government, tsthe right preservative Of
all rights" and the birthright Of every
human soul.
The women of Kansas are in earnest In
this matter and will come and come
again until their petitions are granted.