The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-02-11

Afnlcip pa o9lfaee
We have heard Il questioned Of late
ifthe legislature can give the right
% suffrage 10 women in any elections.
This might he 3 dSbatsble question,
had not the Supreme court Of the
STATE set At rest some things with
referunee to Il. In the case Of Wheel
e. ~. Brady. reported Ia Is Kansas
Report, commencing on page Is, We
dad he Supreme court Of the State
has d,eided that women may vote 81
slectIon Of school district officers.
Quoting sec. I Of Article 5, Of the
Cons tuition, to-Eit; Every white
male person Of twenty one years and
upwarls who shall
have resided la Kansas six months
next preceding any election, aud m
the toEnship nr ward Ia which he
olTsra to vote thirty days next pre-
eeiinr such election shall be deemed
q quaIided elector." The court says
the els--tion there referred %, Is the
election Tor such officers aud such
elections a. are prescribed by the
Constitution. while q might have
t.een hruz.ier and more in-keeping
With general construction 81 consti-
rational pr1visiuHs 10 have held that
Il vas the intent Of the people that
the aBuve provisinn should apply to
al elections. vet the court held u
applied a. said beforei % any Of the
els.rtiuns ~ those officers aud those
elections named IN the Constitution.
ID said school district elections and
Officers were not mentioned in the
Constitution: therefore, Il was within
the power anu province Of the Legis-
lafsre O. prescribe no, where, when
aud how school district officers
saoald be elected.
In support 81 this conclusion, the
cssurt quotes tWo either provisions OF
tine Constitution, to-wii: Sec. IS Of
Article ,. 1T the Legisisturel shall
have the power to provide for tie
eleciion or appointment Of all officers
and the filling 81 all vacancies not
Otherwise provided Tor in this COnsti-
futiun, " aud See of Article IS, "All
oficers whose election or appoint
nlent h not otherwise provided for
shall be chosen az appointed a. may
he prescribed by law These two
provisions, especially the latter, are
plain ia their language and would
ssem 10 support the Court in its posi-
ton. Were % not for Sec. OF ATti.
Gle 5, above quoted, these two provis
Ions last quoted would plainly and
fully settle the matter. The threC
provisions standing together Ia the
Constitution, must be cOnstrued
kureiher and the most Just, reasona-
DE and probably intended construc.
ton be given.
The court further says that the Leg
Eslniure could set the election ri
school district officers 20 occur any
time and say who should take part IN
O.. even % the voting Now, precise
lv the same condition % thugs exist
with reference TO city elections. Tina
Is, city officers and city elections are
not mentioned in the constitution
Therefore, are not covered by Sec. IS
uf Article ;, and the whole matter q
60 what officers shall be had and hl
whom elected In cities, is left to tn
legislature. Perhaps certain county
officers can be voted for 10y women ]
tine Legislature would 80 say, but o
this hereafter. We only intend 3
cover the question Of voting In cities
Now the above decision cover
the whole principle involved aud
the law 81 this state until tn
supreme court shall reverse itselI
which under all the circumstances
g probable Il will never do.