The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-18

need to see more of the American flag
Give rs the old flag and an appropria ton for
postofice buildings r
NEW CASTLE. Feb. Is.
Woman Suffrage TN Wisconsin.
To the Editor of the IndiaDapolis Journae
brief extract from your paper was recently
quoted in the Milwaukee Sentinel, and it does
such injuctice to the women Of Wisconsin and
betrays such a Misunderstanding OF our law that
can not refrain from q word of explanation.
The womaa's suffrage Law passed in 1885 and
ratified by the voters of our State is as follows
Every who is . citizen of this State of the
age of twentyone years upwards, except paupers.
excluded By See. 9. Art. 8. of the Constitution Of
Wisconsin, who has resided WITHIN the State year
and in the election district whore she offers to vote
ten days next preceding any election pertaining to
school matters, shall have right to vote at such
election
THIS law was not hastily passed, as has been
represented. but was under consideration and
discussion nearly two years, six weeks in the
legislature and nineteen months by the people"
(so.calsd).
cation OF this law by tha voters supposing II to
be q substantial and valuable extension of suf-
frage; much better than the school suffrage
laws OF other States, that while they gave only
q right to vote in q school meeting, or for a
school board. this authorized women to vote on
all school affairs. or, as the law says. ''at any
election pertaining to school matters"
sin voted flor IN many places their votes were
receivedl WAS an election which, i'll the cities at
least, determined everything affecting the
school; the length. character. in fact the very
existence of the school. depended upon the re-
suit of that election and it the only election
affecting the local schools Can any candid
mind doubt for y moment that that election
pertained TO school mattersl The women Of
Wisconsin have never offered TO vote at
election which did not per tain to school matters,
nor for officers other than those who have to do
with the local schools. They not chargeable
with attemp rine TO vote fraudulenty; thew be-
heved then and do now believe that their action
was in harrnnny with the spirit and letter of the
law and in accordance with the intention of the
Legislature. 10 1t TO be supposed that intelligent
women would work Themselves almost to death
TO secure the ratification of law which should
have no application for the greater part of the
State, II indeed it has any application at ai
For by the terms of the decision IL is very ques-
vote at any election: and the court itself seems
30 be in doubt, for the decision closes with
'perhaps'-.p-rhapsi IL may require further legis-
lstion." Could We suppose that our intelligent
Leeislature and our honored Governor Rusk
would deliberately submit to the voters Of
of this State law. to be acted upon at
ge neral election with all the paraphernaia of
separate ballot-boxes ana special ballots and the
pubic attention directed to the fact that i'm
porrant measure was before .'the people" when
they intended nothing and understood that the
law really should have application?
Women cannot yet believe that men OF ma
ture years would make such n mockery of legis-
charging women with dishonesty because they
voted or attempted tn vote under this law. you
Include in your condemnation the learned judge
of the circuit court, who gave a decision in our
favor, the eminent dean of our State law
school. who argued in our behalf. as well
many inteligent and candid lawyers. judges
and good men all over the State. who, like our
selves, have taken the law in good faith, be-
lieving, as one Of the legislators of 1885 is re-
ported to have said, that The law means ex-
actiy what 1t says. and it says exactly what the
trainers intended" and who are unable to see
any other meaning to tho words of the law than
the one claimed namely, that it gives to women
which affects, relates pertains to the schools
y ELRoY, Wis, Feb Il OLYMPIA Brown.
&.
The Temperance Question In Politics.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journals
Allow Republican. whose love for the party
has been tested in times that tried mems souls,
to say few words on pending issues. prefer
doing this through your paper, both as a citizen
Of Putnam county and because regard the Ban
ner and yourself as of great weight in the
party. greatly fear-its present leaders are
not half awake to the crisis just before Ms.
To multiplied thousands OF Republican
voters that which attracts and still holds them
to the party is the fact that with no uncertain
voice or halting steps it took the lead in great
moral issues. Its history shows that when and
whore it. not reluctantly or because it had to,
but boldly and with unmistakabis purpose,
stood up for great purposes, it sooner or later
trumphed
or course there are several questions before
the minds of the people-the tariff, civil-servic
reform. etc. but IL Is barely truth to say that
the one which dwsrfs them all is that of the
liquor traffic. About the others party lines
not strictly drawn. Locality and occupation
color the convictions and determine the votes
of men. The liquor traffic. the source of more
slavery was. and conscious Of gigantic power
and unlimited resources, has allied itself to the
Democratic party aud with it's aid and that of
the so-called third party and with reckless and
defiant purpose thinks itself secure.
Meanwhile multiplied thousands of intelligent
and lrue-hrarted voters OF all parties ask with
intense interest, How long, U Lord, how longi"
Whatever the Democrats in the South may do
In the way local option, and they deserve credis
the Northern and many of the Southern cities
the party is under the control OF the very worst
classes. Whenever It can it brides legislators,
changes tally sheets, corrupts courts. packs
juries and buys MP voters like sheep in the
market II 10 evident that notwithstanding the
favor given to local option where temperance
wholly under the control of the liquor traffic and
pays some form or other in nearly every
convention. From the open letter of jefferson
Davis which, more than anything else. defeated
the temperance cause in Texas, down to the
latest sneer at .sumptuary laws by some cross
road politician, every honest Democrat knows
The life or MS party Is dependent on the saloon
In Kansas, Iowa, and wherever the Repubi-
party has fully and feariessly espoused the
temperance cause and spread prohibition on its
banners il has marched IN triumph from con-
suering unto greater conquests; az In Co meet
cut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New YORK.
Perusyivania and Ohio it has been on the fence
somet,mes passing and then abolishing good
temperance laws. 1t has suffered loss. The New
YORK Tribune said. IN one Of its October issues:
'Tne rum power has chosen sides. II has for
mally declared tor the Democratic party. II
temperance rs to make progress hencsforth it
must do so through Republican legislation" 1t
sxhorts its party to make the salvation of the
country from the rum CURSE one of its main
planks- The failure of the party to do this at
once snd un~quivocally is what makes some of
the above and other States doubtful. have
nothing to do with the folly and Inconsistency
OF ths Tribune and other papers that advocate
bigh license AZ the remedy As little do care