Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1888-01-17

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pzessrieina he q1ail8as2ions q persou.
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hih Ne. N5 90 act snbm1ttsug ls she s0t
ere g Wes1tnRtnn lsrEiloEy ne qass
non of tsnlale euzfAes 80 iease % -
pctt - rotqw9: A IDesltnR of aat4 camr
faitlee was hsid and theRs bsinN pEessnl
. ms5eKlty q n4id eounissse ard lh1
eoose bills e1mlnH ~ fas eonsidszsaisn
sne eammitsee N nasgioa weHe unnni-
and insiEuel ms % FspoEt shae shs sab-
les - unisaEzAl su9fana h one
et tie n1ogt impoxsans under
oaz form Of RoReFn1ent iha1 can cone
before Iau-mAkin9 body, and whan
tnaa question h la9sslAtsa upon. there
ahgald b - d0uht - 10 he expedition
o. iezality of The measure eanfemplatsd.
A humbeF of petikinns oaafeinin9 the
NAMES Of Rrsat member Of reputable
residents. mAie And female, Of this lsr-
rii0rg Who desire the passaQs of q iAw
eonfeFrinR tie EiGht OF saKFaQe upon
uomsn have been considered hy us, ana
almost Al equal nambeR Of rsmon-
ssranoes containina nearly a. great q
= nnmber of names Of equally raputn-
Die residents Of the territory Of both
sexea protesting against the passage Of
saoh . law havs recslved hke considsEa-
tIon 81 oar hands. And your oommiltae
e thereby satiansd that public opinion
ls divided as 10 the expadsence Of paas-
tng snch law. bat iu what pespoEtion
yoaE committee b unable 70 determine.
suoh . measure eoutsmpiates change
Ia ths fundamental law Of the land,
which ehenRs In The opinion Of q ma
Jofity OF your committee. sho1ld NOS Be
made by mers legislative enactment.
sven thouGh the powers TO DO 80 we're
free from 6oabt bat, II made. should
% accomplished hy the direct vote Of
the people.
Fhe question Of equal suffrage has
never been an issue before the people OF
shis territory upon It's merits, as your
committee is advised, save whea anb-
milted 70 the voters Of tie territory as
"independsnt article 81 Of tbs consti-
tuition Of the contemplated state OF
Washington IN the year 1873. when Il
vas defeated BY q vote Of nearly thses
10 one. Since then there has been no
opportunity prssen ed 10 the people
whereby any change In the Views on
this question ooaid be nsceetained.
At she tins Of the passage Of the ncs
comforting Suffrage upon women By the
legislature Of 1883. the qEestion OF tbs
propgiety OF euoh q change Ia the fan
d8mental Law had aot been an issue 10
the election ef the members Of that
body, and since that tine there has
bees no opportunity TO ascertain the
opinion or wishes Of the people upon
that question presented.
Believing, therefore, that q question
of sucn importance should Be deter
mined only by q direct vote OF the peo-
pie and that any other method Of reRu-
latinR the right OF Suffrage wonld not
snly be contrary 10 the spirit Of onf in
stltutions. but inconsisseBt with tia
idea Of q republican form Of govern
ment a. exemplihed IN TIE history Of
this country, your committas have bsen
unable 10 consider favorshiy any Of the
measures providing for the confeEriuR
OF sQnraae upou women, which have
been submitted 10 Il, end which do not
provide for , Submission Of the ques.
ton 10 the people. Your committee
have grave doubts as 10 whether the Ser.
rtt5rial Legislature has any power under
the organic act to extend the right Of
suffrage to women. bat believe that, II
the question is properly submitted 70
the people aud fully and thoroughly
discussed and considered bg them and
upon fair vote Il is asocEtained that q
majority are In favor Of the enactment
of such Law, that congress will REQ og-
nizs the great veFdiot and promptly
validate the act.
Firmly impressed With the belief thas
In government like ours Il is always
safe 10 trust the people aad that theiE
decision upon g measure " such vital
importance cannot be Otherwise than
right, and thai IL would be an unwar-
rantsble assumption Of power on the
part Of this legislature to deny them the
right to express their will on this sub
isot, your committee beg leave 20 sab.
mit the annexed bill as Q substitute for
all the bills upon the subject Of woman
suffrage and recommend ita passage.
4. ]. HuMRs, Chairman.
EU0nNK FELLOWS,
T. a. RKxD, Dr.,
or COMMITTEES.