Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-04-12

The following report was made by Mrs
Rones to the National Woman Suffrage
Association under date March 6, 1888:
TO THE NATIONAL w. s. A. GREETING:
The disadvantages Of a new, uudevel-
oped country, in 4 measure deters the
progress of suffrage wOIk-Our people,
ms yet, are too poor and too much Occu-
pied in their own individual interests to
devote either time or money tOanything
except the winning OF bread and butter;
although with very few exceptions, every
one l have solicited to sign a petition ia
voTing Woman Suffrage" have willingly
endorsed it. Strange as it may seem,
one woman refused-but subsequently it
vas my privilege in the capacity of an
officer to learn her true reason for SO do
ing--she could not write her own name ;
and as she was making homestead en-
try, 1t was part of my duty to ask: Are
you native born citizen of the United
StateG, or foreign bOrn?" she answered:
"Foreign-bornW When ! explained,
according to the law it is necessary: /.
That she should Declare her intention
to became a citizen of the United States"
&c, whereuDOn we proceeded thus
What Is your name?' America" she
answered. Where were you bOrn?"-
Answer, I'm Virginia" This dialogue is
merely gwen to show the class of women
usually opposed to wimmin-rightsers ~
Our territorial egislature-represent
tlves (?) OF our peOple-DID pass a law
granting to Dakota women unrestricted
suffrage; but through the power Of an
imported Governors veto our most san
guIne hopes were blasted, and the pro-
liability is, that So long as we are in this
dependent condition. subieCS to the
Whlms OF any APPOINTED executive who
has no interest whatever in common with
our peoples needs, there will be little
II any encouragement to work for
any reform. Nevertheless, the natural
advantages Of the country, offering to
single WOmen-f0r married women Lose
their identity in the 'Ouc as we'll as 10
men, opportunities to make homes for
themselves homes upon government
land Is no small factor in gaining for our
women equality before the law, when
we become Il sovereign people. For IN
stance, here in Day county which has
practically been settled within the past
FIVE years-l5S single women have al
ready made all the improvement on gov
eminent land required by law, to secure
title thereOf-aS shown by our county
| record; (their names are herewith sub
| United for any who may desire to Sec.
and probably there are as many more
single women now holding claims in this
| coanty-makiBg Independent homes for
themselves, who have not vet perfected
| their titles-our worthy delegate, Mrs
| Linda w. Slaughter, has experienced the
| necessary routine of securing $50 acres
of Dakota land and will cheerfully an
swer any inquiries about the same. The
| names of single women who are only
Cultlvating tree CiaimS-whiCh do not by
law require residence-here, are not in
cluded with the others herein mentioned.
Our last Legislature passed law, Civ
| ing TO women throughout the territory
the prIy. Iege to vote at school elections
and tor school officers; also made women
| eligible to hold any school otICe-all OF
which escaped the Governors veto, as
| did the local option laW-WhiCh law can
be safely said, was brought about thro
wOman's influence, mainly by those oil
| the w. {. L. I. societies; which are
| thoroughly organized throughout this
immense territory-which ought to be
| quartered, let alone divided-everY one
| Of which are i'll favor Of woman suffrage
At least this is true of ours toyer which |
| have the honor to pTesIde)- and when ]
| have cited our members 10 many needed
reforms, besides prohibition, that wo,
mans ballot WOULD SECURE, they agree
| with Inc so thoroughly, that one almost
| fOrgets they are not i'll genuine suffrage
club. MARIETTA VI. BONES.
Nice-Pres. Y. W, s. A, for Dakota.