Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-06
woman Suffrage IIu.tratod.

One o. the chief inducements held ont
by tie adyocates OF female suffrage IN
favor Of the adoption Of their principles
has been the claim that If would at once
purity politics. The Prohibiuonists
have asserted that if women had the
night TO vote the liquor traffic would be
abolished Immediately, and the enemies
II bribery and corruption IN elections
have maintained that these Offence would
disappear when the wives and daughters
Of the male voters went with them 10 the
polls. As TO the first assertion, 1t can be
said that 1t is generally admitted that the
defeat OF the prohibltOry constitutional
amendment in Washington Territory Was
due to the votes Of women, who then eX-
ercised the right Of suffrage ia that Ter
ritory. No convincing illustration has
been given elsewhere to prove that ia
this respect the claim of the PrOhibi-
tionists is founded on fact.
A. to the second claim that female SUI
frage would purify elections, a cOnspicu-
Gus illustration Is now being gwen in
Boston. An election Tor school commits
sioners will take place in that city on
December 18th, and under the laws Of
Massachusetts, all women who are quail
fed under the conditions applying to
male voters can vote for these officers
As 1t happened question arose some
months ago concerning the retention %
a history as textbook IN the public
schools. The action Of the School Board
did not satisfy the 'rotestant clergymen,
aud meetings we're held and Il strong
sentiment aroused. 1t has been con-
coded that whichever SIDE gained control
Of the next school board would be- able
10 carry ont It's ideas concerning the
public schools and as women had the
right TO vote It was taken for granted
that they woull hold the balance Of
power at the polls.
The result Of the agitation Of this mat
ter IL seen in the unprecedented eager
ness of the women to register. They have
Ind the privilege Of voting Tor years, md
the largest number OF female votes ever
polled IN ANY one yesr IN BOstOn was
LIS. But already -, 900 women have
registered, and rs the lists do not close
until November 9TH, it Is expected that
this number will Toe etill further IN
creased. The scouesattendine thissudden
awakening OF an interest IN the suffrage
nave not been encouraging. Protestant
and Catholic ClergTmen have been espe-
CHILLY setive in urging the female mem
bers Of their tlocks 70 register and vote.
Vigorous charges OF perjury and iTerI-
lar registration are made by women On
both sides. and the Womans Christian
Temperance Union has felt justified IN
appointing . committee OF one hundred
10 protect the bailOt-bOxes from Illegal
women voters. As one Boston paper
saws "Ihey are determined that ire
gdlar voting on tine pat OF women shall
no nipped in tho bud. and when the wo-
men who have sworn falsely 60 10 regis
ter they will be arrested. u
IL will have 10 be concluded from
these occurrences that women when
they come TO exercise the right of suf-
frage exhibit pretty much the same
spirit that men do. They are as ac-
tive under exciting causes. show rs
much apathy IN OF years and, horrible
TO he told, there are apt to DC As many
Illegal voters among them as among
men. Female suffrage will doubtless
be established some day, ii women or Il
majority of them unite in asking for 1t.
But the clam that it Will create "A politi-
cal millennium and at once cleanse poll
ties Of It's impurities Is utterly disproyed
by the events now occurring in boston
and which have occurred III past years
IN Kansas aud Washington Territory.