Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-27
lTHEIR TWENTY-sEC0ND DAF.
The Conventions for Making Constitutions
for the New States.

Z 49, II - : #l
HELENA. Mont, July 25.-There was
more debating at the twenty-seeond day g
session Of the convention than on any pre-.
ceeding two days, and many bright and
pithy speeches we're uttered. Richards is
the orator OF The Westside, and is gaining
reputation in thst line. Knowles and
Dixon miss many opportunities to dis.
tinguish themselves, their time being taken
NO mostly by supreme court business,
though Judge Dixon does plenty OF COM
mittee work. ~. .s.s.s.s.
The judiciary resolution having been
temporarily disposed Of by its reference to
the judiciary sonfmittee. the suffrage ques-
tion Was taken UP and proved more than
could be handled in one day. Woman
outrage vas seiieetually knocked oft. alter
much debate, but the ladies found a cham
pion in Bickford. HartmaD's amendment
recurring that man must read
and write before being eligible TO exercise
the franchise, was hetly debated. Speeches
in it's favor we're made by Hartman, Joy,
Sargeant and Breen; while Courtney, Bur-
leigh, Hogan, Knowles, Maginnis, Middle
ton and ]. r. Toole were opposed.
Maginnis made a great speech which was
greeted with applause, and among other
things said there would be time when
saints would canvass and angels would pre-.
side over the ballot box, and count the
suffrage OF their constituents.
When the convention took q recess at
noon the amendment had not yet been dis.
posed OF.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Upon rsassembiing, the discussion on
Hartman's amendment was continued.
Galloway. Carpenter and Stapleton oppos-
ing it. Stapleton said the amendment was
ii, conflict with the constitution, and he
was opposed to 1t because it would not do
what it was desired to do.
Clark said the subject was an interesting
one and he had listened to the debate care
fully. He doubted az to the breGdth OF
the proposition OH which the gentleman
favoring the amendment stood. The well
fare OF the state was not endangered by
extending the suffrage. He appreciated
education az we'll as any one. To be un-
able to understand the Language was mis-.
fortune, yet he did not believe in visiting
that misfortune on those who did not un.
derstand so we'll. yet were good citizens.
The foreigner should remain In this country
for sufficient time to understand
our institutions, yet his right OF suffrage
should not be abridged further than it is
at present. Itwas true that men had been
made to vote as their employers wanted
them to, yet, at the same time, those en-
ployes never sought to find out whether
those men could read or write.
Burlsish moved to lay all amendments on
the table, but withdrew his motion.
Stapleton moved to have the question
divided.
Courtney thought the amendment should
be submitted to be voted upon.
Hartnan's amendment vas read, and
Bickford moved its adoption. II was lost
by q vote of II in the negative.
Bickford's amendment Of q 4
SUBSTITUTE FOB SECTION 3,
was read. This is the clause to give women
the right Of suffrage. Bickford said this
substitute embraced several propositions
which he didnot propose to discuss. Theonly
one that he proposed to say anything
about was the last clause, which allows the
legislature to confer upon women the right
OF electors. He was opposed at the present
time to conferring upon women the right
Of suffrage for the reason they had not
availed themselves OF the rights they now
had. A woman is just a. cSpable OF de-
termining the rights the ballot gives
as man. At the present time
the right OF suffrage is extended
almost universally to the male portion OF
the United States, Massachusetts and Con.
necticut being the only states in the union
where an educational qualification is nee
essary for q voter. The woman suffrage
question came into light when the negroes
vera enfranchised. The women said then.
Were as able to vote as the negroes" and
growing. The party known as the
PARTY OF woMAN's RIGHTS
has been established and it had q candi.
date for president in the field. In Kansas
women can vote in municipal and school
matters and wherever they have taken
part in such municipal affairs they have
purified municipal politics. He read
letter from Mrs. Mary Humphreys OF Kan
sas, the substance OF which was that the
granting of municipal suffrage in Kansas
had been beneficial and had worked good
to- the ballot. Taking q conservative
view OF the matter, he was strongly in favor
Of allowing women the right OF suffrage.
The debate on the subject was long and
interesting, and participated in by nearly
every member, but the conclusion was that
the women will not vote.
Clark submitted an amendment, provid.
ing that no person shall be permitted to
vote at any election who is not a full citi.
zen OF the United States, or who has not
taken out his final naturalization papers.
This was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes Is, noes z. This disfranchises those
who have only declared their intention oi
becoming citizens.
Adjourned.