The Iola register., 1889-09-20
WOMEN IN WYOMING.

The Influence of Women's Presence In
Western Politics.
The results of woman suffrage in
Wyoming are thus summed up by the
Laramie Sentinel, the Oldest paper in
the Territory:
women have enjoyed and exercised
all the political rights and privileges
OF the other sex, here in Wyoming, for
the past twenty years As a result of
this experiment, for it was an expert
ment when first enacted. pretty much
everybody would say, 1t has not been
attended with any of the evil results
which the Eastern old fogies and con-
servatives predicted. Women have
not been unsexed or demoralized, their
children and family duties have not
been neglected, no discords in the do
mestic relations have grown out OF it;
in short it certainly has not done any
harm
''On the other hand, a good many
could be found. who, while regarding
the question with Indifference. would
say: 1T has not accomplished for us
all the good which its advocates pre-
dicted for it 1t has not materially pu-
rified the ballot-box; it has not always
kept bad men out of the offices; it has
not eradicated. or materially lessened
intemperance and the social evil
Therefore, while few people charge it
with any evil results, great many
don't credit it with any beneficial influ-
ence, and quite large portion regard
it with Indifference. Without being at
all fanatical on the subject we are dis
posed to review it fairly.
''In the first place, it should be borne
in mind that in Wyoming, as in all new
countries, women have constituted so
small per cent. of the population that
their political power and influence did
not count for much. When our last
census was taken, it showed nineteen
men to one woman; and, further, as
usual in new countries, the proportion
OF good women to bad ones is not as
great as in older communities. When
this explanation, having been in the
Territory ever since its organization,
and having had every facility for OBJ
serving the results of the experiment.
we desire to call attention to some Of
the beneficial results.
I'm the first place, it makes our cleo
tions just as quiet and orderly as any
other public gatherings Nobody ever
sees any rows or fights, any obscenity
or profanity. any drunkenness or row.
dvism about the polls on election day.
T, any old pioneer who witnessed the
one election which occurred here be-
fore woman's suffrage was inaugurated,
and saw the drunkenness and quarrels,
the threats and fourishing of revolvers
on the occasion. this improvement
alone will be regarded as enough to
fully justify woman suffrage.
Again. it introduces into the gov
ernment of the State the home influence,
which is certainly the best influence of
society. Single men care little for the
protection of law. They feel, and say,
that there may be any amount of vice
and crime, any number of pitfalls in
the path, they can take care of them
selves, and don't need to fall into them
unless they choose. But those who are
surrounded by home influences, who
are raising sons and daughters to send
out into the world, naturally desire to
lessen the evil influences as much as
possible. They want laws for the sup
preston Of vice and crime. good laws
faithfully enforced. And woman suf-
frage doubles the political power and
influence of this element, none too
strong in a new frontier country"