Wichita eagle., 1889-10-02
Continued from Fifth Page.

known to be of Spartan courage and gran
lite firmness where principle was involv
ed. She generated her forces ADMIRABLY
and outgeneraled the enemy entirely. Sh
has been reelected and continues to civ
her city able service. it has proSpere,
financially under her rule and has suffers
In no way: Its treasury is no longer i'm
poverished, the city is out of debt, tn
streets are improved, Sunday and prOhib
itory laws are enforced and brothels no no
exist.
In the appointment of woman to tn
Office of assistant attorney general we nav
another evidence OF the advancement o
the woman movement in our state, and w
rejoice in the courage of the state ofilcla
VINO dared establish this precedent, and II
the sediment of the party to which he be
longs and which received this innovation
with favor: and we note with aftectlonatt
pride the efficiency of our sisters service
in her unusual position.
| am moved to say that while we are
proud of the record made by our women II
municipal office, we do not recommend
that any municipality be put under wo.
man government exclusively. 1t may be
that it was a good thing in the beginning
to put the government of some OF our cit
les entirely into the hands of women: 9TH
erwise we might never have known that y
city could proper under woman govern
ment. But it seems to me that
government of women and men
together would more nearly accord with
the principles we advocate, and would be
truly government 'by the people and OF
the people" Men and women should adj
minister the government under which
men and women live, and we hope that
future elections will recognize this princi-
pie.
THE NEXT STEP.
The ever recurring question at each an
nual meeting IS, "What shall our next
step be." The attempt made last year TO
settle upon asking for the submission of
an amendment as our next step" called
out very earnest discussion, and the motion
was finally voted down.
In the interim we have had the expert
ences of the territories-the end of which
is not yet. We have seen nearly half
dozen constitutional conventions struggle
with this question and finally refuse "A
woman suffrage article place in the body
of the constitution, but submitting it sep
arately, thus DakiDg it target for the
enemy and exposing it to probable defeat.
The effect OF the defeat of the prohibitory
amendments in Pennsylvania, Rhode Is
land and Massachusetts was to strengthen
the under current of opposition to the pro-
hlbItory law in our own state.
The effect of the defeat of full woman
suffrage by the popular vote, which we an
tcipate in two terrtOrieS-their failure
to give women the ballot by organic law
will be to lessen the chances in Kansas for
the adoption OF an amendment to strike
the word male" out of Sec l of Art. ), of
the state constitution; and it therefore
seems to me that we are not yet come to
the ripe hour for asking the submission of
womans suffrage amendment to the vot-
ers of Kansas.
Aud if not an amendment, what? This
question is put to me again and again.
There are perhaps three other measures
that could be asked of the legislature in
the direction of the extension of The suf-
srage to women; one of these is an amend
ment to our municipal women suffrage
law, which shall provide that women may
vote on all questions of city expenditure.
1t is most reasonable that the women of
cities, paying taxes as they do for water
works, lights, street improvements, &c,
should have direct voice in the disburse-
ments OF moneys thus paid.
But am not inclined to the opinion
that it would be wise to open up this mat
ter. Let the fate of the twice disfranchis-
ed women of Washington territory teach
I he women of Kansas the unstable quality
of woman's acknowledgements by statute,
and be warned in season that amending
our municipal woman suffrage law might
not end with the Interpolation of the pro-
vision desired.
We might ask for presidential suffrage
that is, for the right to vote for presi-
Dental electors. This is within the power
of the legislature to confer, under the
national constitution, section l of article ,
of which says: Each state shall appoint
In such manner AS the legislature thereof
may direct, a number of electors ETC.
The matter being thus placed in the hands
nj no SifI h,ra nlac r.,ni. 70
providing that these electors be voted for
by women.
We might ask for state suffrage by stat
ute. 1t has never been shown that our
legislature has not power to confer full
suffrage upon the women citizens of the
state, under our constitution as il is. You
will call TO mind that section > of article 5
Of the Kansas constitution prohibits GER
tain people from voting, but does not
name women among those prohibited The
no where says that women
shall not vote. Therefore, say some of our
friends. let women apply for full enfrsn-
chisement by statute.
Perhaps we might ask to have our "pO-
itical disabilities" removed. A felon. If
IF the masculine gender. may be ''restored'
% civil rights; traitor, if male, may, |
Ipon application, be restored to the !
mmunities and privileges of citizenship. /
iibSVs at llIC idSJ SSSSIOu 1
If the legislature were thus |
elieved of various disabilities which shut !
hem from the ballot box and barred them |
rom office. But no integrity, service to |
tate or nation or society; no considera-
ion of her double stake serves for suific- !
ent reason for the removal of the political !
disability of the mothers of the sons of this |
'eople!
But our legislature does not meet until |
he winter of ISM and rho
We have municipal election. In The third
lass cities the election is OF equal import
nee with the last, ana the woman vote
n those cities in the coming election
hould exceed the last, and | believe il
viii The average woman vote of the
hird class cities shows steady gain from
he first election in which women took
art.
In the first and second class cities this
lection is the one in which the whole vote
sually ialis of. l was sorely disappoinr-
4 TO md the women'S vote fallen off in
his election almost as much as the male
Ote.
The election of councilmen and members
the school board is OF serious import
ice ard should be of such interest To wo-
len as to command their presence at the
oils IN as large numbers rs on the years
hen mayors and police judges are elect
I. urge that our auxlllarles and friends /
the first and second class cities
lould see TO it that much
done toward stirring up I
ection enthusiasm among the women ,
,ters next April and so prevent their ,
Die from falling below that of SO.
SCHOOL ELECTIONS.
The school elections last July were very |
,nerally attended by women. From the :
ports which have gathered with great {
fiiculty. take it that women voted in
rger numbers than usual at the last c
hool election. Let Us hope that another :
ar will show a still greater gain. Moth {