The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-06-20
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
NO SHOW EoR WOMAN.

|
The Massachusetts Legislature has
had a variety Of subjects before it The
women of the State, writes Lucy Stone,
in Woman's Journal, sent up five petit
tions. One asked for q law to secure to
women their right to vote in the cities
and towns where they live, where all
their interests are and where they pay
their taxes. But this petition was re-
fused. Another asked that married
mother may have the same legal right
to her child that its father has, so that
neither can dispose of the custody Of
the child without the consent OF the
other. But this petition was refused.
A third petition asked for an amend
ment to the law of contract, SO that if q
husband or wife borrows money of the
other, the note or promise to pay shall
be legally valid. But this petition was
refused. The women also asked for a
in the house of her deceased husband
without paying rent, instead of only
forty days, as the present law limits the
time. This petition, too, was denied,
along with others, for the reason that
women have no Senators or Representa-
tiyes elected by themselves, who, for
this reason. would respect the petitions
of their constituents. rs
Now see how it Jared with the men
who are voters. Under the old law, If a
voter changed his residence from one
town or city to another, he lost his vote
for the election of that year. But this
Legislature provided for him so that il
he moves any number of times he shall
not once lose his vote. Most of the
members who voted against giving even
municipal suffrage to women, voted for
this bill. Then came up the question
whether men guilty of infamous
crimes" should be disfranchised for ten
years. A good deal of time was given
to this. But finally enough of the men
who voted against the women voted in
favor of the men guilty of infamous
crimes" to save their right to vote from
being impaired. Mr.. Glasgow, of Wor-
cester, who voted against the women,
did not like the word infamous"
The question came before the Legis-
lature whether soldiers who are pau
pers, or who receive State aid. shall be
DISTINGUISHED. But eloquent pleas saved
the soldier his vote, though it was well
protected before.
1t is also proposed that men asking
assistance in marking their ballots ii.
e., those who can not read well enough
to be sure of the names of the candi-
dates) shall have the aid of one of their
NJra IuIi, Ward IInwa and
Mrs. Livermore had no chance in COM
parisOn with men who need assistance
to mark their ballots. This bill, how
ever, did not pass.
Heretofore every man has had to pay
n poll-tax of two dollars before he
could vote. But the House of Repre-
sentatives grew eloquent over this in
reference with the right of the human
male to free vote. By majority even
larger than the one it gave against the
right of women to vote at all. the House
voted down the poor little poll-tax so
that no man should have the least speck
of intolerance to the exercise of his
sovereign right as a citizen.
There were other questions which
Jared better than those of the women.
The dogs, after much time and discus
sion, were left unmuzzled, to follow
their own sweet will. 1t was voted that
the Holsters are not to be mutilated.
Whoever breaks lobster so as to make
it appear that he is as long as the law
requires, the parts of different Holsters
being put together for that purpose, is
to be fined five dollars. The baby trout
which is not more than six inches long
must not be caught, and sawdust is not
to be thrown into streams where the lit |
tie trout lives. II women were only |
trout, how their rights would be cared |
FOR! The House had gay time over the
larceny Of fowls. Men who did not I'M |
derstand the meaning of the great prin-
ciple of 1.-The consent of the governed"
made the feathers fly on the question of |
stealing hens. The bill provided i'm
prisonment of not less than six months |
for chicken-thief who got away with
five dollars worth of chickens. But |
Mr.. Sprout, of Worcester, who voted
against the women, thought it better to |
leave the punishment to the discretion
of the court, up to certain limit.
The gypsy moth had his innings. |
There was attention bestowed upon him.
and money voted to his case. An APP
preparation of $4,000 to aid in exter-
the little insect was made.
The secretary of the moth commission
is at this moment receiving $1,000; the
chairman $1,000, and each of the other
members 1000 year. All this is very
good.
The woodchucks came near having
bounty offered for their scalps. But,
after much eloquence, and some fun,
the little beast was left to eat clover
in summer time and to hibernate in win
ter.
The farmers are voters. They elected
Of the Legislature with spe-
cial view to the interests of farmers.
The products of the farm were to be
looked after, particularly butter. The
worth and the power of a vote have
rarely been more evident than they
were in this case. The farmers were
there to speak for themselves on their
own business. The men they elected
were there to represent the wishes of
their constituents. How the bill for
pure butter as against oleomargarine
came up, well defended, with penalties
for its violation! 1t was altered, amend
ed, referred, discussed and lost. But it
lowered around, came up in new form,
and had endless time taken for it's con-
sideration.
That was the question of butter, which
the men who owned it, and
had votes. But when the great question
applies to women, came up, it had an
hour and half of discussion, and
vas voted down by a large maiority