The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-09-13
The Women Can Vote.

The Women Can Vote.
If the ladies desire to vote for superin-
tendent of public instruction it will be
necessary for them to secure from the
judges of election separate boxes for re-
ceiving their ballots. Although the con-
stitution unquestionably grants them the
right of suffrage in all matters pertaining
to schools, still the legislature has made
no provision for separate ballot boxes for
their special use, which certainly will be
necessary at a general election.-Grand
Forks Herald.
The writer of the above paragraph must
be either fool or knave, yet, in the
minds of honest, intelligent people ne may
be a combination of the two. knave for
asserting that separate ballot box will be
necessary for women who desire to vote,
when heg9 admits that the Law makes no
provision for separate boxes; and q fool
for thinking that the intelligent people of
North Dakota can be hoodwinked by such
an unwarrantable, contradictory assertion.
States Attorney Cochrane falls into the
same strange vagary. He knows his po-
sition is false one, and so does the Herald,
but for the sake of their party candidate,
they seem willing to sacrifice reputation
and principle by an absurd Interpretation
of the law. They know that if the women
should deposit their ballots in a separate
box they would count for naught, as such
a course is not authorized. They also
know that for the benefit of women desir-
ing to vote ballots can be printed bearing
simply the name of the candidate for su-
perintendent of public instruction, or for
that matter the ballot can be written, and
deposited in the same box with the ballots
cast for the whole state ticket, just as well
as man can scratch out every name on
his ticket and cast blank ballot. We
have never been an advocate of woman
suffrage, for the reason that We believe she
can find plenty to occupy her attention in
other spheres; yet we are free to admit
that if suffrage should be extended to her we
believe she would WELD wholesome influ-
ence in the political field, as she has already
done in scientific and professional quar-
ters. As recent writer says, the patience,
gentleness and sympathetic nature of wo-
man have conquered for her in the sick
chamber a position both honorable and
useful. Whether in the capacity of an at
tendant or nurse, or serving under the in
stincts of affection, the ministrations of
woman are regarded as tender and appro-
pirate. The development of woman's use
fulness in the. sick room extended to her
the privileges of scientific training and
education, until to day We have over 1900
American women holding medical degrees.
In other sciences and the arts women hold
high places, into which they have brought
refinement and advanced thought. Every
year the barrier to woman's advancement
has been melting away, until the move
ment forward has literally conquered q
position in science and society, and one
might as well attempt to stay the progress
of the tides as to endeavor to arrest re-
form which gives woman useful sphere
of action, benevolent occupation and an
opening to an honorable livelihood. Slow
ly, but surely, she is advancing to equal
rights with man in the elective franchise,
and when she is admitted to the exercise of
full citizenship, We may reasonably expect
that in that sphere, as well as in all others
where she has gained eminence, she will
carry with her that refinement of charac-
ter and purity Of thought which are the
ascribed characteristics of her nature.
The right of suffrage in school matters
granted to. women is but the initiatory
step toward more complete exercise of
the ballot, and we pity the political dema-
gogue and party henohman who now dares
to frustrate them in this new role by base
subterfuges and false .renderings of the
laws intent. Come, come, gentlemen
deal fair by the ladies, let the result on
state superintendent by what it may.
Fargo Argus: The work Of clearing mp
suspended entries in this land Office dis
triot is being rapidly pushed by Colonel
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