Huntsville gazette., 1890-06-28
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
NO SHOW FOR WOMAN.

The MaSSachuSettS Legislature mas
had q 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 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
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 q
law to allow widow to live three months
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-
tives elected by themselves, who, for
this reason. would respect the petitions
of their constituents.
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 if
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
disfranchised. 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
own party. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe 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
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 a 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 hinderance to the exercise Of his
sovereign right as a citizen. d
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. It was voted that
the Holsters are not to be mutilated.
Whoever breaks lobster so as to make
itaappear 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. If 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 un-
derstand the meaning of the great prin-
ciple of ''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
1<ave 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 ap-
preparation of $4,000 to aid in exter-
minating the little insect was made.
The secretary of the moth commission
is at this moment receiving $500; the
chairman 81, 200, and each of the other
members 81, 600 a year. All this is very
good. sN
The woodchucks came near having a
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.
1 The farmers are voters. They elected
members of the Legislature with spe-
cial view to the interests of farmers.
The products of the farm We're 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
fhara to cpaaly for tham SalvoS IN their