The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-15
w. &. r. T.. COLUMN.
The Yellow Ribbon.

The yellow ribbon is becoming quite |
prominent on the streets OF Rapid City |
since the holding OF the equal suffrage
convention. Often it is twined in with
the white and signifies equal rights for
all, with Il careful gaurding OF the weak
it are as a rule, in fact may say always.
OF the peaceful laM:a bidina CONSIDERATIONS
class, VINO, whaie. they may have no par
ticular wish to vote, or to mingle in po-
litical circles, yet, recognize the equality
OF womankind and mankind as regards
the right to own themselves, to transact
business for themselves, to be them
selves and to represent themselves in all
places and at all times, where the good
OF womanlind or humankind is at stake.
There is very little division OF opinion
among the intelligent thinking people OF
both sexes regarding woman's capability
OF exercising the right OF franchise in an
equally judiciovs manner with men, as n
whole.
There has been, and is however, great
division OF opinion regarding the eNpedi
ency OF the move; many questions earn
estly put as to whether the world will be
any better for woman's voting. These
questions with all that naturally follows,
time and experience can only answer.
They are not the questions now before
the voting public OF South Dakota. The
question is, "Do the men OF South Da-
kota believe their wife, their mother
their sister, their sweetheart capable Of
owning herself and exercising her own
free will, or does he consider her capable
only OF being non entity, when it comes
to choosing those who shall rule over
her. If he does, then he should under
no circumstances hold her responsible
to the laws she is not capable, (in his
judgelnent) OF understanding.
1t is undoubtedly true, womenls a rule,
are not anxious for the ballot, but that
is no reason why it should be withheld
from her. The negro OF the south never
asked for it, A large share Of the for
eigners who come to our shore yearly
never cared for and would never use it
did not some politician round them W
and pay not only their poll tax, bu
something more, yet they have it.
Under the constitution OF the Unitet
States there is no reason why woii,oi
should not have the franchise. Certain
ly all tax paying women should have it
and since there areno property qualifica
tions necessary to the American frar
chise 1T were better if there were) a
J women OF sound mind should receive il
There is no dodging the question; eithe
the women OF this country are free borl
or they are not. Since the contest
! at our own doorway there's no chan(
I for being neutral. The ball has lol
g been rolling in eastern Dakota with tt
l result OF making it all aglow with yelloV
The ball has been started in the Blat
. Hills. The association starts out Wi
!, , long list OF names comprising the be
"a among us, both men and women. ~
II committee on organization is work.
s. as fast as possible to get helpers lneve
!, voting precinct in the county.
u In three months the men Of Sou
- - Dakota will have the only chance tn
ID will ever have to say if their wiv
er mothers, sisters and friends Shall sta
pit by their side in the paper fight for ii
er dom, home and native land. Let
~ work be thoroughly done! Let ev'
:, true hearted woman Wear the yell
a. ribbon bravely, that the men may see
4 is not the rag-tag bob-tail rank and
that ask their votes, but the won
of whom they meet socially, those VIII
they admire for their social, moral ;
intellectual qualities. Let every n
tier tier who is true to the principles OF freed
ears equality before God and man, don
yellow ribbon that the women 1
know who their friends are. ANol