The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-10
FOR TWENTY YEARS
The Women of Wyoming Have Enjoyed
the Right to Vote.

S. s.. writing from Gllroy, in letter to
THE Woman's Column of THE CALL,
calls attention to the fact that Hon. Joseph
NJ. Carey, United States Senator from Wy
oming delivered an address not long since
in which he gave very interesting account
of the attempt to repeal the right of women
to vote at any and all elections. Congress.
in 1868, said the speaker, provided for the
organization of the Territory OF Wyoming,
and in May Of the next year, by the Qualifi-
cations of its newly appointed officials, the
machinery of government was put in opera
ton. The first Legislature was elected In
September Of the same year, and convened
several months thereafter. This assembly
prepared and passed full code of laws for
the government of the Territory, including
legislation that placed woman on full
equality with man, so far as her political
rights are concerned.
AT the general election in 1870 many of
the women then residing in the Territory
took part in the election, and TO some extent
in the political conventions. The Legis-
lature chosen at this election, when it as
sembled in January. 1871, was called upon
to vote for the repeal OF the act of the pre-
YlouS Legislature comforting upon women
the right 10 vote and hold Office, notwitll-
standing That every member Of that legis-
lative body had received more or less OF the
votes cast by women.
mo question durin the entire history of
Wyoming excited SO much interest as the
discussion on the proposed bill to repeal the
connected with the Legislature, | was
almost an hourly witness to the scenes that
took place at this time in the legislative
halls.
THE COUNTRY WAS NEW,
And everything in those days in the way of
accommodations was necessarily primitive.
The assembly rooms occupied by the two
branches of the Legislature, as well as the
adjoining apartments. were crowded with
men and women deeply interested in hear
ing the debate. The Legislature was COM
posed largely of young men, but the debate
was nevertheless an able one. Several of
the speeches in wOmanS behalf were very
able, and. might say. very eloquent. At
that early period in that section of the cOun-
try statistics and other data bearing upon
the subject were hard to find. Every dOcu-
ment that was accessible was brought into
use, but the arguments and the circumSpect
conduct OF women at the previous election
did not change one vote, for 1t had been de-
creed IN a caucus of the political party that
had been in some degree instrumental in
comforting upon women the right of sui
frage in the first Legislature that every
means should now be used to deprive her
Of this right.
The bill to repeal the act passed the House
by a more than two-thirds vote while in
the Council, which constituted the upper
branch of the Legislature, it passed by a
majority vote. The act was then sent to
Governor John A. Campbell for approval or
disapprOval It will be here noted that he
was the same Executive that approved the
original law
CoNFERRING SUFFRAGE
On women two years before, and it is but
justice TO record that no man deserves more
sincere gratitude at the hands of ali women
than this pure and lofty-minded statesman,
who, when the opportunity presented itself,
in the face of rldcule and vituperatioD.
proved himself true friend to their cause.
He was prompt in returning to the branch
of the Legislature in which the bill oriSi-
mated the act without his signature, ac-
companied with a terSe and vigorous veto
Every line bore evidence of deep con-
viction on his part in regard to this ques-
ton, showing that so far as he was con-
cerned no woman in Wyoming should ever
be derived of her newborn rights of
citizenship.
"The House on receiving the veto of the
Governor proceeded to consider the meas
ure. and after short debate passed the bill
over his veto by a more than tWO-thirdS
vote. In the Council the debate was re-
newed with greater Yigor, if possible, tn an
when the question was first brought up for
consideration. | recall to-day the late Mr..
Corlett-afterward a delegate in Congress,
then young but very eloquent attorney,
indeed with as gifted a tongue as / have
ever heard-toOk the floor in defense of the
position maintained By Governor Campbell.
The assenblage was very quiet and orderly,
but an intense feeling prevailed, and all
those that could find room in the crowded
hall leaned forward with attentive ears to
LISTEN TO EVERY SENTENCE
That was uttered. When the vote was
taken the opponents of woman suffrage dis
covered that they lacked just one vote OF
passing the bill over the Governors veto.
The announcement of the vote was fol-
lowed with loud burst of applause, show
ing that the audience was in sympathy with
those who advocated woman suffrage
'Ihe controversy at this time turned the
attention of the people to the question.
Those who had been doubtful and wayering
before now became jealous champions of
the wOman'S cause. There had been prac-
teal demonstration OF her fitness to exercise
the rights of citizenship and with the ex-
ception Of the memorable occasion just re-
lated, there has never been time during
the twenty years that woman has voted in
Wyoming that the attempt has been made
TO deprive her of this right. She has taken
part i'll all the elections, she has listened to
political discussions, and at all times has
shown great interest in political matters
that were OF public concern. She has occu-
pied various public positions, in tie dis
charge of which her conduct has been such
that no one has raised Il single objection or
been inclined 10 agitate the question by pro-
posing to take from her the privileges that
were saved by the Governors veto in 1871.
Thrice atterward, in the revision and modi-
hcaton of the laws of the Territory, the
woman Suffrage Act was re-enacted."