The morning call., 1891-01-09
SOUTH DAKOTA,

The Place Where the Men Declare That
Indians Are Preferable to Women.
Editor IFOmdn'S Column Morning Cali:
A few weeks ago q vote was taken on a
deferred clause of the South Dakota Consti-
tuition as to whether women shall be per-
mitted by their political superiors to
have voice in public affairs. There had
been spirited campaign, and the ablest
men of the Territory, Governor Mellette and
the Senators. honestly supported the clause
but that influence and vice everywhere and
always oppose women suffrage, for, as Fall
staff says. " Instinct knows the true prince"
so the political parties were mum on the
subject, and, on the WHOLE it is wonder
that SO many voted for it, Chicanery was
used to secure the overthrow of the meas
ure. a great cloud of political dust was
raised over the It cation of the capitol, and
its site was made of far more importance
than the a. eternal veritieS." by the Fiftieth
Congress it was enacted that every male In
dian over 81 years of age who accepts an
allotment OF land in severalty may become
voter. Dakota was to decide the question
at the same election, and in the contest this
class OF possible voters cut an important
figure. Amid such vital considerations
simple question of right and justice stood
little chance. Then
THE POLITICIANS
Succeeded in having the tickets so printed
that even wise men," with tine "political
faculty" fully developed. made all sorts of
blunders, voting for Indians when they
meant TO vote against, and showing under
the women when the wanted to adorn them
with the civic gown. One good man found,
just as the ballot was dropped, that he had
unintenti0naly voted against women, and
he did penance by sounding the alarm in
the ears o: the other befogged voters; while
heroic opponent, ~ no thinks that women
do not know enough to vote" and that
Indians do" unwittingy voted "No" for
the Indians, Yes" for the women. That
happy mistake was not olren made, how
ever, for that sort OF men, conscious OF
mental weakness, combined their mas
culine mental strength and usually had
the tickets scrutinlZed. We women
wonder If, when We do not and can
not tell whether we are voting for or against
measure, we shall boast of our "superi-
GRITTY" our governmental instinct" There
were other fateful things. For three years
drought has victimized the fair Dakotas, re-
Sulting in the removal OF many OF the best,
most enterprising people. Many have left
DURING THE LAST YEAR,
And now several townships are mostly
owned by foreigners, many OF them Rus
slams, and people trained As they have been.
IN sub0Tdlnatlon, are not usually wise when
the shackles fall and they step forth free.
They believe in the SubOrdnation of women
why should they nOt?-for size has been
the only creature beneath them-miserabe
Satisfactorily being upon whom they could
look down. A friend writes, ''ln one town
a sutfrage-meeting was appointed in til
courthouse, but the Russians would not
permit 1t 10 be used for such a purpose as a
meeting to promote the interests of women.
The Sheriff is Russian and controls the
matter, and the gentleman who agreed
to arrange the meeting was prevented by
the Russians, for lie Is a merchant, and
says the Russians are mad" at him for
helping the woman cause. OF course, he
might lose their trade. What do you think
OF the liberty which American men have
brought TO themselves? They humbly sub
nit and cater 10 these serfS. Shades If our
forefathrrs! When it gets too Intolerabie
they will probably right their wrongs by
shooting and beng shot by these
MISERABLE CREATURES.
They prefer that rather than 10 be just to
their own women. The re- ult of ignorance,
lniqulty and political eX tdiency is that
woman suffrage was lost by 2i,0o0 majority,
and Indian suffrage adopted by 5000 maj or-
ity. majority of $4,000 men uf Dakota
deliberately decided that an Indian, even
painted and featheIed, is preferable at the
polls to the average woman, who has borne
pioneer life and raised her brood n dread
of scalpins knife AMI tomahawk. Women
cannot quite comprehend these things, but
it must be right, for the logical brain OF
man SO decides, though large minority Of
men such as Major Picker and William
Bailey do not comprehend better than We
The Dakota women are under the protection
OF the Russian and the Sioux. O,atf SkOblO-
keff may preside in the gubrruatOrial man
sion; Spotted Tail, Eagle Wing and Bear
Claw may make tie laws, and Mrs. Vas
silich or Mile. Fawn Ear lead court circles.
Ii would be suitable to have their next
Legislature opened with 4 ghost dance,
and the new capitol decorated with war
clubs aud scalps. Already the newly en-
franchsed are out in war paint They have
been cheated by rascaly agents, who
promote their acknowledgements for
better chance to deSpoil them. 1t is good
enough for 10000 Of the men, but, alas. for
the protected" supported" women.