, 1891-04-05
AUTHOR OF SUFFRAGE.
To Whom WyOming's Women Owe
the Privilege of Voting.
He Was Honestly in Favor of it
But Had Few Supporters.
What Led Him to Introduce and
Work For the Bill.

that Robert T.. Morris Thile in Wash.
inRton secured a position in the mailing
department for William II. Bright.
This statement will not arouse any extra.
ordinary degree of interest, perhaps. I'M
less 1t is supplemented with the informa-
ton that MIR. Bright Is the father OF
woman suffrage in Wyoming. He is now
a white-haired man of about 60. He
lived for a long time in Colorado, was a
resident of Leadville and was for a time
an employe at the Colorado state fish
hatchery. Neither time nor fortune has
dealt very leniently with him aud he ac-
tuallS needed the place which was secured
for him.
Did you know Bright" was asked.
Yes, | knew him well. He lived at
South Pass when the territory was organ
izeu. A meeting was held there for the
purpose of selecting members of the legis-
lature. Among those in attendance was
a lawyer from Colorado named Rockwell.
He had scarcely a law book to
his name and was Just about
as well supplied with lawsuits. In fact
he was travelling on the ragged edge and
everybody in the camp was perfectly well
aware of the fact. Nevertheless Rock
well got up in the mass convention and
delivered quite a long speech. He spoke
of the necessity of sending well qualified
men to the first legislature and incidentally
rung in his own qualifications and alluded
to certain mythical experiences which he
was alleged to have had in Colorado.
"Of course, gentlemen, he fuently re-
marked. we need men In the legislature
of practical experience. | have had
practical experience myself and of a ma
turc, too, which | iatter myself would
qualify me for a place IN the legislature,
but you all know how ! am situated. My
large and growing practice requires my
constant careful attention, and while co u
siderations of the public good might in-
duce me to temporarily iorego the pleas.
ures of mere money making and building
up a reputation for myself in my chosen
profession still 1t would be attended, as
you all know, with personal sacrifices
which nothing but the labor of upbuilding
a grand new commonwealth would
justify"
When Rockwell sat down" con
tinued the narrator. everybody
regarded his speech as a refreshing
exhibition of nerve and believed that
he was extremely anxious to go to the
legislature. Nearly all. however. felt
some delicacY in openly expressing the
unanimous sentiment regarding the
speech. There vas one exceptiou-that
was Bright. He delivered himself in a
breezy. straight forward and somewhat
sarcastic way. With an unexpected flow
of words he pictured the hardships which
might accrue to Rockwell if an admiring
constituency should insist upon sending
him to Cheyenne to legislate for them.
He pictured the privatious it would cause
to a suffering elientaGe, the money loss to
Rockwell himself and the deadly effect
the temporary removal of the lawyer
might have on the prospects Of South
I ass. NJH It's ulufTCnt Win me,
said Bright. I've considerable bar
practice myself, but it's mostly behind
the bar" this reference being made to the
fact that he was a saloon: keeper. but
fortunately my trade will not suffer very
much during a temporary absence and
what it suffers I'm perfectly willing to
stand. ! think | could represent you
fellows in good shape in the territorial
council and if you want me to go you've
only Rot to say the word and III pack my
grip for Cheyenne when the time comes"
This speech caught the crowd. Rock
well finally confessed that he wanted TO 90
to the legislature. He was elected to the
house and Bright to the council. 1t
shows" continued the gentleman, that
he was a fellow of some force, for he was
49, ---.