The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-18
FEMALE SUFFRAGE IN KANSAS.

There seems 10 be now n very fair prospect
that the question Of female suffrage will be
carried into the fullest practical operation III
the State of Kansas. For a number of years
law has stood upon the statute books of that
Commonwealth allowing women the right to
take part in all municipal elections, upon
equal terms with men. In other words, they
can vote and be voted for as candidates for
positions in the administration Of the affairs
of municipal corporations.
There Is at least one town Of importance in
Kansas which has in the past enjoyed the
privilege of being governed bya female Mayor
and board or council of ladies We have no
testimony as to how far these ladies We're pre-
vented from looking after their domestic du-
ties 10y the new duties imposed upon them as
municipal legislators Solar as any authentic
information has been received 10 the contrary,
they filled the public positions 10 which they
were called by the sufirages of their fellow
citizens with an ability and conscientiousness
that was quite satisfactory to the majority of
the voters.
At the last municipal elections in Kansas
there was q notable disposition on the part Of
female voters to avoid the polls. This was
undoubtedly due to the fact that the privilege
of suffrage had for them lost its novelty. The
result was that they were not inclined TO use
! it, although the issues involved in the elcc-
tions were as important ms thoy had been in
the elections preceding, in which they had
shown so active an interest.
In spite Of this growing indispostion on the
part Of women in Kansas to take part in the
contests of the ballot, public sentiment in
that State has favored an enlargement Of the
electoral field for women. and there is now a
proposition under adviscment 10 admit them
10 the enjoyment Of the right 10 vote in all
elections. A. Kansas is n comparatively old
community. with fixed traditions Of social
order, the experiment of full female suffrage
If really. as now seems most probable, in
auguratcd in that State, will certainly attract
very general attention i'll every part OF the
Union, and not improbably will exercise "a
marked influence upon the future of the
question Of universal female suffrage in this
country.
1t is true that the experiment Of such suf-
IRENE northwestern States recently admitted
to the Union, but the success or failure Of
such an experiment III any one OF these States
with their heterogeneous populations, is not
likely to have as far-reaching effect as its fail
ure or success IN a long cstablished society
resembling that to be found in State ike
Kansas, in which the control Of affairs has.
from the bcginIhng of its history, rested in
the hands of male voters.
1t speaks well for the liberality of Kansas
voters that in spite of the absence of a senti-
ment in the older States of the Union to sup
port them in their proposed innovation. they
are, nevertheless, fully prepared to test the
character of unrestricted female suffrage bv
the practical method of granting it actual
legality. Having been once granted. however.
IT Is difficult 10 see how the privilege in case
it proves failure in practice. can be subse-
quently withdrawn