The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-25
THE WOMAN sUrrRAaE CASE.
Attorney Austin Tells About the
Bloomer-Todd Case.

PORTLAND, July M.-[Special. l--Attorney
Arthur 8. Austin, of Olympia, is in this
city on his way to the national capital to
appear for plaintiff in error in the suit of
! Bioomer vs.. Todd ct al, which comes up
before the United States supreme court at
the October term. The decision in this
lease will determine once and for
lever whether the women of the state
*of Washington have right to vote
ct all elections under the equal suffrage
oct enacted by the territorial legislature
several years ago. Upon arriving here,
Mr.. Austin had q conference with Mrs.
4. s. Dunniway, leader of the woman
outrage movement in Oregon. Attorney
Austin is quite well known in the east.
He is now corresponding with Colonel
Robert q. Ingersoll with a view of getting
him interested in the case. He will meet
Ingersoll in the East and get his decision.
Mrs. Nevada NJ. Bloomer. the plaintiff
Enthe case, is the wife of a Spokane saloon
keeper, and the defendants are John Todd,
zDr. Joseph Il. Candy and Harry A. Clark,
VINO were judges at the election held in
spokane on April 3, 1855. She sues for
'oU damages for the refusal of the judges
10 receive her ballot. Defendants fled
demurrer, which Judge Nash sustained. +.
he case was then taken to the
territorial supreme conrt and heard by
Htipnlation at the adjourned term, July.
ISIS. Chief Justice Jones, now dead. and
Judges Allyn and Lsngford sustained the
opinion of the lower court, which defeated
5he plaintiff. Now the case has fouud its
ny into the supreme court of the United
tates. Mr.. Austin has no doubt but IL
i'll be reached the latter part of October
1t early in November. Speaking about
le case, yesterday, Mr.. Austin said:
The whole thing was put up job to disfrau.
pise the women OF Washington, and the rec
de prove II kvsry woman in Spokane entitled
vote voted at the election in April, ISIS, ex.
pt Mrs. bioomer, and hers was rejected Tor
rs purpose stated. II had already been agreed
8nong the enemies Of equal suffrage 10 reject
n vote, In order to take the cues
pn into court On the face OF n
10 very plausible, but 10 is rotten
the core. The saloon element alone Is on
sed 10 woman suffrage in Washington, aud I
80 In my affidavit on file ia the United
ties supreme court These saloon. keepers
q liquor dealers are afraid that II women %,
10 power they would insug,Irate some sort ~
hnky reform, such as prohibition. which IA no
p of genuine reform. Before leaving olyuanIa
Aiked with Governor Ferry on the .ubiee, ana
ained his permission to quota him. Ia A.
posed to woman suffrage On general nrip.,s
ID and asked me " bat we exrec,ea "a r.,,, -
eyersal OF the decision OF the Washtnv4o,,
hrts. answered: SONY the moral efYeet g.
present Finally the governor ,.ked wh.,
kct . reversal Of the decision wound h.vs
bn fhe state government OF Washtnoton
lied that the enabling act, providing for The
mission OF Washington, contained a oisuse de-
ng the qualifications OF voters. and that
Mhlfng ACT was the constitution Of the state ot
darlington until the enactment Of a state con
| Hutton. Governor Ferry agreed 20 this. but
HI that previously he had no knowledge OF
IN clause In she enabling act. Therefore. -
~ the governor, "h the ruling OF the Wash.
i fxfon courts in the Bloomer-Todd case is sat
lie by ths United States supreme court, can
344sily see now, by proper proceedings. the gov
4 F&ment Of Washington could he overfhruwn
lid person could institute quo warrAnto pro
AEaings, demanding what right the state officers
s n j TO their Offices do NOS think for mo-
j 1 At that any one would do 50, but such thing
+ t,zx hleH Governor Ferry gave his opinion
n HI of hand manner and quslided IL by say
u &3that he might change IL after investigation
8 I'D is said that 1000 women's votes viii
i Effected by the decision of the United
skes supreme court. There were over
4 % women's votes cast At the election in