The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-11-09
A Suffrage Victory.

WOman-lovely, ambitious, misguided
woman-has won the day, and hereafter can
get in line at the polling place in town cleo
tions if-IF the bill also passes the senate
and is signed by his excellency the gov
ernor A hundred women saw the deed
done Wednesday. They heard the glad ac-
claiming yea of the gentleman from st.
Johnsbury, the feeble Eyes" of the hem
pecked member on the back seat, the crusty
% naw!" of the shriveled old bachelor, the
perfunctory "yep!" of the man without
convictions, and the reluctant Eyes" of
MIR. Clarke of Halifax. Those members
whose seats were contiguous to the femi-
nine spectators dared not vote against the
bill, and Mr.. Colburn of Manchester, after
considering his disabled condition, help
lessly voted in the affirmative. oh woman,
woman, for what are you not responsible
Mr. Stafford of st. Johnsbury was the fond
parent Of the bill. st. Johnsbury must be
a woman's town.
Six years ago ex-Judge Poland of that
place introduced a similar measure, and it
passed the house by a small ma iority. 1t
was foully murdered in the senate. however,
and went where the woodbine twineth and
the sweet asquintum blooms. Since that
time the bill has been " swatted " by the
house with large, well-rounded, symmet-
rical adult "swat." Mr. Stafford was pre-
pared for his glad duty His hair was care
fully brushed; the white tie against dark
suit background set off the intellectual
features of the orator of the Passumpsic, and
his eye caught the approving glances of his
| feminine audience, who waited impatiently
for his utterances.
Shall the bill pass?" saith Speaker
Stickney. "Mster Speaker Mr.. Stafford
arose. He explained that the present
statute permitting women to vote in school
district meetings was all vanity and vex-
alton of spirit. They have the same right
as men, and when you trace that right you
| find that the woman cannot vote unless her
| property is listed, and she is on the tax list,
just like an ordinary, horrid man. The bill
before the house means just what it says,
" An act to extend municipal suffrage to
women who are taxpayers"
The best reason why the bill should pass
nestled in the fact that no healthy, robust
reason was given why the bill should not &c
through. The gentleman from Berkshire
moved an amendment-that women also be
permitted to hold state offices. The orator
of the Passumpsic sharply called down the
gentleman from Berkshire's wooded hills
| and denounced his amendment as a base
attempt to kill the bill. The gentleman
from Berkshire's rocks and rills meekly de-
MED the adamantine impeachment and
the subsequent proceedings interested him
no more"
AT this point ex-Speaker James l.. Mar
tin ariz, and inquired whether the bill, II
passed, would tend to peril the secrecy OF
the ballot. Loud and vociferous mental
applause by every he man in the house.
This was the point where Mr.. Martin made
one of the few mistakes of his life. A bou
quet which had been prepared for him was
diverted to Mr.. Stafford. "Does the gen
tleman from Berkshire still insist upon his
amendment" inquired the speaker, will
mild curiosity. He did. He did not insist
a few minutes later, when the house sa
upon it. Mr.. Dale of Brighton made ont
of the sharpest speeches against the amend
ment. Take woman who has by her pru
dence, or by the earnings of an homes
father, acquired a small or large fortune
She is married to a shiftless husband. VIII,
should she be prevented from voting, whil'
her shiftless, wishy-washy, shilly-shally
lazy, good. nothing, innocuous husban,
has the privilege of selling vote for bar
rel of -four. Perish the thought The gen
tleman from Berkshire's verdant vale.
took the opportunity at this point TO sa,