St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-05-18
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

The elections Of the last week in
the West were interesting and sug-
gestive in several aspects, and in
none perhaps more than in their
revelation of the sudden advance
ment of woman suffrage. For some
ten years the laws OF Kansas have
admitted women to the franchise in
municipal elections, but until now
this right has been exercised only in
a very limited degree. The women
as body have indicated no desire
to vote, and they have not been a
factor in the political contests.
Last Tuesday there was remarka-
BILE change. Throughout Kansas in
all the different municipalities, the
women voted in large numbers, and
they were a potential and often de-
cisive element in the struggle 1t is
stated that on a full registry they
poled larger proportion OF their
registered vote than the men. They
displayed great interest i'll the cleo
ton and were earnest and eager in
exercising their prerogativc. Two
reasons contributed to this new and
unwonted activity. The first APP
pears to have been their disgust at
the shameless and revolutionary ex-
hibitions of lawlessness on the part
of the populists in Kansas during
the past winter and their recognl-
ton of an opportunity to rebuke it.
The second was determination to
show their desire and willingness to
vote, as an argument for the extern
sion of woman suffrage to all cleo
tons. But as this consideration has
not brought them out in large num-
bers before, it must be concluded
that the appeal of the special issues
at this time must have had power
full influence with them.
1t is interesting to note how the
women used their right and what ef-
fects were indicated. In the first
place, they voted intelligently and
effectively to carry out their distinct
views. They were not fooled or mis-
led, but knew what they wanted to
do and did it. 1t has been feared in
many quarters that if women were
accorded the right to vote, the least
intelligent would go to the polls and
the most intelligent would stay
away-that the kitchen would be
fully represented and the drawing
room would not be- The election in
Kansas does not sustain that view,
though it would not be rational to
argue from such community as
exists in that state, to the commu-
mites of oui great Eastern cities.
The divisions are less marked in
Kansas, and all shared in the move
ment. In the second place, the wo-
men did not support women candi-
dates. In Kansas City, where a wo-
man ran for MAYOR and made a dem
onstrative canvass, she practically
had no votes at all. Throughout
the state the women showed sound
sense and the large majority voted
as the honor and welfare of the COM
munity demanded. In the third place,
the influence of the participation
Of women in the election was whole
some. Their presence at the polls
promoted order and decorum. They
were treated with entire respect, as
is proverbial wherever American wo-
men appear with American men, and
there does not seem to have been
any loss OF feminine grace. All this
does not decide the general question
of woman suffrage, but it is worth
noting among the significant and
suggestive Developments of the
times. The creditable exhibition in
Kansas is likely to lead to strong
movement to give women the right
to vote in general as well as munich
pal elections, and should that at
tempt prevail it will extend to other
states. Woman suffrage is one of
the coming questions, and it will be
decided very much as the women
themselves determine Philadelphia
Press, April 10.