The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-28
CHAMPION OF WOMEN
BILL NYE OUT FLAT-FoorRD
FOR FEMALE SUFFRAGE.

@N@4SS
Aney Gave Him Their Support When He
was in Need, and He is Grateful-He
Recently Escaped a Choice Bonnet
Inc Advantages of a Fine Mind.
Copyright, 1894. by Edgar w. Nye.7
Several times each week I have been
asked by friends and admirers to saw
something regarding life among the
female voters and what it is like. I
nave held off for some years hoping
that 1 might be selected for some off.
clal position, in which case 1 would
rather be silent on such questions. This
journal, however, has requested me to
make a clean breast of it, and so I ven
ture here to give my impressions GOV
erlng eight years under the reign and
management of those who were chosen
by joint ballot of the ladies and gentle
men.
Wyoming has been for many years
a political division of the United States
wherein women of suitable age have
voted. They have not only had the
right, but during my residence there
they exercised it. Later I have been
told that offensive loud takers, who
desired to boss the job because they
claimed to belong to the female sex,
have made the measure less popular,
but during the years I lived among the
voters and ~votresses of Wyoming lam
compelled to say that election day was
one of the calmest and sweetest of the
whole year.
1 went to Wyoming impregnated
with the idea that woman did not wish
to vote, and even if she did she was
totally untitled for the job. 1 came
away after eight years satisfied that
she is fully as capable of exercising
this right as man, and that she feels it's
Importance and solemnity even more.
She also shows excellent taste, judg-
ment and knowledge of men. q filed
Office there seven years myself.)
But, seriously, why shouldn't a wo-
man know whom to vote for as we'll as
her husbands Moreover, she is freer
from the thrall of machine politics.
The women of Wyoming did not pay
any attention to -caucusses, but when
they went to the polls they had a
scratched and mutilated ballot inside
the glove, and the knowledge of how
their vote went rested between them
selves and God.
Whether my wife voted for or against
me when 1 was called by my fellow
citizens to accept the portfolio of JUS
tice of the peace will never be known
till the great big diary of the recording
angel is read aloud after Gabriel's
musical selection. But whichever way
she voted I am ready to abide by it.
The first question asked naturally by
those interested in this question is, Can
women go to the dirty, nasty polls and
vote without losing their self respects
This question is easily answered. We
men who respect themselves are re-
spected most everywhere they go, and
the polls in Wyoming, a I remember
them, were as quiet and orderly as the
vestibule of a high church. The reason
is very simple. If I am running for
Office and dependent on woman's vote,
am I going to allow my friends or my
party to offend her in the slightest de-
greer Not 80 long as reason continues
to remain seated on her throne.
It is the same with all candidates and
their friends. They do not allow any
one to get within a block of the ballot
box who isn't polite, silent and clean.
Did you ever see a lady drive up to the
postoffce and get a money orders The
process is not so easy as voting because
there is no law to keep other people 40
feet away from the money order win
dow, but it is very much the same as
voting where women have and exercise
the right.
There are a good many men in the
United States who believe that educa-
ton Injuries the negro. They are the
same kind of philosophers who fear to
give the ballotto their wives. Of.course
there is a difference in wives. I've
seen wives I wouldn't want to give the
ballot to. I wouldn't want to give
them anything unless it might be 80
days or something like that, but a man
ought not to get socially mixed up with
a companion who doesn't know enough
to vote.
I've known many and many a man,
gentle reader, who could well afford to
give his proxy to his wife while he
spends a few valuable years at the fool