The herald., 1894-05-07
TIE COLORADO ELECTIONS.
Over Half OF the Vote Cast by Wives, Moth
ers and Sweethearts.


ers and Swecthearts.
The elections just past in Colorado
have shown coRclusively that tho WON
en- there want to vote In a majority OF
the wards of Denver more than half the
votes were cast by women. Though il
was an unusually exciting election, good
order was kept The ladies were every
where treated with courtesy, and all the
voting places were adorned with flow
ers. The filthy pool of politics seemed
to have given place to a garden. The
Denver Republican says:
The suburban elections proved the
truth Of the sentiment, 1.-THE hand that
rocks the cradle is the hand that moves
the world" Women demonstrated the
fact that they have become a power in
politics; that they propose to assert the
rights of elective franchise, and that
they constitute a force that will sadly
disarrapge the schemes Of politicians.
The argument which was freely used
against the Endorsement Of equal suffrage
that women themselves did not wish
to vote-appears to be fallacious. They
not only want to vote, but they i'm
proved their first opportunity to mingle
with other citizens in an attempt to Sc
cure good government. About the booths
in the various precincts were seen ample
evidences of the refining influences of
women
Over so per cent of the vote was cast
by women. 1t is impossible to ascertain
the exact proportion, but the judges of
election report in every precinct that
from 40 to 60 out of every 100 votes
were deposited by wives, mothers and
sweethearts. AS a rule, they came to
the polls quietly, and after depositing
the ballot departed to their homes.
Many, however, took hand--no one
would be rude enough to say mouth.-in
the task of convincing the undecided.
Carriages were at command, and in ev-
cry precinct where it was found that a
woman had not voted a conveyance, in
which was seated one of the committee
of women, was sent post haste after the
tardy sister.
There were candidates to be voted
for, there were party tickets in the field;
there was the usual well oiled machin-
cry manipulated these many years by the
sterner sex, but the question of who
would fill minor positions was entirely
lost sight of in the all absorbing query,
Will the women vote? As the day pro
crossed it was apparent that the largest
vote ever polled in the suburbs was to
be recorded, the whole problem was
lifted out Of the realm of doubt, and
many defeated candidates retired for the
night satisfied that hereafter woman's
influence at the polls must be given
some consideration.
AS an evidence that women have not
yet learned the wiles of the ward bar
nacle, it may be stated that they voted
early and not one of them voted often.
1t may just as truthfully be said that
there is no danger Of their ever wait
ing till the hour strikes to give the high
est bidder show.
Another myth was exploded. There
are some intricacies about the Austria
liam system of voting, and it was feared
that the seclusion of the booth would
he too much for the nerves of the fair
sex, and they would occupy more than
the five minutes allowed to prepare the
ballot, and then might not know Just
what to do with the piece of paper pop
ularly supposed to represent the free
mans will. Vain illusion! In almost
every case the woman voter stepped
brislzly into the three walled apartment,
made dash or two with the pen-of-
tener one-and was promptly back to
hand the ballot to the judge 1t was
neatly folded and brought forth the re-
mark, '"That woman understands her
businessP'
From the time the polls opened at 8
a. m. until they closed at p. m. the
women we've far more active in the hard
work than wero the men. 1t was not so
much an effort on their part to secure
the election Of any particular candidate
as to make certain that every one of
their sex entitled to do so exercised that
right.
Another fact was shown-that here
after the florist will anticipate election
time, and that it will reap for him a
harvest with which the marriage feast
and the last obsequies bear no COMPARE
son. On the tables at every polling
place there We're handsome bouquets,
and the greenhouses were robbed of
their choicest gifts Precinct 10 had the
voting booths in the building connected
with Grimes conservatory, and almost
every flower was utilized.