The sun., 1894-04-29
WOMEN WIN AN ELECTION.
ar TIE POLLS FOR THE FIRST TINS
IN THE CITY OF HEHBUReH

An ApPropristior for New CITY Hall Ds-
fsstsd Afssr = Lively Corte.t-vv,ve. OF
Prominent Lawyers. Hsipisters. sad rser-
eharts Mt the B.iiot Boz-A w.r-
Canvass Rs-un. IL Two Libel suits.
NEwBuBoH. April 28.-The nrst taxpayers
election at which women were permitted TO
vote was held here to-day. and was the liveliest
ever known. II was also the direct cause OF
two libel suits brought against Editor Willard
Of the Register by Alderman W. II. Kelly OF the
Second ward and W. II. Weston. livery stable
owner both Of whom took prominent part 10
favor Of the appropriation sought to be raised.
At recent taxpsyers' election $4,000 was
voted to purchase large brick building. cor
ner Of Grand street and Broadway. for q City
Hall Thirty-two thousand dollars was paid
for the site. leaving $4,000 with which to
remodel the old building. The city authori-
ties called for another special election to-day
to appropriate $4,000 more. which, added to
the $4,000 left ever. would make s68.0O0 to
tear down the old building and erect q new
and creditable City Hall in its place. The fight
became very warm. and the REGISTER merci-
lessly attacked those In favor Of the appropri-
alton. The scheme was stlRmatized as a
grab" "bunco game" q STEAL" and
trying to sell gold bricks" and the taxpayers
who are against 1t. spurred on By the Register.
put on war paint and went forth TO defeat the
measure.
Last nights Register contained the most Of
fensive article. and when Editor Willard put
In an appearance at his Office this morning
the summonses In the two libel suits
were served upon him. He did not
vince; on the contrary. he imm ediately
put bulletin In front OF his ofics announc-
Ing that he had been sued and q similar
bulletin was placed on the Court House steps
where the election took place.
All day long and until sunset tonight tho
strife was kept Up. and no more Int crested par
Elephants were there than the women The first
voter at o o'clock this morning and who had
the honor OF being tho first woman to vote was
the wife OF one OF the most prominent manu-
facturers here. Mrs. Crawshaw. She voted
against the project. At her elbow was Mrs.
]. W. +. Ruttenber. the wife Of the editor Of
the Sunday Telegram. who also cast her ballot
against It One woman who came to vote
found that the assessors had In some way left
her name of the roll.
That's only one vote against It lost p she
said. but I'll mako up for It,"
She went quickly away and brought six
other women to the polls. all Of whom voted
as she would have voted.
Another woman said We have at last OBJ
tained our rights. and you'll find that We shall
not be slow In exercising them"
don't want your ticket" said another
woman to worker at the polls: Il have one
here I'm going to vote. and It's against this
scheme. too"
bank director escorted another woman in,
and when she was asked to fold I'D her ballot
she exclaimed: 1t don't make any difference;
I'd as soon vote 1t open as any other way
There II 10; don't care who secs It."
Although It rained most Of the day the vote
was very large. At one time there were
twenty-three ladies In line awaiting their turn
to vote. and one woman. who was opposed TO
the appropriation. brought IN her own carriage
forty OF her sex to the polls. Men who have
been at the polls all day long ct all kinds Of
elections. were dazed to see how the women |
turned out and with what determina ation and |
courage they approached the ballot boz.
They polled about 230 OF the S54 votes |
that were cast and It is estimated |
that at least 90 per cent OF the women voted |
ballots against the project One Of the sur |
prising features OF the election was the class |
OF women who came to vote. Many OF them |
came IN their own carriages. and we're the |
wives Of leading lawyers. ministers. and mer-
chants Many came with their husbands or
other male escorts. but none seemed to show
the least timidity. There were many who |
stayed away from the polls through timidity,
but had they known how respectfully those who |
voted were treated they would doubtless have
voted. AL day long everything about the
polls was quiet and peaceable. Many OF the
women voters were holders OF bank and trust
company stocks. which gave them the right to
vote. At So'clock tonight the vote was an
nounced as 600 against to 254 for the ap-
preparation. Thewomsn thus carried the day