The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-09-26
Equal Suffrage In Kansas.

TOPEKA, KAN, Sept. S.-The opinion
prevails among many Of the leaders of
all political parties that the woman suff-
rage amendment will be carried by a
large majority at the coming November
election, and that the women Of Kansas
will hereafter be vested with the elective
franchise. Since the various State con-
ventions have been held the advocates Of
the amendment have multiplied until the
politicians and political tixers see thu
handwriting on the wall and are trim
ming accordingly.
At the Populist State convention a
strong effort was mad by the administra-
tion under the direction of Chairman
Breidenthal, in the interest Of fusion
with the Democrats, to defeat the plank
for the amendments, and the COM
mittee, in fact, brought in a resolution
that would have been black eye
to the friends of suffrage in the Conven-
tion.
But the overwhelming defeat of the
committee in the convention when the
plank came up for consideration was
not only surprise, but an assurance of
the immense popularity Of the suffrage
principle in the Peoples party. The
adoption of the plank In favor Of the
amendment has had the effect Of con-
solidating the party in support of the
principle, and it will doubtless vote al
most as one man in favor Of the amend
ment.
On the other hand, it has been stated
that the adoption Of the plank by the
Peoples party convention would tend
to turn.the Republicans against it. This
would undoubtedly be true If the Popu-
lists and suffrage leaders should make
the amendment party issue in the cam
paign; but up to this time no attempt to
do this has been done. The suffrage
campaign is being made as non,parti-
San issue. Atall the Republican and Pop
ulist rallies prominent women who are
stumping for the amendment address
the voters, but they do not discuss party
issues.
They contend that the fact that the
amendment was submitted to the people
Of Kansas by Legislature Repu blican in
one branch and Populist in another suf-
ficieptly party answers the claim that it
belongs to any party.
A strong factor in favor of the amend
ment is the labor vote of the State. Poll
ticians are surprised that this element of
voters is almost unanimous in their ad-
vocacy of woman suffrage. They say
their wives should be enfranchised that
they want to vote and that when they do
vote they will support the men and par
ties who represent the issues for which
labor is contending. j..
In Colorado the labor vote operated
powerfully in favor of the suffrage
amend ment. The same leeven is work.
ing in Kansas. It is felt in every party,
and long before election day the mana
gers of each will have found out that a
large element of that class Of their votes
can no longer be controlled on that
question. Consequently, even Demo-
cratic papers and speakers are likely to
hedge as the day of political jud gment
approaches, for when voting list is to
be nearly doubled, it becomes serious
matter for party, or party's leaders, to
uselessly antagonize those whose votes
they will soon be oourting.
The Republican and Populists parties
will each poll about 100000 votes in Kan
sas this year. Of this $1,000 votes fully
175,0O0 will be cast for. the amendment.
This does not include the 10000 pro-
hibition voters, which will be practi-
callv solid for woman suffrage. The
suffrage tide is sweeping on with ire
sistabie force, and unless great changes
occur, the amendment will be carried by
IN mn