The Washington times., 1894-07-22
WHERE WOMEN ARE VOTING
Some Interesting Experiments in Fe-
male Suffrage.
1T WORKS WELL IN WYOMING
But Their Privilege There Was Conferred in
Light spirit-The Fair Sex in the Jury
Bsx-Progress Of Legislation in the Same
Direction in, Many Other States.

The>interest that the"women OF New Yorl
have shown in the opportunity that the con
stitrsional convention gfves them to mako an
other effort to secure the legal right to vot,
and be in all respects citizens just as men are
has given an impetus to the suffrage question
everywhere, and thousands of people whs
never regarded the matter seriously be
fore are now trying TO make up theil
minds whether it is best that womer
should vote or not. Under such cir
eamstances 1t should, be timely and
not unproftable to consifier the places where
vomen,do exercise the suffrage in full or in
part. and what the results of that privilege
have been,for the sex andsfor the community
at large.
The most conspicuous example ofwoman's s
sufYrage in the world is in the little state OF
wyoming where women have >oted the same
as men for a quarter OF a century. 1t WAS
stated recently by woman who is instructor
In the University of Wyoming at Laramie
that woman suffrage in that territory, as it
was in 1869, really originated in joke that
was also intended to make Wyoming con-
AMBIGUOUS and to advertise it to the outside
world Federal officers arrived in wyoming
in May, 1863, tho first Governor being John
A. Campbell, and completed its organization
az territory, dividing il into legislative dis
tricts and issuing call Tor the election OF
legislature.
One of the rsost important acts that were
passed by that frst legislature was a little
statute, only six, lines long, which declared
that women who were citizens Of the United
States and Of the territory OF Wyoming. or
who had declared their intentions to become
such. were thereby invested with all the polit-
ical rights duties. franchises and responsible
ties of male citizens. This act was approved
December 10, 1863, and at the time Of its pas
sage it is believed there was not a single az
Rressiye advocate of .'wonan's rights in the
whole territory In fact, the transaction
seems to have been entered upon very lightly,
more In Jest than earnest, rather FOR policy
than for Justice. and because it was believed
that it would attract the notice OF persons who
might be thinking OF emigratihs to q new
country.
But as soon as women secured their po-
ltical rights in Wyoming they were called
upon to undertakeyhe responsibility that ac-
companied them. Although they had not
sought nor desired suffrage, rs soon as they
got it they became citizens with vengeance,
and the county commissioners drew num-
Der of them to serve as jurors in the first sec
ton Of the court. The women were not dis
posed to do jury duty. but Governor Camp
bell and Chief Justice Howe persuaded them
to accept the responsibility from which they
L
was noticeable fact that one OF the first re-
suits of tine presence of women was the clean
Ing and papering of the grand jury room and
other parts Of the courthouse.
The first trial ip which the women served as
jurors was a murder case, and the defendant
was young man Six of the jury were
women 1t is said that the lawyers for the
defense were delighted, because they believed
that they would be able to work upon their
sympathies and secure, il not an acquittal,
at least a disagreement in favor OF their
client. But they were mistaken. The
female members OF the jury regarded the
facts Just as conscientiourly rs the men. and
when they came in from their deliberations
they handed up verdict Of murder in the
second degree. Another noticeable result OF
the bringing of women into active participa-
tion in the government Of the new territory
was the cleaning out ofthe2lawiess class, both
men and women.
Wyoming people will tell you also that cleo
ton day in their state has always been no.
ticeable for an absence OF most of the dis
graceful features that characterize the vicin-
ity Of the polls in many places where women
do not vote. They say that the women come
to the polls quietly cast their ballots. and go
home without being insulted or subjected to
the slightest sign of disrespect. and that the
men as rule try to emulate their example.
These. Of course, are the opinions and reports
OF people who have been converted to belief
their views are somewhat colored by preju-
dice.
BE that as it may, 1t is worthy OF mention
that every Governf of Wyoming. both as a
state and as territory, has given a cordial
and uncompromising Endorsement of the sys-
tenn that is there in vogue and many of the
judges have also expressed their approval OF
the law that enables the sexes to exert an
equal influence on election day.
1t should be remembered that most of the
Governors OF Wyoming were territorial Gov
ernors, appointed by the Presidents. and not
dependent in any way upon the votes OF the
people. and several of them. when they came
to the territory, were not advocates, but op-
ponents. OF women suffrage.
John W. Kingman. for four wears Judge
OF the supreme court Of Wyoming, says
that although the women do not attend
the caucuses in any considerable num-
bcrs. they take a very active interest in the
selection OF the candidates. and it is usual in |
discussing the availability of an aspIrant for |
Office to ask How does he stand with the |
ladies?" Frequently applicants for places on |
a ticket are set aside because it is believed |
that their characters would not successfully |
undergo the criticism OF the women He |
says that the ladies are becoming every year |
more and more interested in public affairs, |
and that no trouble has been experienced |
from the presence Of bad women at the polls. |
One of the marked results of woman suf- |
frage in Wyoming is that women school
teachers receive the same pay for the same |
work as men. This is state of affairs that
does not occur in many places the world over
/ have dwet at length upon the experience
Of Wyoming. because. so far as l know, it is
the only community in the world where
women have had the full suffrage for suffi-
cient length of time to render it possible to
draw conclusions as to the result of their par
ticipation in government. Considering the
fact that when Wyoming first conferred the
franchise upon them there was only one
woman to every nineteen men, and that at |
the present time there are three times as
many men as there are women, think that
the small minority ofthe gentler sex has done
pretty well.
Colorado is the only other state in the
United States where women are on equal
terms with men. Last year the Colorado
house voted SO to 81 and the senate to to
give women full suffrage, and the people rati-
fed that decision with majority OF 6,347 on
popular vote. 1t is as yet too early to speak
OF the results in Colorado. Here is brief
summary of what has been done recently in
other states and territories by the advocates
OF woman suffrage.
In Arizona the house adopted full suffrage
bill by vote OF II to g. but the bill was lost
for want OF two votes in the senate She SEN
ate of Maine passed a municipal suffrage bill
by vote of 16 to 13, but the measure was
nine votes short when it came up in the
house. l. believe that full suffrage amend