The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-08-30
IN WYOMING.

LIN w 1OM1Nds
told that offensive loud takers, who de-
sired 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 vot-
ers and votresses of Wyoming I am
compelled to say that election day was
one of the calmest and sweetest of the
whole year.
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. 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, judy
ment and knowledge Of men. q filed
Office there seven years myself.)
But, seriously, why shouldn't woman
know whom to vote for as we'll as her
husband? Moreover, she is freer from
the thrall of machine politics. The
women of Wyoming did not pay any at
tention to caucuses, but when they went
to the polls they had q scratched and
mutilated ballot inside the glove, and the
knowledge of how their vote went rested
between themselves and God.
Whether my wife voted for or against
me when I was called by my fellow citi-
zens to accept the portfolio of justice of
the peace will never be known till the
great big diary of the recording angel is
read aloud after Gabriel's musical selec-
ton. But whichever way she voted
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 respect?
This question is easily answered. Wo-
men who respect themselves are respect
ed most everywhere they go, and the
polls in Wyoming, as remember them,
were as quiet and orderly as the vestibule
Of high church. The reason is very
simple. If I am running for Office and
dependent on woman's vote, am going
to allow my friends or my party to offend
her in the slightest degree2 Not go 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 lady drive up to the
postof6ce and get money order? 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 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 ballot to their wives. Of course
there is difference in wives. I've seen
wives wouldn't want to give the ballot
to. wouldn't want to give them any
thing unless it might be 30 days or some
thing like that, but a man ought not to
get socially mixed up with companion
who doesn't know enough to vote.
I've known many and many q man,
gentle reader, who could well afford to
give his proxy to his wife while he
spends few valuable years at the fool
house.
In Wyoming it was customary for the
strongest and ablest party to secure all
the available carriages, horses, hacks,
hansoms, landaus, victorias, wagons,
wagonettes, etc., long before election,
in order to convey the women to the
polls quickly and pleasantly, but later
the ladies decided to walk and thus feel
no obligation to either party.
OF course wicked, naughty women
vote if they get the chance. This is true
of low, coarse men too. In fact, the
soiled and sin stained soul seems called
upon to vote earlier and oftener than the