Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-30
The Women at the Polls in Col.
OradO.

Last week we gave an interesting descrip-
ton of an Electric parade" by political
club of six hundred women voters on the
night before the November election. AS to
how they voted the. next day, 6. L. Stonaker
writes as follows to Harper's Weekly
Never in the history of the city. was there so
little trouble on election day in Denver, and
never was there less fraudulent voting done
The intensity of interest with which the cam
paign closed had aroused the people to their
best efforts, and no scheme to cast a fraudu-
lent ballot could have been carried out. Hus-
bands, with wives and daughters, and in
some cases, aged mothers, went in parties to
the polls, as to church or to theatre, quietly
and decorously They stood in line on the
pavement or on the dry earth in residence
districts, often for an hour, awaiting their
turn to vote, and no one was molested, shock
ed or angered Even in the toughest sec
lions OF the city women with escorts came
out to vote. and they were not disturbed. The
lady in silks and sealskins stood behind the
woman in humble garb. The blacksmith or
the ianitor preceded the banker Every line
was a composite picture of American freemen.
In the factory and railroad districts as good
order prevalled-as in the most refined resi-
dence districts on Capitol Hill.
The women displayed an intelligent knowl-
edge of the ballot. The election judges found
the cases rare where women asked for assist
ance in the preparation OF their ballots. and
in the count few errors were discovered. AL
though this year great majority of the bal
lots were straight" the scratched tickets
were done with full knowledge and effect.
Women. as a rule, voted faster than the men
did, and made fewer errors. : This was due in
part to the fact that for weeks preceding the
election, mock elections were held in many
precincts at the private residences and at
party headquarters where women assembled
to be taught the routine of voting. Sample
ballots, a full complement of election judges,
and even challenGers, were at-hand, SO that
visitors to these mock election booths fully
learned the method of procedure.
In several precincts in Denver'women acted
as judges and as clerks OF election. One lady
sat by the ballot-hox from o'clock in the
morning all through the day and night, fin
shing as fresh as the men at II the next morn
ing. The men objected at first, but before
the day had passed she had won them by her
CAiASeA
they thanked her for her presence and assist
ance.
AS vote -getters the women rivaled the men.
They were in evidence early in the day, and
with lists IN hand they went from house to
house getting out the voters, regardless of
party utilization. 1t was votes the women
wanted, and especially the votes of women.
In Denver larger percentage OF women vot-
ed according to the registration than men.
In the toughest mountain camps the women
appeared at the polls with the same conf
dence and with the same decorum as did the
women of towns and cities. In many country
districts the occasion was made one of social
reunions.
The suffrage Of women was made popular
by the social leaders. Many women had OPP
posed the idea OF suffrage, and had said that
they would not vote, but the sentiment grew
during the campaign so rapidly that all clas-
ses were made to feel the Importance of the
duty that had been thrust upon them, and
they responded at the last with alacrity and
zeal Women who had been outspoken
against it, and who refused to give their
n ines to the official canvassers who went
from house to house to register the voters,
were finally convinced against their preiudi-
ces, and late in the campaign they voluntarily
went to the Court house in their respective
counties to personally register. The question
had been settled before election day.
As politicians the women rapidly learned
many tricks. and instances could be given of
their success as clever schemers. The Repub-
licans secured the best organization among
the women, and to their stand in Denver is
due the success of the county, as well as the
State ticket This organization came about
as a matter of evolution.