Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-04
EQUAL SUFFRAGE IN KANSAS
Likely to Be Carried by a Majority Of
$4,000.
Labor Element Supporting 1t Strong
-Ncwspapers Cautious.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
Topeka, Kan, September 8. 1894.
The opinion prevails among many of the
leaders OF all political parties that the wo-
man suffrage amendment will be carried
by a large majority at the coming Novem-
Der election, and that the women of Kan
sas will hereafter be- vested with the elec-
tive franchise. Since the various state con-
ventions have been held the advocates OF
the amendment have multiplied until the
politicians and political fxers see the hand
writing on the wall and are trimming ac-
cordingly.
At the populist state convention a strong
effort was made by the administration, un-
der the direction of Chairman Breidenthal
in the interest of fusion with the democrats
to defeat the plank for the amendment and
the committee, In fact, brought In a resolu.
ton that would have been a black eye to
the friends Of suffrage in the convention.
But the overwhelming defeat Of the COM
mittee In the convention when the plank
came up for consideration was not only q
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
enect of consolidating the party in support
of the principle, and 1t will doubtless vote
almost as one man in favor of the amend
ment.
On the other hand. 1t has been stated thai
the adoption Of the plank by the peoples
party convention would tend to turn the
republicans against 1t. This would un.
doubtediy be true If the populists and SUI.
frage leaders should make the amendment
party issue in the campaign; but up to the
present time no attempt to do this has been
made. The suffrage campaign is BEING
made as q non-partisan issue At ali ths
republican and populist rallies prominen,
women who are stumping for the amend
ment are present and address the voterf
but they do not discuss party issues
They contend that the fact that thu
amendment was submitted to the peorlt
OF Kansas by q legislature republican in
one branch and populist In another SUN
q ntiy answers the claim that 1t belongs
to any party.
A strong factor in favor of the amer. j.
ment Is tne 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 saw thei,
wives should be enfranchised: that they
want TO VOTE and that when they do vote
they will support the men and parties who
represent the issues for which labor Ii
cOntending.
In Colorado the labor vote operated pow
the same ieaven is working in Kansas
II Is felt In every party, and long before
election day the managers Of each will
nave nave found out that a large element OF
that class of their voters can no longer be
controlled on that question. Consequently
even democratic papers and speakers are
iikeiy to hedge as the day of political judg.
ment approximation when a voting list
is to be nearly doubled. 1t becomes a seri.
Gus matter for a party. or a party's leaders
TO useiessly antagonize those whose votes
they Will soon be counting.
The republican and popuiist parties will
each poll about 10000 votes in Kansas
this year: OF this $4,000 votes fully u.s..
tno Will be cast for the amendment. This
does not include the 10000 prohibition
votes. which will be practically solid fol
woman suffrage. The suffrage tide Is sweep
ing on with irresistible force. and unless
great changes occur the amendment will
be carried by $1,000.