The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-15

ton a clause providing that at the nrst
general election or at any election there
after the question of suffrage might be
submitted to a vote of the people upon
the passage of a bill to that effect by the
state legislature. The general assembly
passed such a law at its first session in
1877, and the ensuing campaign was q
notable one. The struggle was in vain.
however, for the suffragists were over
whelmed by o vote of 10000 against
their measure to 49, 0 i'm its favor.
Nothing disheartened, they made an eff
Esq., :~ aooa - sesura rnnnicipaI Suffrage
for women, but even that small favor
was refused them, and the effort came
to naught. In the spring of 1890 Mrs.
Louise M. Tyler, who had done active
work in the cause of woman suffrage in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. went
to Denver and stirred the friends of the
movement up once more. Through her
efforts an organization was formed which
in the winter of 1891 again petitioned the
legislature to extend to women the right
to vote. They made the mistake of not
getting their bill introduced within the
required time, however, and it had to be
tackled on as a rider to a bill preventing
foreigners from voting on their first nat
~uralization papers. The bill was lost
and the rider with it.
But that "a little leaven ~leaveneth the
whole lump received fresh verifcation
at the next meeting of the legislature,
for IN the Ninth assembly, which met in
January, 1898, not less than four suffrage
bills were introduced, n of which got
through the house by a small majority
and narrowly escaped suffocation in the
senate. 1t was one ct the last bills passed
by that body.
Then the Equal Suffrage association
enlisted the services Of Mrs. Carrie Lane
Chapman and went to work as they had
never worked before. Headquarters were
opened in Denver, where Miss Helen M.
Reynolds, corresponding secretary of the
association, engineered a campaign that
was worthy of q veteran politician.
Nothing was neglected that might pro-
mote success, and everything was avoided
that might stimulate opposition. Some
of the leading newspapers were enlisted
in support Of the movement, and Tho
campaign was conducted entirely on al
educational and nonpartisan basis.
Mrs. Chapman made q tour of the
state, travelling every day, speaking ev,
cry night and organizing a league where
ever she spoke. Men made up the great
err portion OF her audiences. and even il
| the mountain towns and mining camps
she received the most courteous ans
chivalric treatment. Her tact was equa
to her eloquence, and under her infu
ence some of the best men in the stat
enrolled themselves in the local leagues
sometimes filing all the Offices and do
ing all the routine work. There was M
organized opposition, and the Populis
party was united in support OF the move
ment.
The most sanguine ~suffragists hardl,
expected to carry Denver. In fact, de
feat there was looked for as PRACTICAL,
certain, and when the returns from Arap
ahoe county showed q majority Of Oh
i'm favoreof equal suff rage the friends o
surprised. The Off ial count shove.
the total majority in the state to be 8 ,347
and in accordance with the will of tn,
people thus expressed the governor o.
Dec. Q issued q proclamation conferrin,
the right OF suffrage on the women citi
Eens of the state
The women accepted the decision
quietly. There was no public ~jollifica
tion, but many OF them hastened Ia shoy
their appreciation of the franchise b.
registering as voters. 1t remains to b
demonstrated whether the exercise o
their new privilege will have the bene
Il fetal effects predicted for il.