Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
WOMEN SUFFRAGISTS RIOT,
Scenes nt II School Election Under a
New Law In VincIand, N. j.

| From the New York Herald
| The first election of school trustees under
| the borough township consolidation act
recently passed by the New Jersey legisla-
| ture, was held In Vineland, n. j., Friday
| The women made strong and bitter fight
to exercise their alleged right of suffrage
but were defeated. and left COSMOPOLITAN
Hall. the polling place. vowing vengeance
against the election officers and the poll
| ticians responsible for their being denied
| this privilege
Inc scenes at the polls were disgraceful
Wen-dressed women shouldered and pushed
thelr way through the dense crowd and
| hurled abusive epithets, at Chairman Lord
| and the judges. The ballot box only es-
capped smashing by the quick wit of Capt.
| Mcdonald. who grabbed 1t in his arms and
ieaped upon the stage OF the opera house
Policemen were assaulted and the riot was
with difficulty uuelled ., .'...' a 80 : :,
I Inc trouble was caused by deliberate
and organized effort of the women. aided
oy certain men, to vote in direct violation
| OF the law. The following telegram was re-
ceived at noon by II. w. Wilbur. editor
OF paper at Fineland and a prominent
woman suffragist:
STATE HOUSE. TRENTON, Irly 81 1891
TO w. II. Wilbur: The attorney general
Is or opinion that women may vote at all
| school elections. The constitution saws:
me legislature shall provide for the main
IL
Client system OF free public schools The
legislature has the power to give women
the right to vote, and in Its judgment that
was necessary to carry into effect the
Cnsnge or constitution above quoted
(SigneO A. b. POLAND
state Superintendent"
One Woman Succeeded.
Armed with this document and having
engaged H. S. Alvord as counsel. the
women determined to elect their own can
| didates, among whom were Mrs James
Chance and Mrs. Agusa Briston. The poIi-
ticians were equally as determined that
they should not. When the polling pIace
was thrown open In the afternoon an i'm
mense crowd of men women ana ,h;75ra,
poured into the building and packed II to
tne doors. A temporary chairman was an
pointed and the meeting called to order.
OF rather, an attempt at this was made
Rev.W. Gilbert was nominated by the O., "
gists and Charles p. Lord, mayor of Vine
land, was named by the "antis'' for nepro,
nent chairman At this point the tumuit
hundred strong, lined up, and marching 10
the ballot box, endeavored to cast their
ticket. Capt Mcdonald. who was in char
Oh tne polls. placed his hand over the slot
ana SAID that only males would be allowed
| TO vote He was Missed and teered
colored woman named Crawford. who
mas great influence with the negro voters.
| anaged to force her ballot into the how
| and then struggled out of the crowd amid
the jeers Of the officers "'''''
Charles Kughley. manufacturer ara
owner OF the vineland water works. W .
the crowd. Mrs Kughley ran fo;..' IS in
last year and was defeated. trustee
tempted to reach the ballc.I -.ughley at
r would 81 smash 1t to p!~ 1oH saying he
If you do. ~
| Col Jarvis W. smash your head" yelled
msnt Md n5er xh aeo At . the same
g. -.ge. Several women narrowly es-
,. - Led serious injury in the crush, and one
/ woman tainted. Men cursed and struggled
and seemed to have lost control of them
selves. Policeman Raffer of East Vineland
attempted to restore order and was ASSAULT
ed by young Percy Kughley, who struck
him violently in the chest. With the as
sistance of Policemen Abe and Fowler TIE
| combatants were separated and compara-
| tive order restored. Lord was elected chair
man and George Boynton and Amos Com
| bar tellers. After informing the assem-
blage that no ballots would be received
from women. Chairman Lord opened the
polls for the election Of trustees. Alvord
marshaled the women in line. and they
again attempted to deposit their ballots,
but the slips of paper were thrown On the
floor, amid mingled laughter and Kisses.
To Make IN Test Case. --...- -
The Indignant women called Mayor Lord
Coward and brute" and various other
terms. They have declared boycott on
George Boynton In his business because he
| would not take their ballots.
THE dog catcher is herer' screamed one
| woman.
'I'Il send him around" retorted Chairman
| Lord, and the women subsidized.
| The crowd howled and the police were or
| dered to removs all dsorderly persons. An
| effort was made to remove the women and
| allow the men to vote, but their counsel in
| structed each woman to tender her ballot
| Individually. AS it was getting late and the
| polls were to. close at O'Clock, 1t look ed
like a plan to keep the men from voting,
and the election officers, exasperated," re-
solved to keep the pools open an additional
| half hour in order to give a large number of
excursionists, who had gone to Wildwood,
| an opportunity to vote. 80 "-r.. -+--f'
The suffragists were overwhelmingly de-
| feated and the following board Of educa-
ton was elected by the ants: Orange H.
| Adams, Levi D. Johnson, William F. Glac-
| kin. Ernest A. Pierce, Elmer L. Boles,
Frank Lore William E. Bigelow, John d.
Seigman and George w. Lewis Charles
| Kughley says they will contest the election
| and carry 1t to court. even II the schools
| have to remain closed for months Several
! prominent suffragists were cleseted with
| Lawyer Alvord last evening. and report says
! they will bring suit against Lands town.
| ship. They propose 20 make test case Of
this election and decide the question Of wo-
| n an suffrage once for ALL .-... .
He Had Her There 60