The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-30
A COMPROMISE.


To the Editor of The Herald:
It seems an unfortunate accident
that men who oppose equal suffrage
are found on the committee consider
ing this question or even in the con-
vention. 1 cannot think otherwise
than that these men must have misun-
derstood the virtue and meaning of the
party platforms on which they were
elected. AS a matter of consistency. [
would like to ask what right has a
man to accept his candidacy for any
ONCE. on any ticket. if ne really, in
his conscience. does not intend to carry
out his solemn pledges-his party
piedges-I will say on any given sub
1ect? In my opinion. he has no right
whatever. He simply deceives his con-
stltuents. When he does the contrary
OF what is expected of him. he must be
looked upon as REBEL Not so! Or 1
take II. he must be an office-seeker
ana IN the course of his action and
IN the language of the New York gen
tleman (A1r. Cockran), simply uses his
party platform as convenient means
oy which to "get in on" and after
wards has no apparent regard for it.
Why there should be opposition to
Womens suffrage in a territory where
THIS has been tried with good results,
IS, indeed, hard to understand; unless
1t is for effect: to crafty a mental
weakness. Does a man, the opponent
of equal suffrage. not realize that he
is placing his mother his wife or his
sister below the black. and il most in
stances, ignorant. INDECENT, fugitive
negro, whom he-the white-accords
THIS privilege and whom, as an effect
OF patriotism. he places alongside of
himself? A very black. aye, more than
placK and abject position for the
mothers of our country (the real source
or our country to occupy If the con-
vention cannot agree unanimously on
this important subject. would it not
be better to compromise for a more
gallant record? For instance, it must
be conceded that the people IF their
present representatives are divided in
their views have the right of judg
ment. to say and decide for or against
the general proposition. If at all there
is danger of the defeat of the measure
favoring female suffrage in the consti-
tuition, either by designed amending
discussion; too great q discrepancy of
opinion or actual votes. why not just
by amendment. carefully put the mat
ter in shape, and let the people them
selves, whenever their judgment ma
lures (there need be no scarecrow
haste) decide whether. and when. this
condition shall begin. For instance,
in the constitutions of some states,
such as Colorado and Wisconsin, it is
provided that the right of suffrage may
be extended to women by majority of
electors at general election. Let the
legislature provide for the rest of it.
No one could reasonably object to this
provision. If some of our wise men are
not quite ready TO give us what we
have asked for, the equal franchise,
and if we have not yet
quite reached that stage Of civilization,
why certainly we can wait still little
longer, with the star-rayed hope of
reaching the point some bright day in
the future. ard. am quite certain. the /
worthy ladies are willing to wait, if /
only the promise is sure. and back of I
the promise. a fair. open. solid and I'M !
equivocal provision.
NJ A WILLUMSEN
Murray, March IS. 1895.