The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-11
WOMEN WILL VOTE.

! The decision of Judge Smith in the
test case on the question of the right
/ of women citizens to vote at the first
state election, will, we presume, settle
the matter at least so far as registra
1 ton is concerned. There is now no rea-
! son why any registration officer should
decline to register the ladies any more
than the gentlemen who make appli
cation. Those registrars who have been
attending to this duty have done the
right thing. Even if the decision had
been adverse no harm would have re-
suited, as separate list has been kept
of the women voters which could have
been placed aside; as it is they have
so much work ahead.
We suppose that this question will
be regarded generally as settled, and
that the women who desire to do so
and are qualified under the constitu-
ton will vote both for the state Off
GERS and on the adoption of the con-
stitution.
The Herald took the ground from the
beginning that under the constitution
framed by the convention women could
not be denied the right of suffrage at
any state election, the first included.
We were in doubt as to their right to
vote on the ratification of the constitu-
ton because of the provision in section
two Of the enabling act, which pro-
vided that male citizens of the United
States Of the age of twenty-one years
who had resided in the territory one
year Immediately preceding the cleo
ton should vote for or against the
adoption of the constitution.
This appeared at first sight to be
exclusive of all others. But when the
clause of the enabling act was pointed
out which provides that 1.-The qualified
voters of the proposed state" should
vote on that question, and able law
yers argued that the two provisions
were to be taken together and that
they were not in conflict with each
other, we perceived that there was
good ground for the contention that
women not only had the right to vote
on the constitution, but that there
would be danger of the objection that
the terms of the enabling act had not
been complied with, if the women
made qualified voters by the state con-
stitution were denied that right.
The Herald advised from the begin
ming of the dispute that the matter
should be settled by the courts. We
have argued repeatedly that it was the
only way whereby a settlement could
be satisfactorily reached. Whatever
may be made by way Of ap-
peal to set aside Judge Smiths decis-
ion, it is clear that the work of regis
tration should go on uniformly
the territory. AS we have
advised heretofore, there should be
no difference of policy or action on
the part of registrars in different
places We do not think there will be
any now that judicial decision has
been obtained.
We congratulate the women citizens
Of Utah on this vindication Of their
political rights. They have secured |
the suffrage, now let them exercise it |
wisely and well. Let them aid in secur-
ing good government for the new
state Then they can help in securing |
good government for the nation. We |
believe they will exercise their inf1u-
ence for the right, and that in very |
short time those who have most op-
posed to the participation of the fair
sex in political affairs will become
among the most ardent advocates of
equal suffrage.