The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-23
WHO MAY VOTE NEXT NOVEMBER.

The Herald has published the views
of a number of able lawyers, in refer
ence to the right of women to vote al
the first State election and also for the
adoption of the State constitution. II
should be understood that in doing Sc
this paper has simply given the opin-
ions of those legal luminarfes for the
consideration of the public. and not as
the arguments of The Herald or the
position of the Democratic party.
Previous to the completion of the
constitution. before the adoption of the
schedule in which the qualifications of
voters are defined, or attempted to be
defined, for the elections next Novem-
Der, The Herald explained it's views on
the status of women voters. Since the
matte was disposed of, as generally
supposed, by the adoption of the SEIZED
ule, we have entered into no argument
in reference to the question.
We wish to say now, that the whole
matter has passed from the domain
of moral and political controversy, and
is resolved into a purely legal ques-
ton. 1t is not a party dispute. 1t is
something to be determined by the
courts. Whether women shall vote or
not at the next November election.
whether they IAN vote for State Of
ficers and not for the constitution, or
for the constitution and not for the
State officers. or for both or neither,
is not party question but question
Of law. The courts should pass upon
it, not the parties or either of them.
The opinions Of such eminent MEM
themselves on this subject are Of
value. Of course. Much can be said
on both sides of the controversy. It
is not dead open and smut matter,
by any means. Nor are party lines
drawn upon it as some people endea-
vor to make appear.
It is true that the Democratic par
ty. by its delegates in the constitu-
tional convention, was almost unit
in favor of placing both sexes on a
complete political equality There
were but four or five exceptions out
of the whole number. The party plat
form declared in favor of that prin-
ciple in the most emphatic language.
The great body of the Democratic
delegates were also in favor of provid-
ing means by which women voters
could cast their ballots at the first
election. that IS next November.
But after the constitution was
passed. including the provision of
section eleven of the schedule,
party contention upon this matter
ceased, and the only questions now
open are those of the legal construc-
ton of certain provisions in the body
of the constitution and in the schedule
when compared with the enabling act.
Some able attorneys are clear in their
that women may vote at
the next November elections, as
voters of the proposed state whose
rights to vote and hold Office may
mot be denied or abridged on account
Of sex" Others, equally able. main
tain the contrary, and go so far as to
declare the position of the first parties
untenable and absurd.
But these opposite views are not
partisan. There are Democrats and
on either side. Neither is
it a woman's controversy. The equal
suffrage ladies did not start it. Some
Of them want to vote at the first law
full opportunity. They desire to exer-
else those rights and privileges which
are legally theirs. Others, thinking
the question settled. are willing to
wait until the state is admitted be-
fore casting their ballots. The pres
emit question originated among the le-
gal fraternity, and every candid read
er of their opinions must admit that
there appears to be a great deal in
them.
However, the matter should
20 to the courts and be there decided.
Not on the general question of the
right or wrong, the policy or impol-
icy, the justice or injustice of woman
suffrage, but the legal Specification of
the provisions of the constitution and
It's schedule, construed with those Of
the enabling act. This should be ju-
1icially decided, and whether the mi
-iatory steps shall be taken by Demo-
Gratis or by Republicans, that should
cut no figure in the settlement of the
question, nor be used as an argu-
ment that suit is planted for party
Let all the legal voters
nave all that legally belongs to them,
nothing more and nothing less.