The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-15
WOMEN IN POLITICS.

! 1t is pleasing to notice the harmony
1 Of sentiment which now prevails
among the leading papers of this terri
tory in reference to the duty of wo-
men who are endowed by the state
constitution with the elective fran
chise. Until passed upon by higher
court, the decision of Judge Smith,
that the women who are constituted
voters by the state constitution are
eligible to vote both for state officers
and on the ratification of the constitu-
ton next November, stands as good
law. That being the case they should
avail themselves of the opportunity to
become registered citizens so that
they may be able to exercise the right
of franchise at the first state election.
OF what use will it be if the women
of Utah, after struggling and pleading
and demanding the ballot so that they
might take part in the affairs Of the
state and of the nation of which they
form a part, should sit down supinely
and neglect or refuse to exercise the
power which they have obtained?
While the newspapers of each politi-
cal party are urging upon the women
that It is their duty to become regis
tered citizens and use their ballot on
behalf CT good government, we are
told that there are some persons en-
deavoring to persuade the ladies that
they should not take any active part
in politics. We regard this advice as
extremely bad.
Women have been a factor in poll
tics. There are duties attached to the
privileges which they have secured.
They ought to make themselves IA
miliar with the principles of govern
ment which are fundamental to
American institutions and also with
the essential differences between the
creeds of the two great political par
ties, When they have become con-
WINGED of the superiority of one of
those parties, they should align them
selves with the men in supporting that
party which they believe will conduce
to the best interests of this great ma
ton and of the State of Utah.
Women as citizens of the United
States and voters in the State of Utah
cannot be nonentities. certain
amount of influence necessarily goes
with the ballot. That influence should
be cast in the right direction. Women
are fully as much interested as men
in good government and in the selec-
ton of good men to ensure good gov
eminent. Active and influential wo-
men who refuse to exercise the power
they hold for good, neglect or evade
a solemn and important duty. Why
should women be less active than men
in promulgating truth and using their
influence for that which they hold to
be right?
We do not mean by this that women
should descend to the tricks and the
wrongs often attending political
campaign. We do not think that men
should indulge in them. There is a
plane on which both men and women
can stand in politics and remain I'M
furnished and untouched by the cor
rupt proceedings and tactics of pros
tituted politics.
We advise the women of Utah to use
the influence which belongs to the
elective franchise in behalf of NOR
ality, temperance, economy, honesty
and purity in governmental affairs,
and we regard as very contemplate
any efforts which are put forth to sup
press the influence of women on one
side of the political conflict and en-
courage it on the other. 1t will be
found. on close inquiry. that the en-
deavors which are made to induce la
dies not to take part in the important
questions that are arising, proceed
largely if not altogether from parti-
san motives rather than from a desire
to promote the welfare of womankind