The San Francisco call., 1896-12-19
Letters From the People.
EQUAL SUFFRAGE IN FACT.
Hotu the Women of Denrer Exercised
Their NetUIy acquired Right
tn Enfe

To the Editor of the Call - SIR: Will you
kindly present 10 your readers the inclosed
extract from an article by Mrs. Clara B. Colby,
editor Woman's Tribune. Washing ton D. c..
who went TO Denver last month on purpose to
observe the voting of women.
IDA A. HARPER
The extract referred to in the above COM
munication is as follows:
The voting OF our party over, we hurried
back, and then an opportunity was provided
Tor the domestics to take their turn. My
friend has always personally managed every
detail for the comfort OF her large household
and felt she had enough to do without taking
part in politics. Now, however, she votes,
because she considers ii her duty, and she
does it with the same Conscientious zeal that
characteriZes all her actions, and withal she
seemed to enjoy II.
After the wheels of household affairs were
set going for the day we went to various poll
ing places; not to all, Tor there were over 100
in the city, but certainly to more than half
that mum Der. AT almost all there were women
to be seen inside and going and coming. In
one ne1ghbor held baby while its mother
voted There was occasionally woman judge
or inspector. AT an appointed time my friend
gave up her carriage to the use OF a sick lady,
who was determined to get up from her bed to
go to the polls, and, helped by three of her
friends, she made the effort without being
injured. Other instances of women prizing
their vote came TO my notice afterward. On
the train leaving Denver, after the election,
heard women talking about having delayed
their departure in order 10 vote.
One said her husband was then employed In
Minnesota. He had sent her ticket 10 join
him " hich would compel her to leave Denver
Monday night before election. But she went
to the agent and told him he must telegraph
and get the time extended, Tor she would Tor
felt her ticket rather than lose her chance to
vote. In District d. one of the most aristo-
cratic of Capitol Hill, 571 women registered
and $40 voted and i'll the proportion OF two
women to one man. l met great many
women during the day and evening, and
only found one who had not voted; and she
deeply regretted her failure to register and
consequent ineligi bllity.
kind although we were careful to drive
through the worst parts OF the city. The
polling places in these parts were as quiet and
respectable looking as any other.
The city was much quieter than on ordin-
ary business days, as many OF the firms closed
part of the day, and their employees went to
their suburban homes toyote. Country tIafic
and theTailroad travel were very light. Every
body STAYED in his own place to vote, and
Denver, the bustling metropolis of the Rockies,
wore almost Sunday aspect. 1t would re-
ouire the magic of Aladdin's lamp to coniure
UP anything disagreeable or injurious as ac-
companying or arising from the voting OF
women in Colorado, and the testimony of
those who have been able to compare elections
before and since proves that much OF the pres
ent good order is the result of their voting
and of the good regulations which have been
made i'll view oil their presence at the polls
So much, at least there has been of direct gain
10 the community. Then there has been an
immense gain 10 women themselves.
Their leading women have ceased to be pre-
emipently society women, and have become
conscious OF their citizenship, with ali its obli-
eations. The Woman's Club numbers over
600, and its conduct is systematic, par .iamen-
tary, conslderaIe and dignifed. The men,
bers are becomln strong and self f-poised
They look on life with broader outlook
The legal department of the club spent the
whole of last season in studying three bills
which they wished presented to the Legisla-
ture, and the manner in which they made
themselves masters of the provisions of tne
bills and their possible outcome led the Cham
Der OF Commerce to request hem TO take up
proposed new city charter for consideration.
Not only this, but charter prepared in the
University OF Denver for the students has
oeen sent to the club Tor study.
Surely condition which stimulates women
to take an interest in all matters pertaining
to good government, ana which wins for them
the respectful attention of the best men as
valued eoadjutors, must be for the benefit of
any community.