Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06
Woman in Presidential Electio ms

The announcement that the woman suf-
fraglsts in attendance upon tho annual
convention In Washington were enthusiasts
tic in their advocacy Of the nomination Of
Speaker Reed for president, directs atten-
ton to the fact that the presidential cleo
ton OF the present year will be rendered
memorable by the first formal appearance
of a new element--the woman vote. The
women of three States Will enjoy the priv
lege of voting for presidential electors
next November, those Of Colorado, wy
oming and Utah, and there will DO wide
spread interest in the outcome of their
venture into the political field
The women in Wyoming were allowed to
vote in the presidential election of 1899,
but the vote was so small as to escape
general attention in the face of the inter-
est attendant upon the general result of
the election throughout the country. The
present year will therefore witness the
first efforts of the gentler sex in presi-
Dental election on an extended scale, and
students of sociology and politics will
have an opportunity to study the early re-
suits of the participation of women in
politics.
There Is every reason to look for a
large woman vote in the Western States
named, inasmuch as the experience will
be novel one. We are not without data,
however, upon which to base estimates OF
that vote in Colorado, and 1t is fair to as
sumo that the women of the two other
States will be just as Jealous as their sis
ters of the Silver State in exercising the
right of suffrage in connection with a
presidential election. The male voters de-
cided in 1898 by a majority of 6347 that their
sisters should have the right to vote, and
study of the returns of subsequent elec-
lions In that State discoses interesting
results. In the election of 1894, when the
women had begun to vote, the poll fol-
congressman was 1881, or nearly double
the male vote of 1892, which was 93,Si2. 1,
is fair to assume, therefore, that the vote
Of Colorado this year will be about 200, 600
Of which half will be cast by the fair sex
| Utah will vote as State for the first
time in a presidential election next No
vember, but the women of that common.
wealth have already had some experience
in politics. During the campaign in 1882
they organized themselves into clubs and
conducted meetings and instituted parades
in favor of the adoption of the constitu.
ton. clause of which provided for WON.
| an suffrage, and 1t Is reasonable to ex
pect that they will be just as enthusiastic
to cast their first vote for president thi,
year as they were last year to secure tn,
right to vote. The vote for governor las
year was 1904 and If the poll in Utah 1.
increased in the same proportion by WON
an suffrage as Il was in Colorado the vot,
in the former State next fall will be abou
$4,000. of which in the vicinity of 40, 900 Oh
more will be cast by women. The womei
of Wyoming will probably cast 10, 900 votes
so that the total female vote for presiden
next autumn will be about $50, 900.
The candidate who receives the woman
vote will therefore SECURE no small advan
tage over his rival, and as the woman vot
grows in number and influence there is n,
telling what effect it may have upon tn
canvass for the nomination of the presen
great parties or new organizations, O
what new electioneering methods it ma,
evolve in the great and one-time CROWN,
West. 1t is not impossible of course tina
in time women may come to have a con
trolling voice in presidential elections, an
when that day arrives 1t may possibly b.
said of the American daughter "Wh
knows but that she may yet be presiden
, of the United States!"