The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN BERMUD4.
A Bill Allowing Women of Property to
Vote Passed by the House OF Assembly.

The question of woman suffrage has come to
the front in an unlookei-for quarter. the Ber-
muda Islands. where it has lately been con-
sidercd in the House of Assembly. 1t appears
that the women of the islands. cultivated, in
t~elllgcnt, and thoroughly capable. and many
of them large landowners. have become tired
OF taxation without representation, and. after
three centuries of suppression, have come for
ward and expressed their desire to represent
their own property. Accordingly u number
OF the wcnlthicst signed n petition. which was
presented by ono of the oldest members to the
House of Asscmbly-correSponiing to the
House OF Commons in England praying that
the ELECTORAL franchise be extended to them
and to all Of their sex who possessed tho nee
essary legal qualification. This consists of a
freehold valued ut GOO or S3uO.
1t Is believed that the primary motive of the
women in taking such n step is n desire to in
crease the white vote. Many Of the negroes
of the island are eligible for Office. and in ono
Instance n colorel representative was returned
to the Legislature over n white candidate. In
order to prevent IA similar occurrence at the
next general election. the farsightcd portion
of tho community grasred the only way out
of the difficulty. as the granting of suffrage to
women would considerably strengthen tho
white vote. whereas the colorcd vote would
'iihi 'NNAiNtA WV F"'tN' ''''H w 'iAV AuNI
that few of the negro women possess the nee
essary qualification.
The petition gave rise to long and warm de-
bates, in which the opposition PARTY was led
by the Attorncy-G encral, who favored no mo-
ton which the mother country hnd not sane
ton ed. lie thought no such radical change
IN the Constitution should he made until Great
Britain Ind set the example to her colonies.
An opponent replied that Hcrmuda- the first
English colony to have n representative gov
eminent of Its own capable of judging
Of its own requirements. ard it was Unneccs-
were needed. the Isle OF Man had granted
women the right to vote for menIers, Of the
louise Of Keys: and in New Te4lend they were
The Attorncy-Geaera was equal to the oc-
caslon. Drawing from his pocket a New York
Murder of the Rannacks.' in which some of
the inhabitants of II city in. Wyoming were
diSns at o gac i2s}I7s'i Ii6lc the liz ffD' cossi Gt sdo th hnt
II this sort Of thing existed in n state where
suffrage had been given 10 women,their politl-
effects. This argument was, Of course. re.
tuted by his adversaries. One member, who
accounted for his liberal views regarding wo-
men, remarked. in the, course Of his speech in
OF Bermuda were allowed not only to vote. but
also TO become members Of the Legislature. the
islands would he greatly, benefited. mother
scrWatiycs, notably lord Salisbury. Mr..
Ritchic, and Mr.. l%inlfnur. were known to he in
favor NJ woman suffrage. tne question would
undoubtedly soon b. agitated in England, the
United STATES would follow tho example. and
Il would he to the honor of Bermuda il she
should take the lead in tho right direction.
Finally the bill. amended Ia exclude married
women but to allow widows and single women
of the age Of ~ to vote for members Of the
House of Assembly and at parochial and muniC-
ipal elections, PASSED H." lower House by n
large majority. and. had il alone possessed the
mower 10 create laws. the, women would have
voted ut the next general, elections; unfor-
OF the upper House. or Council, which body
postponed further consideration Of the bill
until other matters, deemed of more lmpur-
tunCe, were disposed of.
McNpwhile the bermuda women. who lack
n Susan Is. Anthony To light their uoliti.
cal battles, are quietly waiting, apparently
satisfied with the entrance of the wedge which
will. they believe. soon open to them tho door
of the election booth.