The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-19
A%NT1.EouAL SUFFRAGE
A Western raprr Takes up the CuhEels 10
won,rn sufTragiStG

-
A we,tern raprr Takes up the Cudgeis for
wonrn suTraGiStS.
The Rocky Mountain News. the lead
ing paper OF Colorado, published the
following editorial on June 10: ,
IAN organization In Albany. n. Y, Is
industriousIy circulating a~ntl-elual suf-
frage literature which runs The gauntlet
between frothy and trivial editorials
from New York papers and solemn and
turgld lucubrations from New Zealand
opponents OF suffrage. One OF the leaf
let's In the last batch Of publications sent
out Is reprint OF a letter from Char
lotte NJ. Vale, OF Denver, which APP
peared In the outlook under date OF
May s last. Mrs. Vale says: II Is n
mistake to suppose that n large major
ity ofihe women In this state are now
enthusiastic believers In woman suf-
frage. l do not know one who was OPP
posed to II before its adoption-and the
number Included very many intelligent
and conscientious women, unfortunately
for the most part sllent-who has re-
versed her judgment as to Its ndvlsa-
blllty In the last three years. while /
know many who at that time favored
the movement, who now say openly that
they regard participation In politics as
n burdensOme and uncongenial duty.
with no compensatlng advantage to the
sex or the state
"The News Is satisfied that Mrs. Vale
mlsapprehends the feeling Of thought
1ul womehin Colorado. We are in truth
rather surprised that a Denver lady
should write IN such a pessimistie
strain at the time shown by the date
to have been after the late election in
this city, at which the women clearly
and successfully exerted their influence
in behalf Of better government. That
election was the first time since the es-
adjustment Of equal suffrage In this
state that women voters were given an
opportunity TO express their sentiments
in an unmlstakable manner, and he Is
surely preJudiced who will deny the
merit and Significance OF their achieve
ment. II Is the universal hope that the
good beginning made In that election
Will lead to even better and higher and
more fruitful successes in the future.
III there are women who favored sur
frage who now 'sny openly that they re-
gard participation in politics as q bur-
densome and uncongenial duty. with no
NbllpNAlNuNl lAk huNullNhtNo W ~ ~ ~
the state the question may be asked.
why do they say ito Why should
there not be a ~compensating advantage
10 the state? VIII II be asserted that
the influence OF women and their votes
are not for tho benefit OF the slater
Many dIties are to some extent burden
some and unconRcnlal, but arc they to
be left undischarged for that reason2
The republic itself In founded on tho
belief that Its citizens in return for the
freedom II gives them will gladly bear
their Bharc OF the burden In maintain
ing IT,, The man who withdraws into
himself and shirks every public duty Is
not a good citizen. II all were like him
there would soon be no free govern
ment, Ia MrB. Vale ready 10 assert that
women nre less patriotic and lesB WILL
ihg TO incommodo themselves. In order
that there may be no failureB OF this
nation OF ours, than are mcn2'