The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25
WOMEN RULE IN COLORADO
THEF oUTNUMBERED THE MEN IT
THE RECENT Ell EC ROY.
= Great triumph the Result sr Th~ir Feurth
Participation In = Political Cnmpsisn-H"w
the Civic Federation OF Denver Elected
n Reform Ticket 90 Its own Choosing.

\ Great Trtursph the Resuit sr their FsuTih
FartIcipat ton In . Political Cn~Hpsisn-Haw
the Civic Federation OF Denver Elected
. ReTsrun Ticket sF Is own Choosing.
DENVER, April s1.-For the fourth time the
women Of Colorado have participated in a polit.
teal campaign. and it may safely be stated that
they are pleased with the privilege. Municipal
elections were held in all the towns Of the State
last week, and It appears that the women con-
stituted Il majority Of the voters. In Pueblo
500 more votes were cast Mt the municipal cicc-
ton than at the Presidential election last fall.
In some precincts every voter went 20 the polls,
and throughout the city no trouble was expert
enced in getting the women to the polls. II car
riages were not available. the women walked.
and they did not wait for escorts, either. They
needed no coaching. bat walked into the cleo
ton booths and marked their ballots promptly
and without errors. Few votes had to be cast
out because Of errors. What was true Of Pueblo
Is true Of every town, city, and mining camp in
the State.
In Denver the most pronounced success OF
equal suffrage in u municipal campaign was
scored and credit Is given to the women for the
great majority by which the successful candi-
dates were elected. Mayor McMurray is called
-the women's Mayor" and it is due to them
that he secured his reelection. In many a home
the mistress accompanied by her servants and
coachman went to the polls while the head Of
the house remained at his place OF business and
did not vote. Mechanics in shops left the voting
to their wives and daughters.
The story OF the campaign is interesting. 1t
was the first time that a genuine uon-partisan
campaign was managed successfully In this city.
After equal suffrage came to the women they
were induced TO take an active part. much
against the wishes OF a majority OF the new
voters, in a general movement 10 redeem the
State from Populism and Waiteism. They did it
with a vengeance. but found in time that they
were being used as catspaws and their in
tuence was OF naught with the practical poll
ticians. In the next campaign the women de-
manded representation and recognition in con-
vention work. bat after establishing themselves
in one OF the most disorderly. disgraceful con-
%ventiOns ever held in the city Of Denver, they
thought that conventions were no place for
them. and two years ago they started the move
nleut which resulted in their great victory OF
last week.
Immediately after the municipal election TWO
years ago several women met in a private
house on Capitol Hill and arranged the pre-
liminaries for the formation OF a Civic Federal
ton. and a few days later they rented a small
office room in a downtown business block.
Then by degrees they formed a plan whereby
the. women Of the city could be cemented to-
Sether Cor the. purpose OF electing good men TO
office. Their hFst effort was made in the fall
election OF county officials. The Civic Fedora
ton iniorsed candidates selected from the va
rious tickets put up by the political parties. and
succeeded in electing some Of their candidates;
but the results were not AZ ali TO
the hkin2s OF the women. The Presidential
election somewhat dwarfed their influence
Last year; but on the county legislative ticket
they made some effort and they landed their
candidates. OF whom three we're women. They
determined to lead in the recent municipal cam.
palSp and came out with u ticket weeks before
the regularly organized parties held the:r con
v~entiUns. They elected their rnniiihtC- by
ulaiUrities running upward Of 5000 votes and
got a majority Uvef all other tickets combined.
They ele"red twelve out Df The fourteen Alder.
men. AMI II a recount ~ the ballot, Is made they
exnect 10 show hat they cletted all fourteen.
Tn" Eivi" Federation grew out 0f The desires
OF a number OF women " Denver 20 exert an
influence without party lines. and they built up
u machine superior 10 the best political machine
ever organized in this city. The work rested
primarily Upon an Executive mmit CON
slstinE OF the officers OF the society and the Pres
tIerr OF each w4rsI branch. Both men and
tons upon signing the declaration Of principles
OF the society. but only women were eligible 10
trat council Of one hundred women acted "a
leading assistants 70 the Executive Committee.
To secure a place on this committee OF one hun
Grei the applicant had To be- PROPOSED by one
member and Endorsed by two others. In this
and people who who we're not fully in sympathy
with, the purposes Of the organization. Every
ward was duly organized down 70 precinct fed.
erntIonS. Here il the platform otrhe Federation:
The Federation knows no creed. party. or
nationality. and welcomes 10 its assistance all
organizations that make for order. philln-
tlrDrv. and right.
The object u this Federation is TO inves;i-
gate the condition and needs Of our city. and to
promote by ciu.at.Un and active cooperation \
higher public spirit and 4 better social order:
IT, -eparnfe city and county affairs from state
ana national politics: TO snGeav0r TO secure the
nomination and election OF competent and trust
wor'ky persons for public office. Irrespective u
party and creed. and To see that appointive
offices are not used for political purposes; 10
this emf. 20 Tolerate the moral forces Of the city,
prosperity OF the city o. Denver. We advocate
the WIDEST possible application o. the principles
o. civil servt"e reform IN al city and county lie
pnrtments. and further declare It la be our con
vlCf!on mat illness for position should be the
only test for office.
The federation seeks to accomplish these
ends by agitation concerning existing evils: by
the enforcement OF present laws: by securing
r mnr5I iS1 p ,gStsI al o. 6,i an y; r ey the m"sS'RS OF
Having determined 10 take the initiative. the
women OF the Executive Committee began 10
prepare for the municipal campaign. They had
10 have 4 party and a political emblem for the
official ballot. A the taxpayers ticket had been
IN use on several occasions. 10 was determined 10
use max aanic and an APPROPRIATE emblem. To
start the party each member OF the Council Of
n9n ltharth s!pni,tteli 4 the HNs'ltlve ON
mlttes the names OF nye men. and from these
100 men were selected. This committee OF 100
men met with the Council of One Hundred in the
Chamber OF m and named \ municipal
ticker. | pom n petition from the remains OF the
National silver, party organization a fusion was
effected whereby the Offices OF city Clerk and
one member % the Board OF Supervisors we're
given 10 the silver party. In this manner the
winning ticket was made up.
There were meetings in every precinct and
whri. the various clubs Of women were Induced
70 take 4 personal interest in the campaign,
hOuse-to-hOuse CanvasSinG WAS done. and per
sonal appeals were made. A few days before
election the Civic Federation issued a circular
letter headed ITO the Women OF Denver
which was distributed 20 every residence. and
this contained briefly an appeal FOR their votes.
one candidate for Alderman. who had repre-
scented one OF the best wards in the city for
several terms and was in most respects an ac-
ceptable man, was invited by the women 10 sign
the civic Federation platform, ana thereby Sc
cure their Endorsement. This he failed 70 Do, and
another candidate was named. The other par
ties Endorsed rhe Alderman seeking reelection,
and he was supported hy what seemed strong So-
cial a. well IA business influences. hut the Civic
Federation candidate won by tao majority.
The chief credit OF the success OF the Civic
Federation movement is due 70 Just one woman.
Mrs. sue f. Hall. While the other women were
all earnest enough and were Efficient aides in
the work. 10 WINS Mrs. Hall who planned the
whole. In Acknowledgements OF her abilities
Mrs. Hall has been selected delegate 70 the Ma
tional Municipal League Convention which
meets in Louisville, KY next month. and she
will nave the honor Of being the first and only
woman delegate ever seated in a convention Of
that organization.
EHual suffrage has proved TO he a success in
four elections In this city, said Mrs. Hall ia
N-- . 80 Eh- A-.NH. - 49, Ia