The Topeka state journal., 1897-05-13
WOMAN'S BALLOT
The Equal Suffrage Association
of Denver
Joins With the Civic Fedora
tiOn in an Address
SHOWING THE RESULT
Of the Enfranchisement of WO-
men in Colorado.
Even sthe Germans Have Been
Won Over.

Denver, May 13.-The Colorado Equal
Suffrage association and the Civic Fed
GRAFTON of Denver make the following
statement in reply to reports circulated
of late regarding the results of womans ;
suffrage in Colorado:
We, the members of the Colorado
Equal Suffrage association, and of the
Civic Federation of Denver, having
had our attention called to SenSa tiOnaI
and misleading reports of some eastern
journals concerning the results of i'm
partial suffrage of our state, are impell-
ed to issue a brief answering statement.
? Self assertion being as unbecOm1ng
in associations as in individuals, we
should accept in silence as the inevita-
bic due of innovatOrS he persecution
of prejudiced critics did their hostility
affect ourselves alone.
But when false statements are made
the weapons with which to defeat the
liberty of women in other states, a
mea sure of authoritative self assertion
becomes necessary. We don't claim that
phenomenal good has been secured by
the vote of women. The tyranny of
political machinery, made effective by
long usage under the mana cement Of
trained workers cannot be overcome by
the enthusiasm of raw recruits. We
do claim that the women of Colorado
have vital part in the great move
ment that is everywhere seeking a bet
ter social order.
The successful outcome of the late
ring as il did three years after our en-
reimbursement, was the first triumph of
an organized effort made by women to
influence conventions and carry an cleo
ton. This success is considered an
earnest of future achievement through
WOman's ballot in the interest of re-
form. Never before or since the es-
adjustment of impartial suffrage in our
state, has there been here such cOncen-
trated effort in behalf of reform legisla-
ton.
Bills relating to civil service" 10
cal option. -'indeterminate sentence
"a new primary law and improved
election" laws We're all proposed and
indorsed by organizations of women.
The first legislature of the new order
passed a bill giving the wife equal
rights with her husband in the posses
sion of their children and the bill rails
ing to Is years the age of legal prOtec-
ton for girls.
In our present house of representa-
tives the effort towards practical econ
Onic reform is illustrated in the careful
work of the printing committee, which
under the Craftsmanship of Mrs. Comm
is found to have cost the state $4,000
less during the session lately adjourned
than ever before.
To the efficiency of Mrs. Peavy's ad-
ministra ton of the office of state su-
perintendent of public instruction. COM
missioner of school lands and state Ii
brarian fine testimony is given by the
German element of our population
which is usually opposed to the recog-
milton of women as citizens of the COM
mOnWealth.
The Denver Herald a journal pub
Hshed in the German tongue, says in
one of its January issues:
Mrs. Peavy showed a zetl in per
forming her official duties hitherto un-
known in state officials. OF unimpeach-
able devotion to duty and great integri-
ty. inspired and upheld by firmness and
uprightness of character, she not only
attended to the duty of overseeing the
teaching in the schools. but insisted
that the business of the boards to which
she belonged should be handled in prop
er manner. Often she was obliged to
call the male members of the boards to
book when they wished to lay on the
table measures demanding much time
and attention, while in her school lands
a bad swindle by her energetic investi-
cation and always protected the poorer
people against the greed Of the more
powerful
..Our readers know that we never
have been in favor of women in politics
and are not today; nevertheless if the
women of the state can put such Off
GERS i'll the field as Mrs Peavy, to
whom we can point as an example of
immovable official integrity, then the
women will be most welcome comrades
in the fight aga inst the corruption that
diSgraces our republic"
If the absurd and unfounded com
ments of the eastern press in regard to
the liability of Colorado women to the
requirements of military service and
rumOrs of unWOmanly violence of tenn
per in important state conventions be
worthy of notice, it may be answered
that the women of the Centennial state
are as securely exempt from military
dutv as are the women living under the
control of those states which still deny
to them the gentle but effective weapon
of the ballot Further, we answer that
no TeDreSentati convention has had
such experience of wild disorder as has
been announced by misinfOrmed east
ern papers
In regard to the effect of universal
suffrage in Colorado upon the temper
ance question, it is found that, al
though the ranks of the temperance
Iarty have not been largely recruited
because women as well a 5 men are in
doubt as to the wisdom of working for
temperance through a distinct party,
temperance legislation has been mater
tally assisted. Three Years ago only
three Colorado cities prohibited the sale
of intOXica nts. Now 27 municipalities
refuse to grant license for their sale.
An interesting fact has lately been
noted in regard to the relative dignity
of the two houses of the legislature.
The lower house OutrankS the senate |
in the serious decOrum of legislative de- |
liberation. The few women who sit as
members in the representatives hall of |
our beautiful Colorado seem uncon-
sciously to impose upon its proceedings |
a greater regard for the amenities of !
sDeech and conduct than is observed in |
the upper house, where there are yet no |
women to be considered
No less characteristic of western |
chiva I4-v is the Improvement that WO-
mans presence has made in the locaIi-
ties of primary meetings and polling !
booths In many precincts where for
merIy they were held in stables or |
drinking places, primaries are now con- |
in home nar1OJS RWAs T1o11is7c- |