The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-10
WOMAN CARRIES THE DAY.
A Majority OF Men Against . Vow School Over
ridden by Female Voters.

PLAEFIELD. n. J.. July e.-From over tho
Watching range of mountains comes the story
Of woman's influence at the ballot box carr
ing the day for O faction which had for its
opponents half the male taxpayers OF school
district %. The schoolhouss of this district,
ct Washingtonvtllc, three miles from here, long
ago outgrew the demands made upon It for car
ing for the children who sought knowledge
within Its doors. Some of the more proyres-
eive citizens of the community came to the con-
olusion that q new house of ample seating c-
pacity and some modern improvements would
be the proper thing. The Board of School
Trustees named last Tuesday as the day for The
property owners Of the district to meet and
vote on the proposition.
Constable George Stewart, who Is q sort Of
all around Pooh.Bah for the district, led the
opposition to the new schoolhouso, contending
that In these hard times the taxes should not be
increased. Constable Stewart counted noses
and found that his side had lve more men pres
ent at tho meeting than did the side favorable
to tho proposition. He also noticed that five
OF the latter factions wives were there; but
this condition of affairs, be reasoned, was due
simply to the curiosity OF women to know how
the tn1m nshe vas sSd to co S9Ms out, v; The voting was
ton until George Demler, one of the afhrma-
tive side. walked up to deposit his ballot, &c.
ballot. which she insisted on casting.
Hold on, there loudly interjected the leader
Of the opposition forces, that woman amt got
no right to vote. Women can't vote hero,
George Morris" he continued, addressing the
Secretary of the meeting. land don't you dare
Immediately there WAS a great hullabaloo Of
wrangling, voices over the point that Ind been
raised. The meeting was adjourned for ten
minutes, while Secretary Morris hauled out tho
book OF State schCol laws, adjusted his spec
tacles. and commenced turning over the pages
to determine the position of woman Ia the
matter at issue. Finally he found that under
tho law a woman property owner had G right
to vote on appropriations, but not for trustees.
As the meeting was called for the first purpose,
Mrs. Demler and the rest OF the women were
entitled to vote. The result WAS IA tie-22 TO %.
Then there was a rush 10 secure more votes. =
young man who was counting u couple OF
girls at a nearby house, another who was fish
Ing for cells In Stony Brook, and three more
were gathered In by the supporters of the new
schoofhouse proposition. Tie opposition wap
unable to gather any new recruits.
Were licked, boys, sorrowfully said the
constable to his cohorts as he surveyed the
result Of. the affirmative sides foraging expedi.
ton. The proposition to build the new school,
house was, of course, carried. Another meet
ing will DO held next week to settle the ques.
tion of bonding the district. The opposition
say that tho schoolhouse people won by bring.
ing their wives, and that at the next meeting
they, too, will do likewise, and bring oil theft
sweethearts, and female relatives In the dis
trict as well.