The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-07
Woman Suffrage.

Editor of Wdtchmdn;-I read your edi-
torial in the WATCHMAN OF June % with in
terest.
The usual assertion concerning the cor
ruption OF politics doubtless causes many
women to fear the contamination Of politics.
The feeling that men do not want women
in politics leads others to assert that they
do not want to vote.
Concerning the success Of woman suffrage
where 1t has been tried you quote Mrs.
Charlotte Vale in the Outlook. Mrs. Vale
was an old schoolmate Of mine and know
her to be thoroughly conscientious person.
She doubtless voices her conviction. But
she says in personal letter, Il did not
look upon the possession OF the ballot as q
privilege, but possessing 1t hold its use a
duty and have voted on every occasion
since women were given suffrage in Col
orado." This shows that even women who
do not care for the ballot will be faithful in
its use. Not all men exercise their right to
vote. In one section OF Boston where
143, 900 were assessed only $1,000 registered
and only 6S, 900 voted, while OF 1900 women
entitled to vote, so per cent voted. Would
it be right to disfranchise the GO, 900 who
cared for the ballot because the rs, 900 did
not care to exercise their right. Shall all
women be kept from voting because some
women do not want to want to vote?
Has every extension OF male suffrage been
looked upon with favor by all? 1t would be
a marvel il all in Colorado looked with IA
vor on the extension of suffrage to women.
The general testimony of persons and news
papers ought to have more weight than
the opinion Of a few who do not want the
burden, concerning the success Of woman
suffrage.
You acknowledge that the newspapers OF
the state favor the change. The Secretary
OF State OF Colorado says: ~ can confidently
say that equal suffrage has been and is a
success" A statement has been made by
the governor, three ex-governors, all the
judges ofithe supreme court, and OF the dis
trict and appellate courts, the presidents OF
the chief womens societies in Denver, and
many other prominent citizens testifying
that more than three-fourths Of the women
vote, and that "the vote of women is no.
ticeably more conscientious than that of
men" This testimony, coming from per-
sons, many OF whom have been in public
life, ought to have weight as they are in a
the present.
In Denver, victory for good municipal
government was won April @, by the Wo-
mans Civic Federation and the Taxpayer g
League. One item OF gain will be the saw
ing OF 12,000, 900 to the city. This shows
that woman's influence and vote does more
than influence without any ballot to enforce
that influence.
In Wyoming where women have voted
for twenty-eight years the men are con-
WINGED that woman suffrage Is desirable.
When the question OF statehood was being
discussed and some thought the ballot
would have to be taken from the women II
| they were made state, the men said they
would remain territory unless they could
be admitted into the Union with equal suf-
frage. The testimony OF all governors and
prominent men OF both parties in Wyoming
Is In favor Of equal suffrage. A standing
challenge for any two persons to assert