The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-15
WOMEN's WORK As VOTERS
Results ofthe Experiment in the
Centennial State.
AN ADDRESS FROM COLORADO
The Equal Suffrage Association
Claims That Much Good Has Been
Accomplishments Conduct
ed in More Orderly Fashion Than
Heretofore.

Denver, Colo, May 1.-THE Colorado
Equal Suffrage Association and the Civic
Federation of Denver make a statement
in reply to reports circulated of late re-
garding the results of the woman suffrage
In Colorado, in which they say:
We do not claim that phenomenal good
has been secured by thevote of women. The
tyranny OF political machinery, made cf
fective by long usage, under the manage
ment of trained workers, cannot be over
come by the enthusiasm of raw recruits.
We do not claim that the women OF Colo
ardo have a vital part in the great move
meDt that is everywhere seeking a better
social order. The successful outcome of
the late municipal election in Denver, &C
curing, as it did, three years after our
Acknowledgement, was the fist triumph Of
an organized effort made by women to iHfIu
ence conventions and ca an election.
This success is considerecJ4n earnest of
future achievement through woman 5 bal
lot in the interest OF reform.
Never before Gor since the establishment
Of impartial suffrage in our State has
in behalf of reform legislation. Bills re-
lating to "civil service local option"
''indeteImlnate sentence a new pri-
mary law and improved election laws
Were ell proposed and endorsed by orgdni
cations OF women. The firStlegislature of
the new order passed a bill giving the
wife equal rights with her husband in the
possession OF their children, and the bin
protec ton for girls. In our present house
OF representatives the effort toward prac-
teal economic reforms is illustrated in the
careful work of the printing committee,
which, under the craftsmanship OF Mrs.
COnine, is found TO have cost the State
$4,000 less during the session lately adj
Jourued than ever before
To tie efficiency of Mrs Peavey's ad-
mnistration OF tie effice of State super
intendent of public instruction, commits
sioner of school lands and State librarian,
fire testimony is given by the German
element OF our population, whichlS Usually
opposed to the recognition % women as
citizens of the Common wealth
An interesting fact has lately been roted
in regard to the relative dignity Of the
two houses of our Legislature The lower
house outraHkS the senate In the serious
ieoorum of legislative deliheration The
few women who sit as members in tie
REPRESENTATIVE hall OF our beautiful Colo
RADIO capitol seem WnconsCioUsly to i'm
pose upon its proceedings a greater re-
gard for the amenities OF speech and con-
duct than is observed in the upper house,
where there are yet no women to re con-
sidered
No less characteristic OF Western chiv-
airy is the Improvement that vonlan's
presence has made in the localities Df pri-
mary meetings and polling booths In
many precincts, where formerly they Were
held in stables or drinking SllO0nS, pri-
maries are now convened in hone parlOrs,
and polling booths are arranged in re-
spectacle buildings, and voting Is inva-
Tiably conducted with deCCrun.
Since the success OF the legislature ref |
erendum of 1898 the women OF Colorado |
have eyinCed a remarkable interest in all |
things pertaining TO the general good. |
Because their opinions expressed through |
the ballot box have due weight in bring |
ing about actual results they have felt |
il their duty to make themselves acquainted |
with the principles and methods of govern |
ment.
For this Jealous obedience to duty they /
have been douhly rewarded in finding that |
their zeal has acted as lever whose power /
has been irresistible, as is proved by the |
fact that the science Of political eCon7my |
has been more generally and seriously stud |
iedin Colorado dUringtbe last three yearSby |
both men and women than in all the pre-
Yicus history Of the state.
fhfs &c tbr7ra-t,Il al. zs-hoca POM
tition, however, it seems necessary to CON
tinue until its gospel shall penetrate the |
duh ears Ct ancient prejudice and the OBJ
stinate deafness of those who viii not hear. |
IT cannot be denied that the sentiments |
remOn StTant is still among Us, ana that We
have in our wn State bitter enemies whose |
corrupt schemes wOman'S vote has helped |
to defeat; neither, on the other hand, can
it be denied that after three years no
vitiate in the exercise Of our duty as citi-
Zens we find encouraging confirmation ~
our best hope Of reform through the quiet
power Of the ballot in our hands Being
now in the enjoyment Of the first victory
of our concentrated action in muniCipal |
interests, we have no reason to believe
already giving way before an intelligent
IN sistence upon the use of upright political
methods.
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