The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-24

Boston JoiElAl
A Ntffe pamphlet. called Tested by It's
Frg,,ts printed FOR the Massachusetts As
sociation Opposed 10 the Extension OF SUI
rrage TO Women. contains some facts
about Wyoming which seefa 20 explain the
inability Of the champions OF woman sur
frsge 70 cite specific Instances rom the
statute books OF Wyoming OF the acFan-
tages % that system.
As the legislature IS 70 consider
propositions fer extending woman suf-
frzge IN this state some OF these facts
msy Re worth mentioning.
II Is 70 be remembered that the ballot
was given to women IL Wyoming In 1Ss2.
ard has been used by them ever since on
the same terms as men But II was not
until 1890 or after they had had the ballot
twenty-one years, that their influence
awaited 20 accomplish the raising OF the
age OF protection for girls from IL years.
when that tardiiy executed reform -
mentioned. We seem TO have reached the
limit OF wouan's elevating influence upon
the legislation OF Wyoming
The divorce laws OF Wyoming mention
eleven causes OF divorce and require only
six months residence of applicants for re-
lease from marital obligations The liquor
laws provide a license system with fees
ranging from 500 20 500 and with restric-
tons on the traffic which are less rigid than
the average.
At0iE0hGI, ne STATE 4cSA-4LcS
We quote:
Licenses are granted for gambling, Just
as they are for hquor selling. though at a
higher rate, the business presGTna nly be-
ing more profitable. There Is. % be sure,
q law against those who. as the index 20
the statutes expresses Il, do not gamble
on the square, but the management or
gambling rooms - recognized business.
Sections 1888 OF the revised statutes
provide that, on payment OF Sl50 per quar-
ter 10 the sheriff. any one may be IL
eensed to carry on any or The following
games:
rondo, ving-et-un, commonly known as
twenty-one, keno, props, or any banking
game played with cards. dice or any other
device
Nor IS this ALL The legislature Of wyo-
ming. elected in part by the votes Of wo-
men, and representing a constituency
which has enjoyed full woman suffrage
for nearly thirty years. took pains that
the noble sport of gaming should not be
interfered with by any narrow local
prejudices- Section i.4e5 expressly pro-
yides: NO town, city or municipal cor
poration in this territory shall hereafter
have power TO prohibit, suppress or regu-
late any gaming house or game. licensed
as provided in this chapter
There is, OF course, the possibility that
persons engaged In gambling may lose
their temDers and break cut in sudden
violence. Possibly some one may forget
the law against those who do not gamble
on the square," and his conduct may
awaken the fierce resentment OF his asso-
ciates. The legislature has made wise
provision for such contingencies. and in
section SO has defined "excusable homI-
cIde'' thus:
when committed by accident or mis-
fortune In the heat OF passion upon any
sudden combat, provided that no undue
advantage is taken nor any dangerous
weapon used, and that the killing is not
done IN q cruel or unusual manner"
These citations may TO some extent
quiet the apprehensions of those who have
supposed that women might be a shade
too extreme in enacting morality into
law; but at the same time they make
against the theory that woman suffrage IS
a short cut 10 al reforms.