The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-02-20
FOR SUFFRAGE IN IDAHO
REVIEW OF THE VICTORY FOR
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.
Indifference Was Greater Foe to
Their Cause Than Any Other OF
Their Difficulties.

| gathered to itself something of the best
talent and ability of the state. 1t was
managed and carried on by some of the
women Of high social position, and aided
| and abetted by men of eminent talents
and respectapinry, says the Chicago
Tribune The battle was lnaugurated two
years ago, when the legislature by a very
large vote in both houses passed the bill
| submitting the question of a change of
the constitution on the suffrage question
| to the voters Of the state. man who
is now state senator from Owyhee coun-
ty' J. M Bennett, together with Frank
| Wyman, Of Ada, in the house, were
prominent in securing this favorable legis-
| latlon. State Senator Dewey lent the
cause much encouragement in the legis-
lature.
After the legislature voted to allow the
matter to come before the people at the
| general election to follow, the friends of
the movement saw that they had quite
fight on their hands. They had to over
come the inertia more than the opposition
of the people. Indifference was a greater
foe to their cause than anything else.
Only few Of the more sanguine advo-
Gates Of the measure really expected the
measure to pass. They thought they
would get a good vote, but relied on time
and education to win the victory when it
should come.
The movement was begun in 1894 by the
populist state convention, which body,
after a hard fight, secured resolution
in their convention favorable to the move
ment. The republican state convention
followed, and passed a favorable resolu-
ton. Mrs. Allen Foster was present
at the republican state convention, and
advocated the measure in her usual con-
vincing and eloquent manner. 1t must be
| confessed that the politicians of all par
ties in the state fought shy of the meas
ure. They gave a quasi support to 1t,
| relying on the general vote to sweep 1t
into Oblivion, but the people, when 1t was
once brought before them, gave it very
fair vote. Abigail Scott Dunniway Of
Portland, Or, delivered an address in this
city, and Immediately after an association
was formed for the purpose of agitating
the subject and arranging for an active
campaign:
A state convention was called to meet in
Boise in November, 1895. Eight counties
responded to the call by sending delegates.
| At this meeting Mrs. J. H. Beatty, wife
of the federal Judge of the state, pre-
sided, and Mrs ]. H. Richards was elect
ed president; Mrs. W. w. Wood, of Sho-
shone county, vice president; Mrs. M. c.
Athey, secretary; Mrs. L. Burnside, treas
urer and Mrs. Bowman, Mrs. Feltham
and Mrs. Whitman, advisory committee.
A state convention was called to meet
in Boise on July l. 1896, which was well
attended by the leading workers in the
/ state. At this convention interesting adj
dresses were delivered and the plan of
campaign was fully outlined. Mrs. Johns
of Kansas was secured to travel through
/ the state and deliver addresses to enthuse
the people on the subject, and she did
very effective service.
So effective was the work that when
/ the political conventions met in Boise
all of them passed resolutions recon-
mending the woman suffrage amendment
to the favorable consideration of the
/ voters. Mrs. Carrie Lane Chapman Gait
Of Bensonhurst, Long Island, an earnest
and eloquent advocate of woman suffrage,
also made a canvass of the state and
aroused much enthusiasm. After. the
state conventions adjourned the active
! canvass commenced.
Idaho is big state and many of the
counties are off the railroad, so that po-
litical campaigning is no path of roses.
To reach many Centers of population re-
/ course must De nau TO the stage CodCus
In some instances the mining camps can
be reached only on the backs of horses.
Nothing daunted, the women who had
this cause at heart attempted the can
vass of the state. They arranged 1t so
that often they were permitted to speak
from the same stand with the orators Of
the various political parties. They did
not take sides with either Of the parties
in the state that were contendlng for
the victory but devoted their energies
to persuading the people of the benefits
and Justice Of women suffrage.
They were crippled much in their cam
vass for the want of funds. Less then
$500 was spent by them in the campaign.
1t was, so far as the women Of Idaho are
concerned a bloodless campaign. Most
of the money raised was spent for litera-
ture. They had printed $4,000 dodgers
bearing the words ''Vote for the Woman
Suffrage Amendment" and these were
sent to every precinct in the state. The
local club in Boise had 3u00 fac SMILES
of the amendment printed and circulated
at the polls. Some of the voters did not
seem to understand this part of the pro-
gram, as they voted on them instead of
the ballot, and folded the fac SMILES up
neatly, placing them inside the ballots,
and thus losing the vote of the amend
ment.
The official count showed that the
amendment had received 1925 votes in its
favor and 62S2 against The total vote Of
the state was Is, 1872. For a long time the
friends of the movement were in doubt
as to whether it would be held that the
amendment had carried or not.
Because Of certain clauses in the con-
stitution Of the state regulating the pass
ing of amendments, the legality of the
election was questioned, and the question
! was taken promptly to the supreme
court.
The woman suffragists were represented
by w. E. Borah and ]. H. Hawley, while
Attorney General Parson appeared for the
state board The argument lasted two
days, and the courtroom was crowded
with listeners to the argument. The whole
subject was gone over most exclusively
on both sides. The supreme court unani-
| unoy1sIU dacfdad that the amendment had