The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-04-17
THE NEW WOMAN AND A GUN

We have met the new woman in
almost every phase of lie, as teacher,
merchant, farmer, clerk, lawyer,
preacher, legislator and politician, but
Colorado is the first to introduce this
product of the Nineteenth century
into its national guards, and from this
on, in that state at least, we will meet
the new woman clad in the cOnven-
tionaliblue, trimmed with brass buttons
and with a shining carbine in her
hands. The legislature of Colorado
has passed law bestowing upon
woman the right to bear arms and
serve in the state militia. This privi-
lege will likely not be taken advantage
of by very large majority OF the
women of Colorado, yet it is their right
to carry gems if they so choose, and no
power can prevent them. Evidently
the enactment of the new law was at
the instignation of women, and is one
of the first results of equal suffrage
to the seq, for it has long been argued
that no one should be permitted to
vote who cannot bear arms, and un-
doubtedly the fair sex of Colorado de-
sired to demonstrate their ability to
defend their plumes before they IN
sisted on wearing them.
Some who are not strictly up to date
argue that this concession should not
be granted, because women are un-
suited to military service, and would
avoid it if possible, but the women of
Colorado ignore such argument and
have asserted their desire to be de-
tenders of the country and form part
of the gallant troops in the wars that
make bravery virtue, and in all fair
ness to ambition, this boon should not
be denied them. Having been granted
an equal right with men to vote and
serve On juries, the women of that fair
young state have consistently insisted
that they must have equal duties and
privileges in the militia. The legisla-
ture very properly admitted their
claim and clothed them with the
authority to become soldiers if they
choose. However, the legislature can.
not reverse the order of nature and
create an adaptation for women to en-
gage in active warfare. That must
rest with higher powers than legisla-
lures possess. Though the present
question relates to their service in a
state militia, where their duties are
chiefly confined to occasional display
and the preservation of public order.
AS far as military evolutions are con-
cerned. women can probably master
| them as we'll as men, as to tactics they
would become adapt scholas and posi-
| bly, efficient officers. They are fond OF
broom drills in schools, and are adopts
in executing dances based upon tao
tical movements and cadence of step,
hence in field movements they would
soon become proficient But there may
be a difficulty in selecting suitable
| uniforms, though the inventive genius
of woman has to some degree over
rainy day suits. In suppressing mobs
a militia company composed of women
would be effective, for nothing on
earth would make rioter run quicker
than to know all his female relatives
and acquaintances, his sweetheart and
his bewitching cousins with guns in
their hands were bearing down upon
him in all the panoply of civic author
ity and military might. One delicate
point, however, to be considered is
whether the women militia would yield
that unquestioned obedience to super
iors necessary to disciplinlng soldiers
and this might result seriously in band
ing platoon of women soldiers, for
every one of them would want to exer-
else her own sweet will or atleast have
the last word in matters of arrange
ment. This however might be over
come by adopting such severe meas
ures as shooting refractory subordis
mates, but it would be difficult to find
those nervy enough to execute the Or
ders to carry out such severe measures.
Nevertheless Colorado has made an in
novation in this line, and it will not be
long till the new woman will be out
with her gun and brass buttons. Until
that time Judgment of her success in
this new field must be suspended.
-
The senate finance committee is
laboring with the Dingley bill and
will be able to report upon it sometime
within a month. 1t is generally con-
ceded that only slight reductions will
be made in any of the schedules by the
senate, though there are lot of cam
nninn snaanhes to ha made ON the hill