New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08
IDAHO'S WOMEN VOTERS.
THEY HAVE CHANGED PUBLIC sENTl-
MENT IN THEIR STATE.
ONE WOMAN SAYS THAT PREJUDICE AdAiNsI
EQUAL SUFFRAGE rs PRACTICALLY DEAD


ONE WOMAN SAYS THAT PREJUDICE AGAINST
EQUAL. SUFFRAGE rs PRACTICALLY DEAD
PRAISE FROM MEN.
An Idaho woman who is much interested In the
cause Of suffrage said TO a reporter tho
other day:
1T IS safe TO say that the prejudice against
equal suffrage is practically dead. far as Idaho
IS concerned Tho prediction most often made.
that the competent good woman will not vote was
entirely exploded at our city elections. Every city
In our State polled large woman vote. and these
votes invariably cast by our most Intelligent
cultured and best class OF women citizens. Neither
did they always vote as their male relatives did.
THAT there may Re no mistake as to the feeling
of our people in this matter. let quote from
letters written by some OF our officials ann men
whose professions give them the opportunity 70
Judge accurately Of the general effect OF equal
suffrage In Idaho
William Balderston Editor OF The Idaho states
nan writes follows:
Dear Madam: Responding to your request Tor
an opinion respecting tho operation Of equal SUI
ence with it has yet been too slight afford us
broad basis for such an opinion. Such cApeIleilcS
as we have had however. have more than justihed
the anticipation OF the friends of the reform. There
niaced in the hands of women but the influence
Of this new voting element was felt in the LeSis-
ature in the passage OF The law prohlnitlng gam,
Gould not have been passed had It not been for
the fact that tho members felt they would be held
10 account by that portion Of the population which
is unalfcrablv opposed to the Nlcc that ruins such
large numbers OF men. /, is a significant fact tina,
the law was passed without ary organized NOV.
ment the part OF the women II was the siien ~
influence OF woman voter that carried !,
through 1t Is often said that the women would t.,
not vote If given the ballot They DID vote IN
Boise city and those who had opposed the adop-
POLLS in arca, numbers. The election proved. TO
my mind. that. though women may not alwayS VS. go go
reserve force that Will be found exeriing Itself on
tant issues are 70 be decided
"H r. McElroy. trustee Of our State Normal
School. writes:
I'm the recent city election i was taciiy unde r.
stood among politicians that the sn'h ar nus new
voters In fact. the expectation is universal ,or
some cause or other that women W. ~. mar no mn
deserving candidates. This being true. woman
her moral standard Is undoubtedly higher than
that OF man, TO an apprecahle extent a, !e' dn
;hroncd corrupt influences can reach much
smaller per cent or mo ne" v3l,rI en- e'
"Our State Superintendent Of schools writes:
In my special Held Of work (educationaD ""
expect great things from the equal suffrage IN mo
demand for better trained teachers etc. The
ground FOR hoping this IS the fact mat cnr tearn
have a thousand times more influence IN politics
than heretofore, and what the teachers o. Idaho
unitedly demand Will come near getting no
political party Will have the hardihood to incur our
opposition.
Another effect that is worthy Of notice Is tho
great interest among the pupils OF our public
schools in the study OF political economy The
science OF government has over been tho bugb"nr
OF teachers and pupils The girls often felt less
interest IN this science because they would have no
voice In political affairs while most boys said they
could vote without studying this science. Now
the girls Ike their mothers, look upon TINS ne"
responsibility 5 a grave one. and fe" INC necessity
OF meeting Il wei prepared and conrciontiousy
The boys not 10 he outdone. ana y - dei.Sh'-
fu to SEQ the zeal and viRor with which they have
attacked this so-cned duh study, nor do the chill
dren stand alone IN this matter. the mothers arc
studying with thoin and organizing clubs 10 secure
a systematic reading and study.
Again our influence II felt In other folds Of
education az was shown this winter At Our state
Teachers Association. Fifteen oi twen'y-orc su-
nerintcndents attended, and with iis ana dis
cuss on ysd uuprecend' MED zeal In the caus"
OF education. They well know that our eyes are
uron them and are advocating better school laws.
laws 10 better protect the health and morals OF
youth.