The age-herald., 1898-03-17
The Present Status of
 Woman's Suffraqe in the South
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Miss Belle Kearney, of Mississippi who is one of the prominent leaders of female suffrage in the south. in recent letter makes this statement of the progress of this movement among the men and women of the south She writes: This sentiment for woman suffrage Is not confined to one sex by any means. I have always main- tained and do now insist that southern men, as a rule, are stronger advocates Tor the enfranchisement of women than in any other section of the United States ex- cept in certain portions of the west. The old-time element of chivalry, which constt- tuted so largely the makeup of the south ern gentleman, has been handed down through the generations and now begins to crystalize in the direction of equality be- fore the law for men and women. Southern people are hospitable to reforms, whether they come in the guise of religion, philan- thropy or politics, if justice and righteous ness lie at the foundation of each. The movement for woman suffrage has been held in abeyance in the south, because very slight effort has been made there to secure the ballot for women and the thought is somewhat 8 new one to the masses; but I'll venture to say that if the question of woman's enfranchisement were put to a neck-and-neck race between Mississippi and Massachusetts today, that Mississippi would come out ahead. For years in the south I have heard prominent men say If women want to vote, it is all right. We have no objections. As human beings, they are entitled to the same privilege that we are, and should require the same legal prestige and protection. We do not give them the ballot because they do not seem to desire it. Just as soon as they demand it, they will get it."
 When the constitutional convention was held in Mississippi a few years since, suf- frage came very near being granted to the women of that state; and in South Carolina, soon after, the bill introduced in the legislature for woman's enfranchise- ment was lost by a remarkably small vote in the senate
 There are several states In the south that give women the right of suffrage to a linn ited degree and whenever they have ex- ercised that privilege they have been treat ed with the utmost deference by the male citizens who met them on an equal footing at the polls. Kentucky enjoys the distino- ton of being the first state in the nation to grant suffrage in any form to women. This was done early as 1S3S. or course, there are thousands of men in the south, as elsewhere, who are heavily coated with an unbreakable crust of prejudice concern ing the hoary creed of woman sphere" who would oppose bitterly any effort made 
 fight any other progressive measure.
 Exactly as there are opponents among men, so are there thousands of women in the south who have arrayed themselves In a beligerent attitude toward the move- ment that was instituted especially for their well-being. There are thousands of others who are still in a deep sleep regard ing the necessity of having the ballot, and are continuing to drone the old song in their slumbers: "I have all the rights I want;' but there are thousands more of their sisters who are beginning to rub their eyes and look up with glad surprise upon the new day that is breaking, while thous- ands of others, thank God, have shatter- ed every shackle that bound them to the pld conditions and have walked out boldly Into the hoodtide of the most benignant evolution that the centuries have brought to them, and are working with heart and brain on fire to materialize into legislation the most potential gift that civilization ran bestow.
 There are women suffrage societies in avery state in the south, and equal rights conventions are constantly being held.