The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-14

A great deal OF discussion Is going ON
In tho newspapers Just now regarding
the eject OF woman suffrage In the states
In which It Is being tested, particularly
Colorado where It Is undergoing, per-
hnps, n more thorough ties, than In any
other state. Last week the ln.elllgencer
quoted a Mr.. Hyne, OF Denver, us point
Ing out, MS the chief objection to the sys-
TEN. and chief reason why the law
should DO repealed. the alleged fac. that
q certain element OF the female popula-
tlon was open to bribery and wanted to
know what there was in It" before vot-
Ing. Our object was 10 chow that this
argument for repeal was no argument
at all. whatever other reasons may be
urged agalnst giving women the ballot,
since precisely the same evil exists
among the male voters. AMI might, with
equal justice, be urged In favor OF de-
prlving them Of the ballot.
The suggestion was that men should
not apply one way rule that can be
applied two ways. In the interest Of good
political morals, and that an evil OF this
nature Is no greater evil practlced by a
depraved element of one sex than It Is
when practlced by the other. Regard
less OF what our opinion may be on the
main question, we should be fair and
impartial. Corruption in politics Is a
crying evil, no matter where you find It.
A friend OF the 1ntelligencer. noting
the comment OF last week, has furnished
us with. a result of an investigation in
Denver covering the objection referred
to, which, as a dislntcrested and nom
partisan observer OF this, question, we
give space to. as follows:
Objection. Women OF immoral char
acter would be particularly active in
politics. and women who are now self
respecting would be contaminated by
politics and become as corrupt as the
gang element among the men is now
known to be-"
Answer. The women OF the demi-
monde In Denver declined to register,
but were compelled to do So as also to
vote. BY the gang" They appealed
first to the Women's Republican Club,
which could do nothing In the matter,
and the next year the appeal was made
to the W. c. T. U. with like result
This year. as no appeal was made they
probably voted us they were ordered.
Their action shows that IL left to them
selves they would take no part In the
elections.
The female gang politician has not yet
developed In sufficient numbers to be
recognized as species: nor doss It ap-
pear that she ever will. The most cul-
tured, most intelligent women In the
state. are the ones most deeply interest
ed and most active In politics. not striv-
Ing for office, but organizing for work
along the lines OF reform In the DISPOSE
ton Of the public funds. and in providing
for the care OF the weak, the erring and
the unfortunate.
1t is question open for debate
whether 1t is the part Of wisdom to give
women the ballot. There are many logl-
cal arguments on both sides. but since 1t
is o growing question, it will be well to
see that the discussion Is conducted fair
~. In the meantime let not any portion
of the sterner sex commit the fatal error
of charging up as an argument against
the weaker sex an evil which is far more
glazing on the other side. lest 1t appear
greater and more humiliating by COM
parison. Let us be just all around.