The morning news., 1899-12-31
WOMEN LAWMAKERS.
Three Women representatives. of
colorado Prove Good Influences.

Mary II. Kinkaid in Ainslee's.
Ihree seats at the right OF the centre
aisle in the House of Representative in
Denver, Col. are reserved for the women
members of the Legislature. The places
are the most desirable in the handsome
legislative chamter 1t has been noticed
that the women are seldom absent from
thelr places. The story is told that, during
previcu session, one of the women mem
pers tailed to appear at her desk for
week. owing to all previous records for
CONSCIENTIOUS comment Finally, one of
Inc Oldest men in the House mustered up
lhe courage to make inquiries of the OF her
women.
Where is the Hon. Mrs. Blank? he
asked. I'VE have been missing her. and
we hone she is not IN
III? No, indeed said one of the Hon.
Mrs Blanks women colleagues. Sic has
new grandson, and she is so prold she
mas been staying home a few days just to
rock the Grad e.
1t is unnecessary to say that the happy
erandmother's bills were not attacked dur
ing her voluntary desertion from fhe ranks
OF the lawmakers
"Notwithstand ng the feet that some
women are treated with the same co -rtesy
man offer the sarcastic toast To wom. Il.
once our suDeriors. but now our eauafs'
ana consideration that was a corded them
Before they entered public life Smoking is
not INDUCED in on the floor of the Hou s..
and no turbulent scenes have been record
ed since the establ shment of equal slIff-
rage. II there is any lesson taught by the
charged political conditions in Colorado. it
is that zen always will pay to the true
woman the Difference and re spect to which
she Is entitled. When the first fight for
equal rights was made, it was the fash
ion for the well-msanirg agita ors to pic
ture man as the eremy and oppressor of
woman. Recent history in Colorado has
proved that men are not only ready to give
women the privile ges they covet, bat that
men are glad to show women how to use
those privileges.
From the point of view of the practical
politician women are not al cgether sa is.
factory as lawmakers, because they 1e-
fuse to lie WHIPPED into line for party
measures unless the measures happen to
appeal to their sense of right 1t is this
Indifference to the party lash that makes
II difficult for a woman to be elec ed TO a
second term in the Leg stature. So far,
the members have been contented TO re-
tire after one term of service. Each has
been determined to earn the verdict: She
has done what she could Unlike the ma
jority Of their collea gues, the women have
an idea that some enc else can carry cut
the work they have begun. AS The women
invariably are on the side of all measures
Of a philanthrCpc or reform charac er
their party affiliations count for little If
in conflict with their sympathy or sense
of justice.
Among the fault-fnders it has been
hinted that women make laws with their
hearts instead of their heads. The records 5
of the last three gen raj as enbles of
Colorado prove that, if this be true, heart
service as well as head-serv ce is an ad-
mirable thing for the ate. The nine No-
men Legislators, elected since the estab-
lshment of equal suffrage, have espou ed
reforms that their stronger cOllea gues
have regarded as too astruistic for pres ent-
day conditions. The women have worked
for laws enlarging the scope of free e 1u-
cation, providing homes for girls, estab-
fishing nurseries for dependent children,
and shorte ming the labor ng mans hours.
They have accom- Dlished great results, an I
have demonstrated that they can sh W
loyal and unsefish devot on to the interest
of The people who elected them