The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-04


those days that the women In favor OF
asking recognition OF their rights in
| the new state, were the Intelligent and
leading ladies' of Denver, the wives of
minister's. congressman. judges; the
prominent members OF literary clubs,
4 reading circles. the directors Of charita-
BILE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were the ones
who first ranged themselves on the side
OF equal rights.
Shall the right OF suffrage be extend
ed 10 the women OF Colorado. was the
puzziing problem to many people. The
proposition was novel and vexing, and
was the dominating source OF conten-
ton throughout the campaign. The
| pulpit and press were divided on the
measure and the weight Of influence
was against the women. Among the
leading champions OF the cause were
Lucy Stone. Henry B. Blackwell and
| susan B. Anthony. who came to the aid
or the Colorado women and Welded a
! mighty power In the field.
] october !, 1877. mass meeting was
held at Lawrence street Methodist
church In Denver and the overlooking
audience was addressed by Lucy Stone,
Matilda Hindman. Mrs. Campbell and
DR.. Avery. The next Sunday a Presby-
terrain minister preached sermon on
woman Suffrage and the Model Wife
and Mother" in which he said: God in
tended woman TO be wife and mother
and the eternal fitness of things forbade
her to be anything else. II women
couia vote those who are wives now
would live In endless chickering's with
their husbands over politics, and those
VINO were not wives would not marry"
AT that time Mrs. NJ. G. Campbell was
the editor OF n column in the Rocky
Mountain News. which space had been
donated b. Mr.. W. n. Byers for the
daily use OF the women. On Monday
morning Mrs. Campbell answered the
Key. Speaker with mos: gracefully
written article. which at the same
time was n whitening rebuke for the
anront and an accomplished REPUTATION
OF his ragaries concerning the instabIlI-
ty OF the tender passions In the heart OF
woman. In concluding her argument
she quoted this from floating literature
OF the day." Motherhood Is the natural
vocation OF womanhood; is, indeed, an
instinct so mighty. even II unconscious,
mat 1t draws women toward matri-
mony with yearning as irresistible as
that which pulls the great sea upon the
land in blind response to the moon. II
this be true, society Is safe and women
Will still be wives, no matter how much
they may exult in political freedom-no
matter how alluringly individual
careers may open before them or how
accessible the tempting prizes Of human
ambition may become"
The It'll Of November, 1893, Will long
be remembered by Colorado women as
the date. OF their admission to true and
fun citizenship in that beloved state.
Thus endowed with all rights and prIvi-
leges Of citizenship at the earliest op-
portunty the women performed the
requisite duty of registration and then
began TO prepare themselves for the full
and intelligent exercise Of their rights.
Many of them had become adopts In the
knowledge of statecrast and political
affairs, and not n few have been elected
70 office, though as rule the women
who fought the battle for equal sufr-
rage have not sought public preferment.
The women Of Colorado are enthusias-
tic voters and II is claimed that they
cast So per cent of the total vote, though
there ere in the state 10000 more men
than women.
In 1894 man.: Competent women were
elected to various public Offices. AS
county and state school superintendent
they have shown high degree OF pro-
!!clency. In nearly every instance the
position Of county Superintendent IS fill I
ed by woman and with the mos. fiat
tering results. They are striving hard
TO show the world that they can sue
coed In these numerous Offices where
men alone have had full sway. They
are indeed to be congratulated and en-
couragcd.
cannot pass without special mention
10 the office OF superintendent OF public
instruction, which has been most ably
filed by Mrs. Grace Espy Patton
COwlcs, q little woman OF unusual intel
ligcncc ard exceptional executive abiii-
~. With her sweet. winning manner.
she has gained the confidence OF all
with whom she Is allied and they are
! the leading educators Of the state.
Women are now filling the offices Of
state librarians. legislators. members of
state board OF agriculture. board OF con-
troll, board OF horticulture. state indus
trial school. state normal school, board
OF charities and corrections. state board
Of pardons. state home and Industrial
school for girls and many other offices.
In June. 1895, Mrs. Alma LaiYerty and
Mrs. II. &. Stephens were reelected as
delegates TO represent the Republican
women OF Colorado at the annual con-
! venticn OF Republican League Clubs, at
Clcyeland. Ohio.
In 1896. Mrs. Carrie o. Kistler vice
| chairman Of state central committee OF
! the Silver Republican party, presided
over the first state convention OF that
organization. II was n stormy session.
but for six hours Mrs. Kistler stood her
ground to the wonder and admiration OF
The warning delegates and many inter-
| csted spectators from different parties
WHO wSre in the galleries. She Is n
woman OF sterling qualities. Is woman
| Of high social standing and has re-
| markHblc personality. To these quail
| Ties l can personally subscribe. for I
was present when she held In harmony
that immense crowd OF people OF many
| conflicting interests.
| Since women have had the privilege
OF voting. politics among men has GER
tainly been elevated. Woman casts her
| vote the same as man: she is put on nil
committees: acts as Judge. committee
woman: secretaries. chnirmen and many
other places nrc likewise filed. The
| polling places have to be kept clean,
drinking and smoking are becoming less
and less frequent. Women will conduct
themselves in manner TO gain the re-
! spect OF those with whom they are asso-
ciatcd. and these women are the best
women In the community.
| Concerning the uncertain number OF
| Colorado women who have never voted.
who viii not register. who will not par
tic!patcd in aftairs.whethcr they concern
the state or the home. and who dIsavow
any Interest In politics. nothing save
words OF regret can be said. unless It
may BE- added in passing that there Is
probably a still larger number OF men
In the whole number Of voters who IRE
! Utterly Indifferent to matters political
and that no one thinks OF bringing
them forward ~ an argument against
male suffrage