Evening journal., 1900-03-12
MISS B1ssELL VS.. MR.. TALBOT
A QUESTION OF VERACITY WHICH
RESTS BETWEEN THE TWO.


Women in bondage who enjoy
their restrictions and so dread
the results to themselves Of their own
emancipation that they war upon
women in bondage who seek emaneipa-
tion do not appear to be restrained by
the moral obligations to make war by
honorable methods, if use of fraudu-
lent letters misrepresenting the senti-
ments of the alleged writers is account
ed dishonorable.
The New York Sun publishes the fol-
lowing:
To the Editor of the Sun.-Sir: The
suffragists have long had a standing
challenge to anyone to produce half a
dozen Colorado men who would declare
over their own signature that woman
suffrage in that state was failure. At
the congressional hearing during the
recent national convention Miss Emily
p. Bissell priscilla Leonard) read
with great satisfaction letters from
two men. drawing a sad picture OF
scarlet women" ballot box stuffing, "
etc. One Of these, she said, was from
Hon. Ralph Talbot, ex-member Of the
Fire and Police Boards, of Denver.
When interviewed about this letter he
made the following statement:
Il am glad you mention the matter,
because ! wish to correct a misunder-
standing about it. have never op-
posed woman suffrage. / did not know
the question was to be argued before
a congressional committee in Wash
ington or elsewhere. 1 wrote to no one
in Washington or elsewhere. My con-
nection with this discussion arises
from letter written to the present
superintendent of public instruction of
Colorado in June, 1898. A copy of this
letter was given by me several weeks
ago to a gentleman friend of mine
who knew that had once written such
a letter He sent it to Washington
city. / did not know how he proposed
to use it. The letter, however, con-
tains no such expressions as scarlet
women or ballot box stuffing.' II
made no reflection upon woman suf-
frage as a proposition of right or JUS
tice, or at all. I feel that my position
has been misinterpreted and my atti-
tude misunderstood.
Il helped to bring it to pass that
women might vote in Colorado. In
public addresses throughout the state
l urged the amendment giving all
women the right to vote Nothing was
turther from my mind than to undo
the legislation. I thought then, as ]
think now, that the weight of argu-
ment is all upon the side of woman
suffrage and in my letter to Mrs. Gren-
fell l said so. 1 also gave my testi-
mony TO its good results in the coun-
try and in the smaller towns of the
state.
I'm common with many others. ]
have watched with keen interest the
effect upon the tone of public moral:
which this enlargement of the right OF
suffrage might have. am not hostile
TO woman suffrage now, nor have
ever been; on the contrary would MOI
change the suffrage if 1 had it in my
power to do so.
My efforts made while In public OF
nee, to bring about gradual civil ser.
vice in both Police and Fire Depart
ments of Denver, in which undertak.
ing was loyalty supported by women
members OF all political parties and by
the Civic Federation and civil service
associations, should show that I appre.
ciate the benign influence of good
women in municipal government.
While realize that my views car
concern the public but slightly. never.
theless I am not willing to rest under
an imputation false in fact. that hav,
sought to cast my personal influence
against a movement which I helped tC
promote and which is the established
law in the state in which I live"
I'nis seems to leave a question of va.
Iaeity between Miss Bissell and Mr.
Talbot.
ELANORA NJ BABCOCK.
Chairman National Suffrage Pres.
Committee.