Evening star., 1900-09-20
How It Works in Four Western
States.
EXPERIENCE NOT SATISFACTORY
Its Advocates Claim It's Influence
is Beneficial.
GOOD POLITICAL WORKERS
Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah,
September A. 1900.
The experience of Colorado Utah, ldaho
and Wyoming with female suffrage has not
been entirely satisfactory. When the Wo-
men were first given the vote there was con-
siderable enthusiasm on the subject ana
the first time the polls were opened to them
a large proportion cast ballot. The novel
" has since worn off, however, and it is
estimated that not over 30 per cent of the
women who voted the first time will take
sufficient interest in politics TO vote at the
election in November.
If the question of woman's suffrage was
resubmitted to vote, it would probably
carry again, but by a smaller majority.
The reason 1t would prevail would be that
the women themselves would have vote
upon the question of resubmission. and
having once secured the right of suffrage
they would not be apt to let it go, whether
they caredto exercise ii or not.
If the question of female suffrage was
again submitted to vote Of the men only
il would probably be defeated, for large
number of men who favored Ii at first are
now opposed TO II. They say that, in the
first place, the women do not appreciate the
value of their vote. and in the second place.
they are too easily influenced by prejudces
or emotions to exercise clear political judg-
ment.
Influence for Good.
On the other hand. those men who still
believe in woman suffrage after seeing it in
operation for some time say that its in
fuence upon politics is in every way for the
good. 1t has become necessary, with the
woman vote to cater to, that candidates of
both parties should be unobjectionable to
the moral sense of the community. This
has been exemplified in a number OF cases
where some particular man on a ticket
m a ri u
of votes was scratched by the women vot-
ers because of Objectionable features in
his private life or domestic relations.
Another point which IS claimed being
the result OF woman's suffrage is the quiet
and Orderliness which prevails at the regis
tration offices. at the primaries and at the
polls. The woman voter is required to reg
lister the same as a man. She has vote
in the party primaries, and many of them
exercise ii. on election day she goes TO the
polls alone II necessary, without fear of
molestation or rude exhibitions of any kind
The men who still continue TO favor the
participation Of women In politics say that
this has brought about marvellous change
In conditions which surround this exercise
OF political privileges.
"POps" Gave Women Suffrage in Colo
radO.
In Colorado the suffrage was given to the
women by the populist party. In the SUBJ
mission OF the question TO a vote of the
list county. Not single democratic county
gave a majority for the amendment and
only one-half Of the republican counties de-
clared in its favor. Governor Waite did not
favor unlimited suffrage for women, but
signed the bill as II was passed by the legis-
lature. Later on he was one of the first
notable victims of the female vote.
The experience of politicians who have
made close study OF the female vote Is to
the effect that while many women will con-
ceal from their husbands the ticket they in
tend to vote. most Of them follow the lead
or their husbands in all political matters.
In the opinion OF these experts the giving
OF the right of suffrage to women simply
increases the vote of each party propor-
tionately, and therefore has little real ef-
feet upon the final results.
Good Electioneering Agents.
1t has been found that there are as good
or better. electioneering agents among the
women among the men and that their
work is neither more nor less selfish than
that Of the sterner sex
In 1SD8 the women Of Colorado and Utah
voted largely for Mr. Bryan. following the
influences which brought the vote of the
men to the same ticket. In Wyoming in
1885 the women voted the republican ticket
for apparently the same reason and II il
doubtful whether the female vote of any of
the states would change the results OF an
election in those states unless IT might be
where the personality of local candidate
became an issue.
The women seem to take more interest In
local elections than they do in those OF
greater import. This Is unquestionably due
to the lack Of interest general among wo-
men as TO national economic questions and
TO the keen interest which they always
take in nefghborhood affairs.
In all the states where womens suffrage
prevails democratic and republican clubs