The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-07-13

L.die. Cause One At the school Election Last
Monday.

and much comment over the turn
that the annual school district cleo
tion took last Monday and all over the
question scan women vctes The
women about town had decided that,
as the law allows women 70 hold the
ofilce Of school inspector, II was no
more than right that one OF their sex
should have chance 70 hold the
ONCE. Accordingly Mrs. Clara Me-
Courts name was filed for the posi-
ton. Someone raised question as TO
the right 81 women 10 vote under the
upper peninsula law. The question
was discussed proand con during the
day. Sunday. Prosecuting Attorney
Watson was asked the question and
he told the questioner that he would
look the matter up and give his
opinion later.
In the meantime, the polls were
opened Monday morning and voting
was carried on about an hour before
Mr.. Watson appeared. He stated
that he had looked the matter up
carefully and had conferred with the
other attorneys in the city and that
all agreed that women had not the
right 10 vote under the upper PENN
sula act. crystal Falls is under the
general upper peninsula act which
sets the school election with the gem
eral township election in the spring
and says that the names shall be
printed upon the ballot with the
other township officers and that the
vote shall be canyassed in the same
manner as that for other township
officers. 1t was clear that, had the
election occurred at the same time as
the township election, women could
not vote as they are not qualified
electors for township officers. But,
in 1859, the legislature set the date of
the annual school election back until
the second Monday in July, leaving
the district under the general act.
On this point Mr.. Watson ruled that
women had no more right to vote
than they had when the election was
held The first Monday In April. Sew
eral ladies hapIened TO be IN the cleo
tion hall az Tie time that Mr.. Wat
son appeared and be courteously
acquainted them with his decision |
and that he had instructed the election
board 20 act accordingly. The ladies
were satisfied and, thanking him for
his courtesy but regretting that they
could not deposit the ballot, left the
hall Some OF the electors were not
satisfied With Mr. Watson'S decision
and wired tho attorney general while
Others wired Judge stone. at Mar
quette. About $3.50 two messages
came both OF them saying that women
had the right TO vote If they We're
citizens, taxpayers or had children on
the census roll One message was
signed by Judge stone and the other
by the Attorney General Later Ia
the, evening Mr. Watson called upl
Judge Stone TO inquire IL he had ruled
upon the matter after a mature con-
sideration OF the law under which
Crystal Falls is operating and the
Judge said that he had not gone into
the matter to that extent but had
given his opinion upon the idea that
the district was under the primary
system Mr.. Watson explained why
he took the position he did. Judge
said IN reply that he had not consid
cred the question from that stand
point and added stick to your point,
Charlie, you're as likely 70 be right as
! am
The contest was a spirited one and |
2ss votes were cast. The candidates
were as follows:
For school Inspector
John IIasSclStrOm.
Clara McCougta
Fos r,,eaiaer Board q Education
samuel c. Bennett.
Emerson -. Mcneil.
The vote for member OF the board
OF education was a spirited one, show
ing both candidated TO be popular
with the voting public. The tally isI
as follows.
Samuel G. Bennett. ....,.........'l4 5
Emerson y. McNeil~.,........;..l27
For Inspector the vote was as
follows:
John fiasselstmm 49,. ',s-.,.., le6
feiu,A. Nfrf.aurf h6
-<ss+e.----