The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-16
STATUS OFF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

STATUS OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Suffrage for women has overcome in
large measure the ancient prejudice
against PARTICIPATION of women in public
affairs, and now stands on it's merits as
a practical proposition. Sex prejudice has
gradually disappeared with the admits
sion of women into the gai1Iful occupa-
lions and into the colleges and universe
| ties. Out of a total of about 500 colleges
and universities in the United States
about $50 are now co-educationa1, and
there are at this time something like
| 20 900 women bearing college degrees and
as many more in attendance as students.
There were close to 100000 females en-
gagged in gainful occupations in 1890, or
II per cent of the total female popula-
ton and the census of 1860 will probably
show 100000 or about 20 per cent. There
are upwards of 1000 wonpens clubs and
not far from 600 women public school
teachers.
This participation in tine nations prac-
tical affairs has had two effects, first, to
ambition, and, second, to give both men
and women increased confidence in her
| intellectual and executive ability in pub
lie matters. The result has been grad
ual evolution Of woman's capabilities on
the one hand and of public sentiment
and consequent increase Of political and
Industrial opportunities on the other. The
ultimate outcome belongs to time and
public experience. -+-7
Woman's political evolution in the
United States, as reflected in the present
laws and constitutions of the various
states, may be summarized as follows: z''~
-Four states-Colorado, Idaho, Utah and
Wyoming women the full ballot on
the same terms and qualifications as men.
In Wyoming women have had full suf-
frage since the territorial act of 1869,
which was confirmed by the state con-
stitution of 1890 Suffrage In Colorado was
Endorsed by the popular referendum of
1898, and in Utah anu Idaho, respectively,
by the constitutional amendments sub
mftted to the people in 1895 and 1896. The
experience of these full suffrage states
appears to be different from that of some
of the partial suffrage states in this re-
spect, namely, that the women have turn
! ed out to the polls to vote in as large
numbers as the men; indeed, in a num-
Der of recent elections the statistics show
that the women voters have cast a
larger vote in proportion to census
enumeration than the men.
Full municipal suffrage is granted to
women on the same terms as to men in
Kansas; the women having a vote upon
all city officers, city bonds and municipal
Improvements. Montana and Louisiana
go part way and give women a vote
upon public improvements; while Iowa
allows women to vote upon municipal
! bonds and increase of taxes.
School suffrage is granted to women
in twenty states and two territories. New
York, North Dakota and Minnesota lead
in this respect, as they give women a
! ballot. not only in the election of school
trustees and directors, but also county
superintendent; while North Dakota ex-
tends the suffrage to the election Of a
state superintendent, and Minnesota to
| the election of library directors One Of
| the principal arguments against further
extension of suffrage to women in the
school suffrage states Is that so small
proportion of eligible women as yet vote
on school matters. In answer to this the
women point to the fact that in special
school elections the same difficulty is
experienced in getting out the men to
vote. showing that partial suffrage, es-
| pecially when somebody else makes the
nominations of candidates, does not
awaken interest ON the part of either
men or women voters.
Foreign countries, notably the United
Kingdom, have gone as far, and in many
cases further than the United States, in
| granting suffrage to women
In England, Scotland and Wales all
women ratepayers vote for school boards
and poor law guardians, all women res
idenIts and occupiers including married
women vote for the parish and district
| council, and all except the married vote
for the county and town councils
Throughout Canada all unmarried
women and widows with property vote
for the town councils which control local
taxation.
In South Australia, New Zealand. and
the Isle of Man women vote for all Of
fees and on all public questions with
the same qualifications as the men.
In Sweden women vote for school
boards, poor guardians and town coun-
ellis; in Norway, for school boards.
In Russia women nave a vote for the
county council, the town council, and
rural officials; and in Finland and lee
land it is practically the same.
In Prussia, Schleswig- Holstein, Sax
eny, Brunswick, and in Austria women
are given a vote for rural officials.
| Practically all of this political evolution
of women has taken place within the
past twenty years, or since 1850. Fun