Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-12
PEOPLES PULPIT.
OOOOOOOSJC
Practical Results,

q FEOFLES FULFIL. ri
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Practical Results.
1t has been said that equal suffrage
would lead to no practical benefits. Let
us see. We have the undoubted evil
dence of those who stand highest both
in social and official positions in the
states where women have and eXer
else the franchise equality with men.
Please let me quote few lines from
some of them. The following was
passed avowing the success of woman
suffrage in Colorado:
Whereas, equal suffrage has been
in operation in Colorado for nve years,
during which time women have exer-
cised the privilege as generally as
men, with the result that better candi-
dates have been selected for Office,
methods of election have been purified
the character of legislation improved,
civic intelligence increased and wom-
anhood developed to greater useful
ness by political responsibility; there
fore be it.
Resolved, by the House of Repre-
sentatives. the Senate concurring,
that, in view of these results. the en-
REIMBURSEMENT of women in every state
and territory of the American union
is recommended as measure tend
ing to the advancement of higher
and better social order. That an au-
thenticated copy of this resolution be
| forwarded by the governor of the
state to the legislature of every state
and territory, and that the press be
requested to call public attention to
these resolutions
This seems strong enough endorse
ment. Now as to practical benefits,
quote from reports of legislative
work done in the state since women
have been members of the law work
ing body.
Colorado owes to her women the
laws raising the age of protection for
girls to IS, establishing state board
of arbitration, state industrial school
for girls and state home for depend
ent children; removing the emblems
from the Australian ballot (the near
est approach to an educational quail
| fication for suffrage), making fathers
and mothers joint guardians of their
children, charging womens properly
rights, introducing the indeterminate
sentence SO much desired by the
friends of prison reform, and provid-
ing an annual appropriation to buy
books for the state library; also in
Denver, ordinances placing drinking
fountains in the streets, forbidding
expectoration in public places and re
curing smoke-consuming chimneys on
all public and business buildings
In addition the last legislature pass
led the following bills for which many
organizations of women had asked-a
law establishing parental schools, an
other for the care of the feeble-mind
led, several humane society bills. a bill
i for the preservation of forest trees
the eight hour law, a bi-weekly pay
day. and a bill requiring insurance
companies that have to be sued to re
cover, to stand cost of suit. Among
other results of equal suffrage is G
much better enforcement of laws re
quiring merchants to furnish seats tt
women clerks, prohibiting the EN-
ployment of children under sixteen
Regulating the sale of tobacco to min
ers and others of the same character
, Equal suffrage has made more order
ly and improved the primaries ant
| made it hard to elect a bad man Il
Office.
In Wyoming, equal suffrage caused
!; the passage of law that men ant
, women in the employ of the state shall
receive equal pay for equal work. IL
Utah, equal suffrage has caused tn;
passage of law that female teacher,
, in the public schools shall receive the
same pay as male teachers provided
) they hold certificates of the sam,
, grade, also for improved sanitary ar
arrangements in the schools
In Idaho equal suffrage has cause'
the passage of a bill establishing
state library commission, two mem
bers of which must be women; tn
repeal of the law licensing gambling.
Among the results common to al
the enfranchised states are the max
2 ing of elections more orderly, stimr
lating women's interest in public al
1 fairs, improving the class of cand
dates nominated and increasing tn
number of women serving on educs
tional and charitable boards.
= Emily Phillips.