The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-20
WOMEN NOT BARRED.
The Law Distinctly States That They
T Can Vote for the School
r .,.r. Bonds. ,"'~
If All the Women Vote, It Is Be.
ieved That the Bonds Will
Be Authorized.

Women may vote on the school bond
proposition which will be submitted to
the voters of Minneapolis at the general
election on Nov. 4, in spite of the dictum
of some half-informed, self-constituted
authority. The law is so plain on this
point that there is no occasion to call in
a learned law man to construe it.
Section of article of the constitution
of Minnesota reads as follows:
ANY woman of the age Of twenty-on
(2D years and Upward and possessing the
qualifications requisite to a male voter
may vote at any election held for the pur-
pose OF, choosing any officers Of schools or
any members of library boards, OR UPON
ANY MEASURE RELATING TO
SCHOOLS OR LIBRARIES, and shall be
eligible to hold any Office pertaining to the
management Of schools and libraries"
This ought to set at rest the consterna-
ton prevailing among the friends of the
city schools over the possibility that the
bond issue might be defeated.
There was some cause for alarm. Ac-
cording to the laws of the state, the prop
osition to issue bonds would have to Sc
cure thirds majority of all the votes
cast at the election in order to carry, re-
CARELESS of whether all voted on the bond
proposition or not. Those who did not
vote would be counted against the bonds
by reason Of this provision Of the law. If
the women voted for school officers, but
would not be allowed to vote on the bond
measure, their votes would nevertheless
be counted against the bonds.
Among those who believed that this
proposition was as absurd as it was unfair
was W. K. Hicks. member Of the board
of education. He with others realized
that the bond issue was IN danger Of de-
feat, which meant that serious conse-
quences would follow. Without the reve-
nue. from a bond issue, the school board
would have no funds for building new
schoolhOuses, Of which several are needed
in order to accommodate the rapidly in
creasing school population of the city. The
board Is already at the end of it's wits in
trying to provide accomm odations for the
young pupils and has been compelled to
make use of all manner Of temporary ex-
pedients. Unless funds are provided, the
situation would become greatly aggravat-
ed next year.
Before accepting the dictum that wo-
men could not vote for the bonds, School
Director Hicks made a careful inquiry,
and a brief hunt showed him that the au-
thority was wrong and that the fears OF
the school directors were groundleSs.
Members of the school board feel that
there is need for the women of this city
to inform themselves fully on the bond
proposition, for it is of more importance
that they should vote for the bonds than
to vote for school directors. Most OF
them are probably familiar with the fact
that the school board has made a request
to the council for a bond issue of 100000
for building new grade schools. 1t is TN
derstood that work will begin on two new
buildings rs soon as the bonds are as
sured.
The council is unable to issue the bonds
at this time, for reasons not necessary to
enumerate, without securing the consent
of the people Of the city Therefore the
council will submit to the people at the
general election day, Nov. 4, the question
of whether or not the bonds shall be is
sued.
1t is now for the people to decide, and
the women may vote on the question as