, 1902-11-06

Laramie, Wyo., Nov. 5, 1902.
The Editor of The Laramie Republi-
can Laramie, Wyo.
Dear Sir: In reply to your editorial
ir last nights issue of your paper.
will you kindly permit me to state a
few facts in defense of the women Of
Laramie?
Several years ago a number of the
progressive women of our city of both
political parties, feeling that there was
too much truth in the taunt that wo-
mans suffrage had made politics no
better in wyoming than they were in
any other state. and scorning the
im%putation that their votes could
be bought by a carriage ride,
determined to make an effort to
do away with what was said to
be the greatest expense Of an election
the hiring of carriages-believing
Thai by so doing the necessity Of can
didates buying their way into Office
would be largely obviated. 1t was
said the assessments paid by candi.
dates went mostly to pay for convey
ances to take people, especially wo'
men, to the polls to vote.
AS you imply in your article, it
would be deemed ungallant in the men
to take action in the matter and the
initiative must, therefore, come from
the women themselves.
In view of the foregoing facts, a
mass-meeting was called at the court
house and women appointed to canvass
every part Of town to secure signatures
to append to a bill to be introduced in.
to the Legislature to do away in cities
and towns Of the state with carriages
at elections. except one or two convey
ances for each party in which to take
to the polls those persons who were
III, aged or infirm. or those who lived
at a great distance from the polls-the
city to pay for the vehicles SO used.
So few we're the m who refused
to sign the petition that it mightb said
the unanimous desire of the women Of
Laramie to have no carriages at cleo
tons, other than those just mentioned
The women of other parts Of the
state were asked to send signatures Of
those favoring the measure and some
places responded by sending many
names.
The bill was introduced into the leg
islature and passed the house, the en-
tire Albany delegation, l believe, work
ing in its support, but the senate caus
ed its defeat.
After the failure ofthe measure ,femi
nine sentiment was divided. SOM
thinking that If the political parties in
sisted upon hiring carriages after the
women's protest they (the women,
might as we'll ride as walk. whilt
others considered that having petition
ed to do away with conveyances i
henceforth became a matter Of princi
pie to walk to the polls. The latte
class felt that in time all women woult
see the matter in the same light a.
themselves and would decline. to ride
This opinion is strengthened eacl
year as more women Of their w FREE
will and accord walk the few block
to the polls. One woman over sixt.
years of age a signer of the petition
and one Of the first woman voters II
Wyoming. has for years walked to tn
polls, declining all offers ito ride b,
saying she was 'neithe1 lame no
lazy" 4
Since the "anti-carriage' mo1emen
was instigated MANY strangers hav
come to u city and when carriage
have been sent to take the women t
vote they have ridden believing It to b
the custom, and thinking it we'll I'll
Rome to do as the Romans do" AM
have not given the matter a secont
thought.
In passing, it may be stated tina
many Of the women most active in try
ing to abolish the use of carriages art
or have been members of the Laramie