The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09
A VAIN REQUEST.
The Large Sum Left for Dissemina-
ton of Suffrage Literature.
New York Mail and Express.

New York Mail and Express
The bequest of $40 900 by Mrs. Cornelia
HusSey, of East Orange, n. j., suggests
a question whether the testatrix had ever
kept a strict account OF the returns on vari-
Gus investments of the same sort that she
had previously made Mrs. Hussey had
been a frequent contributor TO the ex-
cheQuer of the woman suffrage party. She
had helped to circulate much literature
for this attractive cause and to pay the
expenses of many speakers for woman
suffrage. Had she kept an account OF these
expenditures and taken note whether any
conversions, either of men or OF women,
had ever resulted from the propaganda
which she assisted?
In four States of the American Union,
namely, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and
Idaho, women now possess full suffrage.
They possessed 1t In washington when
that State was Territory, but the privi-
lege was withdrawn when Washington
came into the Union. With the extension
of the suffrage to women In these four
Western States the propaganda of the Ma
tional American Women'S Suffrage Asso-
citation, to which Mrs. Hussey's money has
been given. and its affiliated bodies had
nothing whatever to do. These new States
had great need of voters OF any sort. They
wished for many reasons, but chiefly in or
der TO get into the Union, to make large
showing on the polling lists. In Wyoming,
Colorado and Idaho women were in an alb
surd minority and were likely TO remain so
for many years. Besides, the new communi-
ties were fully of a mind to try expert
ments. There had never been any agitation
of the suffrage subject among them. In
Utah the suffrage was extended TO women
by the Mormons wholly for the purposes of
the Mormon Church.
What is the state of things with regard
to woman suffrage in the older States,
where the agitation has been conducted
longest? What is IL particularly in the
States of New York and Massachusetts, in
which the movement had its birth, and
where its greatest advocates have had
their residence and exerted their direct
influence? In Massachusetts, women may
vote for school officers-may vote, but
seldom do. Propositions looking toward
extended suffrage are annually rejected by
ago the women of Massachusetts were
given a chance TO say by vote whether or
not they wished the full suffrage. but they
declined a rule to register to vote on
the subject. Since that time there has
been no hope for woman suffrage in Mas
sachusetts. In this State since 1901 women
who are property owners in any town or
village may vote on propositions TO raise
money by a tax assessment In that town
or village. Whether or not New York
women are likely TO make much out OF this
Permission does not yet appear. The prop
osition involved in this fiscal suffrage is
an eminently just one.
In the last four years woman suffrage
PROPOSITIONS have been voted down by the
legislatures of the States OF Massachu-
setts Maine Connecticut, Vermont, Cali
fornia South Dakota, Kansas. Indiana.
wisconsin, Illinois. Michigan, Missouri and
Iowa. and of the Territories Of Arizona,
New Mexico and Oklahoma. In the same
period the people of South Dakota, Oregon
and washington have defeated woman suf-
frage constitutional amendments IL looks
as IL the tide were setting away from
woman suffrage In this country. not toward
IL 1t is to be feared that Mrs Hussey
threw away her $4,000 In leaving 1t for
suffrage aGitation-