Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-22
VOTING RIGHTS OF WOMEN.


The annexed letter has been received
from town In southern Utah, dated
July 20, 1908. ana signed by several
Indies.
Editor Deseret News;
VIII you kindly enllghten q few
benighted women as 20 their rights? or
more properly speaking, II they have
any rights nj ai2 We ourselves are q
little bit muddled on THIS subject just
lnow, as, ever since the franchise was
given To all. we have labored under the
impression that we, as well as the
"sterner sex had a right TO vote, and,
In fact, have done 50 beforetimes Now,
we lind there Is a mistake somewhere,
as, at school election held in this
place recently, some Of our wIseacres
decreed that the ladies had no right to
vote. and that none but taxpayers could
do so.
Now, Mr. Editor what we want to
know n this: Can @ woman, who Is a
native-born citizen, and wife OF a tax
payer. vote for new school building,
or building site? Please answer through
the columns OF the Deseret News, as
there are quite a number here who
would like 20 know their status.
Every registered voter, male or fe-
male, is entitled under the laws Of
Utah TO vote at a school election as
wen as at other elections, unless II be
one for the raising Of money by bonds
or by taxation. Taxpayers only may
vote on such a question. Registered
voters OF either sex may vote for the
election OF school trustees, and for the
selection OF a site for a schoolhouse,
but only those who have paid a prop
erty tax for the year next preceding
can vote for the raising Of funds in the
school district.
This makes no discrimination against
women voters. The ladies should un-
derstand that, The principle is UNI
doubleday correct. that those who pay
taxes should vote as to the levy and the
disposal OF taxes. II registered wo-
man voter has paid 0 property tax for
the year next preceding the election for
a school tax, she can vote at that cleo
ton. A male registered voter who has
not done so cannot vote at such an
election. Thus both sexes are on com
mon ground as to this and all other
elections In Utah,
This is In accord with our State Con-
stitution, which declares that Both
male and female citizens OF this State
shall enjoy equally AL ciyll, political
and religious rights and privileges
But It also provides that. Except In
elections leyying a special tax or Great
ing indebtedness, no property qualhca-
tlon shall be required for any person to
vote or hold office"
The building Of school house costs
money. The funds have to be raised
by bonds or by taxation. Only tax
payers can legally vote on the question
II doesn't matter whether they are male
or female, or whose wife or husband a
citizen may be, the voter must be
taxpayer TO be qualified to vote on a
money question. That Is all there is
of II. And the ladies' are on a perfect
equality with the gentlemen In this as
we'll as all other political respects
Another question propounded by the
same correspondents Is;
when and whore was the Primary
Association first organlzedP
The first Primary association was or
ganized at Pennington. Davis county
with Aurelia S. Rogers as President
This was followed soon after by an as
ISOLATION In Eleventh ward, Salt Lake
city. with Louie b. Felt as President
A number of associations were organ
ICED In different wards from time to
time. The organization OF the Prima-
ny association as an auxiliary society OF
the Church WAS effected June 10, 1850,
IN the Tabernacle, Salt Lake city, when
Sister Louie H. Felt was set apart as
President, Since then Primary associ-
ations have been formed in all the
wards and Stakes OF the Church. and
they have become Of great Importance
and much benefit TO the little children
Of the Latier-day Saints.