The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-12
MRS. DECKER
ON SUFFRAGE
HER VIEWS ON EQUAL
SUFFRAGE CONCISELY
PUT
SHE ASKS QUESTIONS
And Answers Them Through
the Yankee Process

president OF the General Federation o
womens clubs. has lived for man,
years In Colorado She writes Of equa
suffrage:
SO -nuch has been raid and written
both pro and con. upon this subject
that f. Is difficult o present 1t in any
new phase. I shall attempt to give on
~ an Individual opinion unon the fol-
lowing much disputed questions.
DO the earnest. high-minded wom-
en- OF Colorado vote?
.. Does not the vote Of the disrepu-
table, low class OF women coun.erbai-
ance the vote Of the cultivated. think
Ing class?
3. Is It not the case that women
generally vote as the men OF their
household dictate?
4. Has the woman vote purified POLL
tics, and have we banlshed saloons?
First. In answer to the first question,
Yes. most emphatically l do not hesI-
tate to say thai the best women OF
Colorado have far more conscience In
than the men Of the same class. II Is
In filing their responsibilities as voters
sso tue that women OF standing in
TIE community have great influence
With men who are not particularly in
terested in public affairs.
We ere constantly asked by visitors
to Colorado. but how do prominent
women, with their many duties and OBJ.
legations. have time for politics?n To
speak to ones grocer, butcher. station
er TO a conductor on a car or 10 a
oabman takes only an instant. Then
this imld visitor asks. How do YOU
have time to voter" as II voting was
like eating or bathing. My dear Mad
am Behind-the Times. It takes Jus.
about one hom In year to cast all the
odlo.s necessary and allowable.
Second. Does not the vote OF the dis
reputable. low class OF women over
balance the better element? No; the
women OF the half world generally do
not vote. They are constantly chang
Ing thir residences and their names.
They do not wish to give any data con-
eernipg themselves, their age, name. or
number and street; they prefer to re.
main unidentified Occasionally some
disreputable master compels these slaves
TO vote for his own purposes, hut that
is a rare occurrence.
Third. Is II not the case that women
generally vote as the men OF their
households dictate? such has not been
my observations " experience. Among
the laborinR class, if the wife can no.
vote as her husband desires. and he is
not willing she should make her own
choice. she refuses to vote at all. Il
have been surprised at the honest
maintenance OF opinion in this regard
among the wives OF Iaborlng men. One
OF the mos; cultivated, beloved and
influential women q The state was sit
ting as delegate in one party conven-
tion, not long since, while her husband
was at the same time addressing ano.h-
er assembly representing opposite party
views. But the situation excited no
comment. Suffrage makes women in
dividuals
Fourth. Has the woman vote wholly
purified politics, and have We banlshed
saloons? No. TO both questions. It
would be beyond reason to expect such
a result. Women have been in churches
and in society since the beginnlae OF
time. but there are stin vicious minds
and sinful deeds in both religious and
social circles. The most We assert Is
that II We pour a clear stream into a
muddy one. we shalt have moving
OF the waters for betterment. The
presence Of women at the polls as on
GERS and voters has brought quiet and
order. while party conventions are
much freer from personal wrangles
profane language and vulgar illusions
because women are sitting as delegates.
An thinking women admit thai we
have made some mistakes since we
have had the right Of suffrage. But
that has been the experience OF an new
-enfranchised people. In the begin
h'pg OF equal outrage In Colorado the
women voters had no guide except the
traditions and advice OF the men OF
their families and acQuaintances. That
teaching was the old one Of party poll
tics. We followed a blind lead, ana TO
me II Is terrible awakening 10 dis
cover that my party was Just as bad
as the other, and the other party fully
as high minded IN its purposes as mine
But la spite of any mistakes. disap-
pointmentS or discouragements. there
Is an indescribable uplift n the Thought
that one IS no longer classed with
criminals, paupers and idiots. There Is
a splendid womanly Independence in
being voiing citizen. and an absorb
ing interest Ia fulfilling the duty OF
citizenship; ana there Is much more
ehivalrous devotion apd respect on the
part Of men, who look upon their Sis
ters not as playthings. nor as property
but as equals ana fellow citizens.
Mrs. Mary C. G. Bradford president
OF the Colorado STATE Federation or
Women's clubs, said in AN address Civ
en- az the Natiorpl Suffrage convention
In Washington. -. G.. on February Is.
I9o4.
Il am 70 teli you what q federation
~ women's clubs has been able to DO
in q free state where back of influence
Is the ballot The ballot is IKE key
Tho Colorado club member N "a woman
with keys az her. gifdle, aud win ieosc
keys she gains ENTRANCE 10 prisons.
and places where detectives are kept.
and carries sweetness aud Hight. and
a better administration oi justice. In
stead Of youmn's influence being less
sened, 1t IS groauy increased.
During the last legislature. there
were 50 many men with bills that they
wanted endorsed by the club women
that The social science department 0f
ihe state federation had to sii one day