New-York tribune., 1905-11-08
WOMEN PLAY AT VOTING
PRETTY PINK BALLOTS.
Eoual Rights League Has Election
IN Harlem.

Women from ell parts of New-York focked to
Harlem Yesterday afternoon to cast their municipal
balots in the straw election, which the Harlem
EQUAL Rights League held at the Harlem Casino.
"A demonstration and protest. was what one of
the fair leaders the unusual proceeding to
he She explained that II demonstration to
horrid men that would take interest in
politics IL they given right to vote 1t was
a protest against their being deprived OF equal
rights
The demonstrative protest of the league began
promptly at L o'clock, The polling place had been
tasefully decorated. and every election officer. from
inspector party watcher. her best afternoon
gown. Tea was not served, and were strictly
barred. although a Tribune reporter was finally ad-
mtted after explaining his mission and giving as
surances of the seriousness of his purpose
In the hall leading to the voting room were a
number Of advocates of woman's suffrage, and one
heard much talk about the progress of the cause
IL was an international movement. one woman con-
fded TO the reporter, while. at the same moment,
another poured gladstone tale of its progress
among the States of the Union, and, also at the
same time, but into another ear, third enthusiast
told what equal rights would do in the saving of
New-York.
The chief inspector who handed the numbered
ballots to the women they registered was Mrs
Martha Williams, president of the league She
wore a large WINS button. although the league is
non- partisan.
q don't want ticket from you said one of the
first women who entered II don't want to vote
Republican: my husbands Tammany man
She was assured that she could vote for any
candidate pleased with that ballot and finally
registered and address. and, last, but not
! least her age. Incidentally 1t may be noted that
| there very little trouble over the giving Of
| ages. The answered UP promptly when
asked, and the ages registered ran from twenty-one
| to eighty. there was any shaving of years by
| women between twenty-nne and ffty-three, they
did it with straight face and none of their state
| ments were challenged.
The ballot used was pink sample ballot. dent-
ical with those used by the at the regular
| polling places. The color appeal
|
Il don't pink ballot she declared. I've
always heard that yellow Mr.. Hearst's color.
| and I'm going to vote for him
Her color troubles explained away. and she
steered a voting booth. It decorated
| with silken American flag. She gave little
(, cry when she that the ballot could be marked
with pencil
I'm glad you pencils she said. L have
a sister who lives out in Colorado. Women vote
there. She did last year. and she wrote me that
she had just ruined new pair of white gloves by
getting ink smeared them, and that she never
would vote again.
A little woman with a baby in her ap-
| peared. Her arrival made the subject of
| speech by of the election officers:
This answers of the objections that selfish
| man makes against giving rights Election
| Day." said the speaker They say women can't
| sister has answered the objection for all time.
Bring the babies the polls The candidates will
| provide to take of them while you
| are actually engaged In marking your ballots
AT this point two of the party watchers took the
| cue. and there rush for the baby by Miss
| Hearst and Miss Mcclellan, each offering to hold
the child while the mother voted. The little one
| crowed and held out its chubby to the Hearst
| watcher, and. like not, the mother voted the
| Municipal Ownership ticket straight
| hate will do erie
| out of the booth dangling her ballot. I've marked
| my ballot, and I've changed my mind and
want to for another lot of men,"
She given ballot, and the her
! ohangeableness had discarded put in the box
| provided that purpose Remarkably few mis-
! takes were made, however for this or other rea-
|
Only one woman returned after voting and de-
| n1anded her ballot back, saying that she had
| changed her mind about the District Attorney.
She had a picture of James W. Osborne, after
| leaving the rooms OF the league, and he much
| more handsome than Mr.. Jerome.
Another of the polling booths decorated
with the Equal Rights flag, 1t is blue back
ground covered with stars-four IN full yellow, rep
resenting Colorado Wyoming. Utah and Idaho,
low. for Kansas New-York Montana Iowa and
Louisiana. which have granted partial suffrage. and
granted school suffrage. the balance in plain white,
for the States In which woman's suffrage has OBJ
In front Of this flag stood Miss Maud Malone, of
a most attractive talker in support of her rights.
Il in rebellion against the entire country,
she declared, trying to look fierce through her
smiles. Our forefathers declared that rebellion
was proper in a of taxation without repre-
sentation. This is a sham republic, and ii will
never be a true one until the rights of women TO
recognized"
One of the ballot clerks Miss Helen Murphy
she dscaimed any relationship with the Big Tiger
and did not seem to have a dough bag" The other
officers Miss Gertrude COLES and Mrs. Mary
Iensens inspectors: Mrs. Sophia Lobeinger and
Miss l.. Leitch poll clerks; Miss Murphy and Miss
Helen Malone. ballot clerks.
In voting the married women did not use their
husband initials. Many of them declared that they
were voting exactly opposite from their husbands
and none would admit having been advised under
which emblem TO make the cross
Isn't il eaSy?' declared one enthusiastic woman
as she the voting place. with the reporter. Just
as buying beef for roast at the market
CHARGE TOO HIGH RATES ON OIL