Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-08-17
Cause Of Defeat.

Mrs. A. J. Duniway, who may be
said to be the chief sponsor of de-
mand for the ballot for women on this
Coast, having advocated it by voice
and pen the past forty years, is re-
ported to have said that defeat Of the
measure in Oregon, last June, was
largely owing to the fact that the
white ribboners and prohibitiouists
climbed into the band-wagon early in
the campaign, and by taking up so
much room with their Little box, big
box, bandbox and bundle " accessories,
actually crowded out some well-mean-
ing people who dislike to run up against
marked individualities they regard as
fanatical.
That position, it will be noted, is
sustained by the history of tn e suffrage
movement in this State Chen Terrific
ry) of Washington. Some of he most
persisten opponents OF the suffrage
movement that came before each sue
ceeding session OF the Legislature, were
the temperance cranks who despite st.
Paurs injunction Il Cor, 1850 per.
sisted in using the same by them pro-
scribed method for refusing women
equal political rights. This inconsist-
ency was shown and warning given, in
a speech by Mrs. Duniway, in this city,
soon after the ballot had been granted
by legislative enactment, when she
said in substance: " Be not deceived
by mach zeal. The bridge we arc
passing over to permanent enfran.
chisement, under q State constitution,
is still weak structure. Do not en-.
danger its stability by unnecessary
weight, till we have had time and OPP
portunity to strengthen its supports"
But her wise injunction fell upon deaf
ears, her prophetic warning was soon
forgotten, and so active became these
incorporate temperance reformers in
use OF the means they had so resolute-
ly condemned and earnestly opposed,
that the liquor interests were alarmed
and instituted so called test suit, I'M
der a stool pigeon "a Mrs. Bloomer,
wife of q saloon.keeper) whose vote
was refused, which case was carried to
willing Supreme Court, where the
law was declared void by forced in
depreciation OF the Organic Act.
Many men have expressed an inten-
ton of voting for Impartial suffrage
when they are assured women really
want the ballot. 1t is opposition OF
woman herself TO all efforts that have
been made for her enfranchisement
that has led to defeat through tho
legislature or the court OF last resort.
II has been ct the command OF Expe-
diency, and not Justice. 1t may pro-
badly never happen that all women
will rise, as one man, to demand po-
litical equality before the law, but it is
reasonable to hope that, with the
splendid examples set by Wyoming,
Colorado, Utah and Idaho, where wo-
men enjoy perfect equality with her
brother man at the ballot box, effort
will be redoubled. In eighteen States
An entering wedge has been driven, &C.
cording school suffrage irrespective Of
sex; two States permit women to vote
on issuance of municipal bonds
Montana and Iowa; in New York in
all villages and towns women vote on
propositions to raise money BY assess.
ment. In Great Britain women can
vote for all officers except members Of
Parliament, and in Australia, New
Zealand and on the Isle of Man, wo.
men have full suffrage.
Go on, Sister Duniwsy, with the
good work. You have tho earnest
support OF $1,000 honest, conscientious
and patriotic voters in your State, who
will surely, in the course of time, at
tain the success that always rewards
meritorious effort.