The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-11-09

the United States did women possess
SHRED of suffrage, save that in Ken
lucky widows could vote on school
matters. In 1861 Kansas gave this
privilege to all women. In 1875 school
suffrage was granted to women by
Minnesota and Michigan; in 1875 by
Colorado; in 1878 by New Hampshire
and Oregon; in 1879 by Massachu-
sets; in 1880 by New York and Yer
mont; in 1888 by Nebraska; in 1885
by Wisconsin; in 1887 by North and
South Dakota, Arizona and New Jer-
sey; in 1889 by Montana; in 1890 by
Washington; in 1891 by Illinois; in
1893 by Connecticut; in 1894 by Ohio.
In 1869 the territory of Wyoming
gave full suffrage to women and, after
81 years experience, the state came
into the union, in 1890, with this pro-
vision in it's constitution.
Colorado TN 1893 submitted to the
voters the question of full enfranchise-
ment, and it was carried by major
ity of 6.237.
In the territory of Utah the women
voted on all matters from 1870 to 1887,
when they were arbitrarily disfran-
ch1sed by act of congress. In 1895 full
suffrage was incorporated in the con-
stitution which was submitted to male
voters only and received large ma
jority. Utah therefore was admitted
as state in January, 1896, with wom-
en- fully enfranchised.
In Idaho, at the general election of
1896, constitutional amendment CIV
ing women full suffrage was submit
ted to the voters. It was Endorsed
by all four of the political parties and
carried by a majority Of 1884.
. In Kansas IN 1887 the legislature
passed a bill by vote Of Is to Is in
the senate, and 80 to 81 in the house,
comforting the municipal franchise
upon the women of the state.
In Michigan in 1893 the legislature
by a large majority gave municipal
suffrage to women, but the law was
declared unconstitutional by the su.
preme court.
In Montana in 1889 women property
owners were granted vote on all
questions submitted to taxpayers.
This same right was incorporated in
the new constitution of Louisiana in
1893. Women can exercise this priv
ilege also in seven third-class cities
in New York.
In Iowa they may vote on questions
of bonding the municipality; in Mime
sofa for library trustees; in Delaware
in four towns for commissioners; in
Mississippi on several unimportant
matters. In Arkansas they have
voice in local option.
No one who examines these statis-
tics can fail to see steady advance in
the direction of woman suffrage, with
no retrogression. In only one single
instance has the ballot been taken
away from women after it was granted
VIZ, in the territory of Washington.
This was done, after it's legality had
been three times declared by differ
ent legislature, through despotic and
most unjust decision Of the supreme
court, which was in direct contradict
ton to the organic act under which
the territory was organized.
The only logical conclusion must be
this is the more irresistible because
women themselves are developing so
rapidly in education, business ability,
organized work, self-reliance and
knowledge of public affairs. They are
also becoming large property holders
and taxpayers, and as such are de-
handing voice in questions directly
affecting their financial interests-a
claim which public sentiment is large
ly inclined to grant. The continued
policy of our government has been to
extend the suffrage, until now all
classes of citizens are enfranchised,
with the one and only exception of
women. In natural sequence they
must be the next to receive the ballot
AS has been shown above, the line is
already broken in many places, and
the movement under Roadway which
Auot 4AStACeAO4y AC0uAC III udh1u6 I'LL
women-subject only to such restric-
tons as apply to men-a part of the
electoral body.
But" the question will be asked,
"can you find any encouragement III
the defeats which the suffrage amend
ment has met when it has been voted
on in the different states?" Yes, de-
cidedly.
In 1867 such an amendment received
in Kansas 900 affirmative and 1887
negative votes. In 1894 it was again
submitted and received 95,302 afflrma-
tive and 130,139 negative votes, very
considerable decrease in the per-
centage of the opposition.
In Colorado in 1877 the vote stood
6,612 yeas, 14,055 nays; defeated by
7,441. In 1893 it stood IS, 698 yeas, 49,
461 nays; amajority Of 6,237 in favor
women were enfranchised.
In Oregon in 1884 the vote stood
1923 yeas, 28.176 nays; opposing ma.
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