New-York tribune., 1908-10-06
OF Inferesf ~
~ to 6Ooner1.
WOMEN AT POLLS
Sufragettes' Plea to Register ne
ceiUes Chilling Refusal.

The American suffragettes are still waiting for
glory and for martyrdom Yesterday morning they
went forth in search of these things but after nav
ing attempted register in three districts they went
home again without having disturbed the peace IN
the slightest degree. No even told them 10 go
home and wash dishes Every one was polite ana
the inspectors obligingly promised TO help nx the
laws so that they could register the next time Inc
only victims Of violence were the photographers
who were elected by the police from two registra-
tion booths when they tried to take flashlights
The end. however, Is not yet Miss Mary Coie-
man will try to register Saturday and If she IS
refused permission to do SO like the others the
women will apply for writ Of mandamus 10 COM
pei the obstinate officials to inscrbe their names on
the voters II this is refused, they VIII carry
their cause to higher powers
The who tried to register yesterday are
Dr. Julia Seaton Sears pastor OF the New Ihousht
Church, Carnegie Hall; Miss Gertrude CoiLs' No
93S Eighth avenue, and Miss Helen Murphy No 4Oo
West I44th street. They were supported by small
but determined band Of synpathizers, among them
being several men. DR.. Sears was aided and aoet-
ted by her husband. T. w. Sears. who explained 10
all who would listen TO him that his VIE h@o
voted In Colorado, and that New York state was
''abridging her rights citizen OF the ChlIeo
States by refusing let her vote here He dropped
OF the party after she had failed 20 impress
this view the hard hearted election inspector
hut Elmer S. Davidson, wearing yellow votes
for-women" button, stuck to the insurgents TO the
bitter end and argued vigcr ously IN their behalf
The surragette army modified about 1870 O'Clock
in the New Thought rooms at Carnegie Han IheFe
while they waited the tardy ones they absorbed
inspiration from another and from the notices
that adorned the walls With such words as We
are too near God for doubt or fear in their minds
they sailed forth into the devious ways OF poll
tics. An army OF photographers went before them
and reporters male and female. brought up the
rear. Thus they bore down upon NO SSI sixth ave
nue. a barber shop where registration was In
progress The trembling inspectors concluded that
discretion was the better part OF valor and closed
the door. After while they got up courage
enough to open it a crack and inform the women
that two of them might come in. Mrs Sears and
Miss Coleman went in and Mrs Sears explained
that she wanted to register. The chairman OF the
board Of election inspectors Peter B. Finney pro-
duced copy Of the election law and read the sec
ton in which IL Is stated that a quaIlned elector
is q male citizen
Mrs Sears professed not to understand She had
voted for the last three Presidents in Colorado
She didn't know why she couldn't vote for this one
''I would be happy 10 let you vote said Mr..
F1nney gallantly. but I've got to go by the law"
Then we will have to fix the laws VIII you
help us?'
Il will do anything for the ladies'" Mr.. Ffnney
assured her. and his ordeal was over.
At No. $40 Eighth avenue, another barber shop.
the chairman was absent and his representative
didn't seem to understand why women should want
to
I've want votes so we have jobs like yours
said Miss Coleman, tartly
The women waited till the chairman. John H.
Coulter came in and he quite overcome by
the galaxy OF beauty.
''Thev told me-" he said. that you wouldn't
find a single good looking woman among the suf-
fragists. but they did not tell me the truth
Were not sunragists.' said Miss Coleman.
we're sufrragettes; there is a distinction and
great difference"
Mr. Coulter adamant, however. when IL came
to allowing Miss Coils to register.
At No. $50 Lenox avenue Thomas J. Brady
in charge in the absence Of the chairman He
professed the greatest sympathy with the suffra-
gettes but said he had power TO act in the abb
sence of the chairman. One OF the suffragettes
thought she saw signs of weakening and urged:
If you will only let Miss Murphy register your
name will go laundering down the ages"
You betr' put in Mr. Davidson.
But Mr.. Brady seemed to think he had better
hang on his Job.
The chairman Julius BrusseI. declared when he
returned that he had mo business with any woman
ALL
Some one in the crowd yelled, ''Hs isn't mar
ried man
In the evening the suffragettes recounted their
woes a large open-ar audience at 18th
and Seventh avenue Mrs. Sears being the chief
speaker.