Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-06

the same terms a. 10 mSu' tu0 iuAA
suffrage except the parliamentary
vote. West Australia began with the
municipal ballot In 1871: South Aus
tralia in 1880: New Zealand In 1885.
The full parliamentary suffrage was
granted to women in New Zealand In
1898: in South Australia in 1895; IN
West Australia in 1900. The Isle OF
Man granted the full franchise In 1883.
Every English colony has some form
of woman suffrage.
For:y-flve years ago In no part OF
the United States did women possess
a 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 schooi
suffrage was granted to women py
Minnesota and Michigan; In 1876 by
Colorado: in 1878 by New Hampshire
and Oregon: in 1879 by Massachu'
sets; in 1880 by New York pnd Yer
mont: in 1888 by Nebraska; In 1885
by Wisconsin,: in 1887 BY North ana
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
p years experience. the state came
into the union. In 1890. with this pro
vision in its constitution.
Colorado in 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-
chised by act of congress. In 1895 full
suffrage was incorporated In the con-
stitution which was submitted to male
voters only and received q large ma
jority. Utah therefore was admitted
as a state in January. 1896. with wom-
en- fully enfrarchised.
In Idaho, at the general election OF
1896, a constitutional amendment CIV
ing women full suffrage was submit
ted to the voters. 1t was Endorsed
BY all four Of the political parties and
carried by a majority Of 1854.
In Kansas in 1887 the legislature
passed a bill by a vote Of rs to 13 in
the senate, and 90 to 81 in the house.
comforting the municipal franchise
upon the women OF the state.
In Michigan in 1893 the legislature
by q 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
1898. 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 Stats
tics can fail to see a 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 1t was granted
viz, ine the territory Of Washington.
This was done, after its legality had
been three times declared by differ
ent legislature, through a despotic and
most unjust decision Of the supreme
court, which was In direct contradic-
ton to the organic act under which
the territory was organized.
The only logical conclusion must be
that the advance will continue. and
this is the more irresistible because
women themselves are developing 50
rapidly in education, business ability.
Organized work, seaf-reliance and
knowledge Of public affairs. They are
also becoming large property holders
and taxpayerl. and as such are de-
handing a voice in questions directly
affecting their financial interests
claim which public sentiment Is large
II inclined to grant. The continued
policy OF our government has been to
extend the suffrage. until nov all
classes of citizens are enfranchised,
with the one and only exception q
women. In natural sequence they
must be the next to receive the ballot
As has been shown above. the line In
already broken In many places. and
the movement. under Roadway which
must inevitably result In making all
women-subject only TO such restric-
tons as apply to men, part Of the
electoral body.
But" the question win be asked.
can you find any encouragement in
the defeats which the suffrage amend
ment has met when II has been voted
on in the different statesr Yes, do
cfded1y,