Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-25
Endorses Women'S Enfranchise-
ment Bill Pending in British
House of Commons.
TELLS HOW 1T WORKS IN UTAH
1--WE Go to the Polls With Our Hus-
bands or Without Them As
The Case May Be"

Mrs John c. Cutler received a let
ter yesterday from II. S. Boyd. secre-
tary to Hon. Herbert Gladstone, nc
knowiedglng receipt of a communion
ton addressed by her to the celebrated
member of the British house of CONS
mons. Mrs. Cutler wrote an endorse
ment of the Women's Dnfranchise-
ment bill, now pending in parliament.
and the fact that Mr. Gladstone, who Is
a strong opponent of womans suffrage,
should deign 10 reply is taken as ev,-
dence of a change OF views on his part.
This opinion is strengthened by a per-
usal of the following statement made
by Mr.. Gladstone, during the course of
a speech delivered in the house of com
mons Feb. rs, 1908.
Personally, ] favor the principles OF
the Henry Yorke Stanger measure, I'M
doubtedly There has been great
and growing movement in favor OF
granting suffrage to women, but it still
lacks numbers"
MRS CUTLER'S LETTER.
Following is the text of the letter
from Mrs. Cutler to Mr. Gladstone:
After reading the salutation of Miss
Parkhurst, the leading woman suf-
fragist in England to the women of
America, l answered and told her of
conditions in Utah. have been watch
ing this struggle between the physi
cally, but not mentally, stronger
against the weaker sex, for an equal
footing in affairs that equally concern
both and my sympathy goes to the
weaker. Hence this letter.
The women in England have been
ct. la
by some OF your own leading men, who
are in sympathy with their so far flu
tile attempts, | notice that one of these
men, when interviewed by Miss Park
hurst, said TO her: My dear madam,
do not desist. Push ahead, Keep It
up! 1t Is the only way to win. OF
course, In their enthusiasm the women
sometimes become bolsterous. which 1
suppose frightens the men, causing
them to wonder what those dreadful
women win do next. Whereas If the
men would concede to them their rights
Of suffrage, they would have no more
trouble, Things would adjust them
selves. and half the women who are so
clamorous for suffrage now would not
take the trouble to exercise that right.
They are contending for the right to
vote II need be. considering themselves
competent 10 discriminate between the
good and the bad
of course, the reason the women
are generally disbarred from suffrage is
based on their relations TO society and
the opposite sex. Way this should be l
do not comprehend, as they can show
their independence when so disposed
although their sympathy or preference
often goes to their male relatives; but
as for that, the men also show the same
preferences.
IF you win allow me a few moments
1f your time ! will tell you how salts
factory In every way are conditions In
Utah. We women have had suffrage a
great many years. In 1870 suffrage was
conferred on Utah women by the terri
tOrlal legislature, but we were deprived
of II in 1857, through what Is known as
the "EdmundsTucker act" But Utah
entering the Union In 1896. full suffrage
was granted 10 women again, and they
have exercised that right very fully
since that time We have no difficulty
whatever In casting our votes. We 90
TO the polls with our husbands or with
out them. as the case may be. register,
and vote In fact, the voting passes
much more quietly With women min
Cling in the crowd. The presence Of the
gentler eek stops all boisterous actions
on tho part of the men
II think as Miss Parkhurst expresses
herself women should have the right
To- vote whether they exercise that
right on noO for the laws that men
make women as well as men are
Obliged TO obey Also If owning prop
crty ana taxed, as they are here. they
have the right 10 vote for the measures
ana means az property distribution,
and certainly for the election OF school
trustees Mothers should have voice in
who should have the secular ana moral
education Of their children. Women
have no desire TO encroach ON the
rights OF men. They are lighting only
for a few common sense rights Yours
very sincerely
MRS JOHN c. CUTLER,
WHO OF tho Governor OF utah"