The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-07
POLITICAL POWER
OF WOMEN SHOWN
Election of Judge Lindsey in
Denver a Triumph for
Independents.
LITTLE PROGRESS MADE.
SUFFRAGE IN COLORADO ON THE
WHOLE HAS GAINED BUT LIT
TIE FOR THE FAIR SEX IN THE
PAST TEN YEARS.

election furnished an excellent oppor-
tunity in this city to observe the work
Of getting out the woman vote in a
state where women enjoy suffrage.
This opportunity was taken advantage
of by the Rev. Dr. Anna Shaw, a leader
of the woman suffrage movement in
the United States, and the Misses Ray
Costello and Eleanor Randall, English
women, who are active in the work
of suffragettes in Great Britain.
While there were no demonstrations
in Denver to equal the suffragettes
disturbances in London, the English
visitors saw the women of Colorado
make their most determined campaign
since the franchise was granted, some
twelve years ago.
OF late years the woman vote" has
made little difference In the political
affairs of Colorado, chiefly because
there has been no issue directly affect
ing the women themselves. Lulled
into a false sense of security by the
quiet, the republican and democratic
machines in Denver determined to
"shelve' Judge Ben B. Lindsey, who
has revolutionized Juvenile court meth
DDS. Judge Lindsey has been thorn
in the sides of both parties because of
his habit of speaking his mind about
the dishonest elements on either side.
He desired reelection to the Juvenile
court, but the party leaders agreed to
''shelve'' him, and his name was not
considered in either convention.
Judge Lindsey announced that he
would run as an Independent candidate
but the party leaders received his an
nouncement with laughter. 1t was
thought voters would be so intent on
voting straight" presidential> ticket
that an Independent candidate for SO
insignificant an office would receive
no attention.
Women Get to Work.
But the women began to bestir them
selves in behalf of Judge Lindsey In
dignation meetings were held and a
plan of campaign was formulated.
Lindsey workers. who volunteered
their services without cost, were dis
tributed at the various polling places.
They wore Lindsey badges and their
cry was Scratch for Lindsey" Not
a voter approached polling place
without running the gauntlet of these
enthusiasts who worked with unflagg-
ing zeal from morning till night.
The Lindsey women were assisted in
their work by swarms of Lindsey
kids" The judge had endeared him.
self to the children of Denver, espec-
tally among the newsboys and boot
blacks, in the business section of the
city. Many a newsboy quit his paper
selling in order to don a Lindsey badge
and add his shrill treble to the Scratch
for Lindsey" chorus.
The boys did not have monopoly
of this labor of love, however, for the
girls insisted on helping in the work.
Before the balloting had gone on an
hour it was apparent that nothing
could stem the Lindsey tide. Other
candidates and all issues were lost
sight Of. The bosses" were alarmed
and their paid workers were instructed
to do their best to offset the work of
the Lindsey brigade. But when the
votes were counted--a laborious pro-
cess. owing to the tremendous amount
of scratching-it was found that Judge
Lindsey had received something like
sixty per cent of the total vote
One Of these Lindsey women" at a
Capitol Hill polling place was a moth
erly looking woman, and was aided in
her efforts by three enthusiastic boys
who bounced upon the occupants of
the automobiles that rolled up to the
polling place.
Without Remuneration.
1--WE been working since the polls
opened. and I'm going to stay till they
close said this woman. The woman
of Denver have just got to elect Judge
Lindsey today or the right of the
franchise should be taken away from
them. The democratic and republican
workers are getting from SIS to SIS a
day, but nobody is getting cent for
doing this work for Judge Lindsey
Yet We could have five times as many
assistants at the polls if We needed
them"
While this conversation was being
carried on another side to the picture
developed. A high power touring cal
was driven up to the polling place and
lieutenant of one of the Denver DO
litical bosses leaped out of the ma
chine and beckoned two young women
who wore party badges and who had
been stationed at the polls to work in
behalf of the Interests
Reaching under the seat of the auto
the lieutenant brought out severa
boxes of candy neatly tied with golt
cord. These he placed in the arms q
the young women and then, after
some consultation, he leaped In the
machine and was driven to another
polling place.
Those are workers for So-and-So''
remarked the Lindsey worker, survey
ing the young women. who were re
treating in triumph with their arms
full of candy boxes. Il wonder how
many votes they'll be able to influ
ence with their candye A woman WHIT
will sell her vote for few chocolates
is trifle worse than a man who sell.
his vote for dollar-now, isn't she ?
A study OF political conditions il
Colorado does not bring to light man.
changes wrought by the women sincs