The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-13


WaShington.-"Pu may rail
about the permanent value of various
women movements in different parts OF
the world remarked Mrs. Sutherland
of Utah, just before her departure for
Blue Hill, near Bar Harbor, Ne, but,
brought face to face with some of the
results Of the agitation, il is difficult to
comprehend any backward tendency.
can frankly acknowledge that l have
never been deeply impressed with the
expediency of women taking an active
part in politics. Yet brought to a real
ization of the consensus of opinion of
giving the suffrage to women, the truth
stands out that in Utah at least they
have proved themselves eminently fit
ted for the privilege, and they have JUS
titled their claims.
I have not the least hesitancy in
prOnOunCing equal suffrage an unadul-
terated blessing for the state and civic
success and moral incentive in the full
sense of the word. I can readily COM
prehend that in crowded communities
of great commercial centers such as the
Atlantic seaboard cities are, that some
women, as some men, in politics could
become menace and could add another
incident to civic corruption. There are
no great cities as the east knows them.
no crowded or floating population, in
any part of the state. The women are
rooted to the soil, as ii were, and they
take q high view of their obligations to
their home.
Woman's Influence Uplifting.
Il have been edited to note that
woman's influence in political life in
my environment is uplifting. 1 have
heard seasoned politicians discuss GER
L -
nominate for Office and invariably in
Weighing them in the balance they have
looked sharp for the view which women
voters might take. I have heard some
candidate proposed and all his good
qualities brought out; he was brilliant
he was trained in his work, he was a
good fellow and high type of patriot,
but if there was anything against his
private character, if he were intcm-
perate, treated his family i'll, was
guilty Of any of those offenses which
the world leniently permits in the good
fellow, he would be dismissed from
consideration with the words, He's all
right, but the women will not stand for
him..
This uplifting on the part of the
women appeals to me as of permanent
value, and it cannot but work for the
good of all communities. 1 am not ad-
vocating universal suffrage, for in my
mind there are many limitations placed
on WOman's natural vocation when she
steps into public life. But I do say
where women do vote they use their
privilege wisely. We have an almost
perfect civic sanitation from the results
of feminine agitation. We have fine
school laws and excellent school build
ings, and all those regulations which
m hn 11T Ian Of "a
home environment, have all been ju-
diciously and literally framed.
Votes Same as She Shops.
THE Australian ballot system pre-
walls. and all that criticism about going
to the polls unsexing women is, of
course, the YeTiest nonsense. a woman
can vote, and does vote, with no more
contact with any Objectionable sur
roundings than she has when she goes
shopping. The women of Utah al vote
Some satirists allege that they use the
ballot so tirelessly because the privilege
is new, the zeal of the neOphyte, ard
such well known SMILES. Whatever the
reason, they make use of their vote
and what is more, they thrash the dues-
tons over and they know why they
vote in a certain way and for a certain
candidate.
The women usually go to the polls
in the early part of the day. 1 go Just
as soon as the polls are open. It is
never a question of more than ten CI
fifteen minutes, an incident in the
morning routine Of marketing or shop
ping. You meet some neighbOrs bound
on the same errand of casting the bal
lot; but few, 1 might say no, women
loiter about the ballot box. We all know
exactly how to mark the ballot, and we
do it expeditiously.
Many women are earnestly working
for various reforms, national and civic
and local, but I find that many women
vote as I do because it is q duty en-
forced by granting the ballot. To re-
frain from voting is 10 neglect some
thing for which one must be account
able.
Nothing so Pernicious.
4 can imagine nothing so pernicious
than for those who reside in a certain
section being so Indifferent to the COM
munal interests as not to care who is
elected to fill the various pubic Offices
This is practically what the failure tc
vote means. There is no public issue
connected with my home, my state OF
my country to which I am Indifferent
Therefore, I cast my vote and record
" 4
that my view is the universal view tt
Utah women.
Those who wish to study the woman
question at close range should visit
Utah. We have had women serving in
the legislative chambers and they have
performed their duties quietly and ably
and were highly esteemed among theil
colleagues. Mrs. Matte Cannon served
in the senate and Mrs. Alice Horne in
the lower house. Both women were ex-
ceedingly able advocates and theil
speeches were among the best efforts OF
the session. We have had a woman
sheriff. Miss Clare Ferguson, and she
also filled the place with credit to her
self and to the satisfaction Of her COM
munity. Women in public offices are
quite an ordinary occurrence in Utah
and so far as one can judge super
ficial1y, these public duties have not in
terfered with the more sacred ones in
the homes.
mined to make my final effort TO get 6
trial by jury" said ThaW.