The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-06-20

STATES IN WHICH THEY ExER-
CISE THE FRANCHISE-FULL
SUFFRAGE is GRANTED-FULL
POWER IN FOUR COMMON
WEALTHS.

anna the ain and clamOr that is go
ing on over woman suffrage perhaps
1t is just as we'll to know something
Of the results of women's voting as it
actually exists in tnis country Many
questions confront the inquisitor
Has woman suffrage been a success
in those states where the full exer-
else is permitted? Do the women
exercise their right independent OF
husbands or family? Do the poor
women go to the polls in as proper
tfonately large numbers as the we'll
TODD? Are the women of the under
world DESTROYS of voting; and do the
police dictate the candidates for
whom they shall vote? Is the politi-
cal atmosphere any purer as the re-
suit o. adoption of woman suffrage?
The New York Sun thus summarizes
the answers to these questions from
reports furnished by its correspond
ents in various states where woman
suffrage is exercised completely or in
part:
There are four states in which wo-
men have the full suffrage, Idaho, Col
oradO, Utah and Wyoming.
In twenty-seven states and one ter
dIitory, Arizona, they may vote on
school questions. These are Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, Idaho, Kentucky, Kansas,
Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Dakota, Oklahoma, OHIO, South
Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington,
Wisconsin and Wyoming. OF course
the four states where full suffrage is
allowed are included in the list.
Taxation Question.
In Louisiana women taxpayers may
vote on taxation questions only In
Iowa also they may vote on bonding
matters. In Minnesota they may vote
for public library trustees. In Kan
sas they may vote at municipal cleo
tons and on bonding matters. In
| Montana they may vote on bonding
questions.
In one respect there seems to be
unanimity of opinion; the schools of
states where the women vote on such
ixaattepS shave been =irppeUvod greatly
as a result. Many women have be-
come school superintendent, and the
opinion is general that 1t has been de-
cddedly uplifting. These women at
tend to business strictly; they do not
mix it with politics.
1t is also the opinion that where
women have been elected to other
county offices, such as treasurer or
register, these offices have been man
aged well and solely for the public
good.
The reports show that woman suf-
ETage has not made the political at
mosphere cleaner or purer. 1t Is rare
! that better men have been nominated
for office as the result of women vot-
| ing.
| In the states where full suffrage is
allowed there is no testimony that
| the plan is an admitted success. In
Colorado it is called a failure. In
| Denver the women of the underworld
are sent to the polls by tie police.
| IN Idaho the women vote as freely
| as the men, but there is no apprec-
able result of this fact In Utah the
| Mormon women vote far more freely
than gentle women, and they vote as
they are told. The result is not cal
| Culated to advance the suh1 age move
r:ent.
Among Club Women.
| It aas also been found that where
| women exercise the suffrage in part
the voting is largely confined to club
women. The so-called poor women,
except in Kansas, do not vote.
! Rich women and clubwomen are
chiefly those who take advantage of
their opportunity. A large number Of
women in Iowa, Cor example, are clam
oring for the suffrage. AT a recent
election in Des Moines, a city Of
nearly 100, 900 people. only $50 wo-
/ mon voted on school matters In De-