Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-19
Activities
woman slumpInE On CoIorado.

Woman stamping In tolornuo'
--N lei "Recoliections Of a
IAlY Woman Campaigner,' published
t In the DelineatOr. Minnie J.
kaA- Reynolds relates some interest
F0RF20N ing experiences on the stump in
aSJ the early days OF woman suf-
noes .l Colorado. It happened that 1 was
the first woman who stumped the state,
she relates. We had had no idea whatever
that voting implied making campaign
speeches. But the first election after we
got the vote was a very exciting one
Waite's second c-ampaign-and the men OF
all parties scurried hither and yon to find
women who would take the stump. The
sex has never been accused Of backward
ness in the use Of it's tongue, but with
painful unanimity 1t refused to stand on a
platform and talk to an audience. l had
had a tiny bit Of experience In the suf-
frage campaign, and for want Of better my
party put me on the stump.
1 Travelled over 1900 miles that fall Of "a,
and still stumped only the mountainous
western half Of the state. ! stumped after
wards, IN two other campaigns. but it is
that first one which remains fresh in mem
Dry.
But wherever I went 1 was sure Of two
things-a full house and an enthusiastic
. - AAhea 1e AeNH ~ AhNa
first campaign people OF all political faiths
would go to hear a woman, no matter what
her party. The people OF Colorado are glad
TO hear a woman speaker, eager TO listen,
pleased to applaud. Wherever 1 went 1
found kind friends and audiences, warm
western hospitality. Politics were discussed
morning, noon and night.
The women talked politics over their sew
ing, their dish-washing, and their afternoon
calls. They procured sample ballots and
practiced marking them at little club meet
ings in their homes, solemnly depositing
them in the dish pan In lieu Of a ballot
box. OF which it was difficult to get a
sample. 1 may be prejudiced, but 1t seems
to me this is valuable, in a self-governing
country. Everywhere, that first fall, !
found the presence of women in the poll
tical arena welcomed as a matter of course
by the men. There was that matter-of-
kActness about it which has impressed every
= visitor who has ever been to the state since
to study in question. When the cenrta
committee at Denver announced that A
was sending a woman speaker from thu
capital, the women were In special fettle
The meeting was turned over to them
They decorated the hall, they met this
speaker. They entertained her In theii
homes.
One OF the features OF stumping Is tina
local candidates for sheriff, constable, dog
catcher and so on make speeches at tn,
meeting, and sometimes the local commit
tee asks the itinerant speaker to say some
thing about these candidates., says tn,
writer. The most startling thing tina
stands out in my memory of this who'll
stamping tour is the fact that here at Lo
Pinos a man named Jesus was running 70
office. They asked me to say something
nice about him, and 1 reminded my audi
ence of the esteem In which they undoubt
eddy held their worthy fellow citizen Jesus
hope l will not be thought sacrilegious
our Spanish countrymen Of the southwes
are frequently named both Jesus and Mary
1t shows what queer, quaint corners Their
are in this tremendous country of ours
After the meeting was over we found tina
our whip had been stolen. The count.
chairman, who had brought the party owe
in his carriage, said he hoped that Jesu
had not stolen It'll"