Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-12-22

ties of studying affairs pertaining L
the town, state aud nation that mai
has, might and probably would be iguor
ant Of how to vote.
Some of CALIFORNIA; brightest met
were IN favor of equal suffrage aut
made brilliant campaign which re
suited in a big majority for what used
to be called Woman's rights.
"Bob" Burdette spoke here and hi:
slogan was What is the matter with
motherY' Doesn't she know enough
to vote?" His wife also spoke, and
was fine.
Before the election an equal Suffrage
Club was organized here and they did
good work during the campaign, after
the election it was merged into Politi-
cal Study Club, which elected officers,
adopted constitution and bylaws,
and holds meetings twice each mouth.
The President is S. w. Robertson, who
will be remembered by some Of the
older residents of Island Pond as a
teacher Of the High School at the time
that "Queen Esther" was given there,
aud Mrs. Pottle, Mr.. Gregory and others
took leading parts. He is teacher Of
United States History and Civics in the
high school here, and seems eminently
fitted to be our president. He is an ex-
cellent Parliamentarian. The evening
of his election to that Office, he said he
did not wish to take the Office with any
misunderstanding that he did not vote
for equal suffrage, for he did not think
the time had come for it to be granted,
and so many new voters TO face the
issues now at hand. At the last meet
ing, Dec. 4, he said he had been con-
verted since he made that remark and
was now an equal suffrage man. He
has had good opportunity to see the
intelligent interest the women have
taken and so has been converted.
There were some councilmen to be
elected at the December election in this
city, aud for that election there were
twenty-five candidates. About two
weeks before the election these twenty.
two men we're invited by the Political
Study Club to attend mass NEE ting
at the opera house and address the
audience giving their views on the ques.
tions that were before the voters at the
time. There was no other way but to
"brace up" aud be there, but many of
them unused to public speaking and
really not so well posted on the issues of
the campaign as some of the women to
whom voting was new, would rather
have done most anything else. | think
next time a possible candidate will
think about that ordeal and wonder if
the game is worth the candle. 1t was
great success, some of the candidates
were not embarrassed and stated their
views clearly and we'll, and others were
suffering tortures evidently, and were
awfully funny to listen to. There were
three women candidates also for posi-
tions on the school board, and one for
the board of library trustees, all of
whom were elected.
There we're $500 votes cast, nearly half
eff them by women. The two candi-
dates for mayor were good men, and
the one who was elected has been mayor
before and is we'll liked
My neighbor and / went together to
vote, our polling place being only
short distance from our house. The
first question asked was, "What is
your number, which was to be found
in book near the entrance. | answer
ed "54S." The clerk found the numbers
read Alice Currier Willoughby. sign
ed in the big book, was presented
ballot and was shown booth. mark
ed with stamp found there, opposite
the names of those candidates | wished
to vote for, and gave my ballot to a
man who announced my name and the
fact that | had voted, and tore off the
number on end of ballot, and | was at
liberty to go back home and resume my
former occupations, none the worse
morally, mentally or physically from
the experience and satisfied that | had
only done what every woman of legal
age is entitled to do. Are we not ?
Now you will ask, "Did she vote a
straight republican ticket?' And the
funny thing about it all is that l do not
know the party utilization of one single
candidate for whom voted, and that i:
good thing too in municipal elections
isn't it? However, when the time
comes to vote for president, shall be
on the right side.
have never been specially interested