Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-03-20

a million to a million and a half of
women will have something to say
in choosing the next President. In
at least six states the hand that
rocks the cradle will also cast the
ballot
In the six states where women
will vote next November they CON
stitute somewhat less than one half
of tho total voting population. The
census report is authority for the
statement that men are increasing in
this country more rapidly than wo-
men, due to the larger number of
men immigrants. The excess male
population is fixed at 100000. In
the western states men are not so
much in the majority, however, as
they were in earlier pioneer days.
Moreover, it seems 10 be generally
conceded thar women register and
vote in larger proportion than men.
To take the woman's vote. there
fore at approximately half the en-
tire voting population Of the six
states where the feminine influence
is direct" would not be far wrong
Estimating Washington's total
voting population inclusive OF the
new woman vote at 100000 Idaho's
at l25,OO0. Wyoming's at $4,000,
Utah's at 10000, Colorado's at 800
600, and CALIFORNIA; at 100000, we
would have an aggregate OF nearly
two million voters in the six states.
Possibly the faircst estimate would
fix the quota of women voters at
about 100000. number large
enough to be reckoned with in any
campaign.
This army of women, despite the
fact that the United States is some
times called slow OF persuasion by
suffrage enthusiasts includes one
third OF the women voters OF the
world, the other two thirds being
in Australia, Finland, Norway and
New Zealand. II is more than the
usual Presidential plurality. II a
million and half voted solidly they
might decide the Presidency.
The women will not vote solidly,
any more than men will vote solidly
About the most that can be said as
indicative OF women's solidarity in
politics is that they have tendency
to break away from party lines, &c
choose the man rather than the
party, and that in their politics, a:
J in their industrial economics, they
follow the biological law undei
. which the female of all species oper
ates as the upbuilder and conscrvei
of life. Their political activity ha
. been almost uniformly constructive
, and the results OF that activity hav'
. been almost uniformly reflected il
: legislation directly related to tn
{ welfare of the home and the famil.
Z -child-labor laws. school laws, ant
industrial laws that concern womer
] The exercise OF the voting privil
eye in 1912 will be no novelty 4
! the women Of Wyoming. where the
c have been voting since 1860, IN
r franchise having been bestowed up
+ on them a year after the organiza
c ton OF the Territory. When tn
Territory became state in 1871
i women suffrage was written in tn
{ constitution. Wyoming women hav
e exactly the same political signiheane
c that men have, and, according
c figures from the state, 90 per Ger
n OF them make the most OF IL, regi,
c tering and voting regularly. The
d often sit as jurors and serve a
IS justices OF the peace.
It The women of Colorado are nc
x noyices at voting in Presidents
elections They were franchised
1898 so that they have been votin
for Presidents for nineteen years
s Utah women voted when the stat
was still a Territory The Territor
became a state in 1860, and the rigl
n OF women TO vote was establishs
N in the constitution. A woman HI
of once been elected 20 the senate
c. Utah, and several have served
- the house OF representatives
.r Idaho women will cast their AZ
&c presidential votes this year, hayir
H. the franchise since 1896.
e. Washington women also vot'
ty when Washington was a territor
e In 1889 women suffrage was decla
n ed unconstitutional. and was not p
y, into the constitution Of tho M
" state upon its admission to I
ny Union. In 1910. however. II oarri
e. the state by vote of three to OF
e. California women will be the III
in the United States to have an &