New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-09

of voting age in the state, and they are
not altogether novices In the art OF cast.
ing a ballot. In 1867 the Legislature gave
school suffrage to women taxpayers, and
In 1881 extended this to parents and
guardians of children OF school age. The
law is so loosely construed that practl-
cally all women have been allowed this
privilege.
In 1893 the Legislature granted muncI.
pal suffrage, but the opponents rushed
the case to the Supreme Court, which
decided that the Legislature had no au-
thority to create a new class Of voters
although 1t had already done so twice
in the case OF the school franchise IN
1907, when a new constitution was made,
IT'S 600 Of the leading women In the state
petitioned for the complete suffrage. The
convention could not quite reach this
point of liberallty, but IL did put IN
clause giving taxpaying women a vote
on all questions submitted 10 taxpayers
which was accepted by the electors
Later the Legislature managed in some
way to make this include also the issuing
OF bonds and franchises. This extension
Oh the suffrage W "OilltD ny pttSHedl
will seem very ridiculous in future gen.
erations, as indeed IL does to those OF
the present who have a sense OF humor
II may be taken for granted that the
women OF the neighboring states are not
going TO stand 1t very long 10 see those
half million women In Michigan in full
possession Of political rights which are
denied to the former, and the men may a.
well prepare for a rebellion. The Michi-
gan women doubtless owe their success
largely to the go oranges, which have
gone into this fight with more vigor than
ever has been shown by any body OF
men in support OF woman suffrage.
Hard Fight in Wisconsin.
The women Of Wisconsin have made a
longer and harder fight for the suffrage
than have those OF Michigan, beginning
It in 1869 and keeping II up to the pres
ent time. In the campaign just closed
there has been far more money spent
and vastly more work done there than
In Michigan, but the influences against
them have been immeasursbly greater.
They are not at all discouraged. as they
fOunQ the lnulVluuhl HlcH open iulHaeu
and willing TO discuss the question. and
the returns will probably show that
large favorable vote was polled. They
will continue the educational work and
try again when the time seems propiuous.
With women voting in ten states, the
ancient prejudices against 1t Will soon
pass into oblivion, and the beneficial
effects OF their participation in civic life,
both on themselves and on the state,
will become so apparent that the forces
of evil, which always have opposed woman
suffrage and always will do so. cannot
prevail over the real desire Of every
community for the best government
Henceforth men will become so accus-
toned to women in politics that to give
them vote will seem a logical and
ineyita Bile step. Women themselves, after
the novelty and excitement OF their nrsI
recognition in the political HE OF the
various states, will have their sense OF
dignity and self-respect aroused; VIII see
The ignominy OF their disfranchisemsnt
and will demand the ballot as a CONDITION
~ future service. Universal woman
Suffrage in the not distant future Is at
la al established beyond dispute. the most
nressing duty now resting upon women
IL 10 nj themselves for its high reSpoh--
sIbilities and help TO the very limit OF
their ability TO obtain as soon as pos
sible. for themselves and for all others
this symbol of power and helptulhess'