Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-20

arc; and, in fact, more so. ! have
never heard of a woman being pros
ecuted or even seriously charged with
the commission of a crime in regard to
an election. / have heard it repeated
ly stated-and ] believe it is true-tlat
the men are guilty of ninety nine per
cent of all political corruption in Colo
rado
Husband and wife, father and daugh-
ter brothers and sisters, or women in
pairs or little groups go to the polls
together as to any other meeting.
My wife goes to the polls with me,
ana she, like all other women, always
votes absolutely as she wills, and she
never wills 20 vote for bad man, even
If he is on my ticket The ISLANDERS
which we hear about womans suf-
frage not only debase the people who
utter them, sbut they are an impeach-
ment of the deceney and honesty Of
womanhood everywhere.
Equal suffrage in Colorado has made
a new and powerful community of in
terests in the home, and it is a good
thing fer all members of the home and
for the home itself The responsible
ity OF voting does not for a moment
divert feminine attention from home
duties In fact. it accentuates wom-
ans place in the home by giving her
an important place in it's protection
The splendid record that the women
of Colorado have made during the
past eighteen Years is a credit TO
themselves, an honor to womanhood,
and an inspiration to the cause of
good government throughout the civil
lied world
The example of Colorado was fol-
lowed by her sister State sixteen years
ago, Utah, which gave the full rights
Of the ballot to woman, and her Gov
ernor, John c. Cutler of Utah, says:
"Womans suffrage has been most
successful as practical eXpedient in
Utah. In fact, it is no longer an ex-
pertinent, but an integral part of our
civil life. Politics has been benefited
by The refining influence of women;
and, instead Of being unsexed or de-
based, the women have been broad,
ened and bettered Intellectually and
socially through the study and prac-
tice of civic affairs entailed by the
franchise.
Practically, the influence of woman's
f7tibt2-t litlso DCtAA VII tlit SIutt u ptctG
at the polls and the selection of better
officials, resulting in a higher honesty
of administration. Socially, it has re-
suited in "A more ehiValrous regard for
women, and an unquestfoned acknowl-
edgement of their equality with men,
and consequently their right of parti-
cipation in affairs of State. With the
experience Utah has had we should
not think for a moment of returning
to the male suffrage system
This same year idaho gave full suf-
frage to her women an adjoining
State, and Ex-Governor Hunt of Idaho
says:
THE woman vote has compelled not
only State conventions. but, more par
tiealarly, county conventions of both
parties to select the cleanest and best
material fer public office"
And Governor Brady of Idaho says:
7 do not think that exercise of
elective franchise by the women of
Idaho has had any direct effect upon
the social or home life of the people
| of the State, except it be by reason of
better citizenship on account of purer
political life. Politically, the effect of
Wpmans suffra ge has been immeasnr-
ably uplifting and beneficial Men
who, before Woman,s suffrage was
adopted. attempted to control the po-
litical situation through organizations
perfected in saloons and at headquar-
t ters Of political bosses have been de-
posed from leadership. and the stand
ard Of citizenship mas been raised.
| Through the enactment of this pFin-
ciple of justice to women into the law
of the State, better men have been in
duced to become candidates for office
administrati ton of governmental affair
has been constantly placed in NOR
| honest hands. and the affairs of tn
Commonwealth have been benefited
Legislative activities have been alonf
wiser and cleaner lines. Laws hay,
been passed of remedial and reforma5
tory character. and the beneficial re
suits OF womans suffrage are every
where noticeable. There are no scan
dals attached 10 either the law MAX
ing or the legislative branches OF
State. county or municipal government
! in Idaho. Women who are elected to
Office prove among the most efficient
servants of the people. Womanss suf-
frage has been an unqualified success,
not only in Idaho but in all western
States adopting the principle.
Then in 1910 the State of Washing
ton, an adjoining State, gave full SUI
frage TO her women, and the first act
of the women was to remove from Of
fee and recall Mayor Gill, who had
made Seattle a wide open city by the
| votes of its men. And the New York
Independent, right after election, said:
THE politicians of Seattle would
probably not have attempted such a
thing il they had known that women
We're going to be enfranchistd. The
recall and womans suffrage introduce
no new principles into government.
They are merely practical applications
for our fundamental principle of de-
mocracy. If the people are competent to
select man for mayor in the first
| place, they are much more competent
| to decide what sort of a mayor he is
after they have tried him awhile. And
| if the people have a right to pass on
such questions, it is unjust to debar
half of them from that right on the
sole ground of SEX
In 1911. California, an adjoining state,
gave full suffrage to her women. Mrs.
Florence Collins Porter from Maine,