Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1913-07-12
WOMEN OF STATE
TO VOTE JULY IS
To Cast Ballots IN Cities Of
Springfield and Nj. Auburn.
LEADERS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
This VIII De the First Time Fair Sex
has Voted East Of Mississippi
River, With Exception Of
School Trustees Election.

Springfield. Of two central
Illinois points are preparing to exer.
else the right Of suffrage granted them
BY the recent Legislature.
In Springfield and Mt. Auburn
special elections have been called to
be held on Tuesday. July Is. On that
date, there, will be be cast the first
votes by women east Of the Mississippi
river.
While the enthusiastic suffrage lead.
ers Of Chicago and even iu q number
Of cities Of other states are awaiting
with unsurpassed Joy the advent Of
this memorable day, the women Of
Springfield and Mt. Auburn-those d.
rectly concerned with the occasion.
are taking the matter calmly; almost
phlegmatically.
Just what interest the women Of
Springfield have In their new authority
10 indicated by the registration, which
already has been held. Although the
law granting them suffrage did not
become effective until last Tuesday.
the authorities were lenient and they
were permitted to register on June "a.
in anticipation Of favorable action
upon tho measure BY Governor Dunno.
Only 139 women In the entire city,
with . population Of $4,000. were sui.
hciently interested to get their names
on the registration books. In Q total
Of forty-one precincts the registration
averaged . trifle over three to . pre-.
cinct In eight precincts not . single
woman presented herself to take ad.
vantage Of her political rights.
Local leaders in the suffrage move.
ment refuse to be disheartened by the
presumed lack Of interest on the part
Of their sex. They insist the failure
on the part Of the women TO register
was largely because in the special cleo.
ton for which the registration was
made the women will be permitted to
vote only upon two subsidiary PROPOSE.
lions.
The election Of July Is 10 for the
Springfield park district. At that time
president and six trustees Of the
park district will be chosen.
Al an economy. the municipal an.
thorities have arranged to submit. 1t
the same time. two propositions upon
which . referendum vote 10 required.
One 10 to determine whether the city
shall float Q $4,000 bond issue to pay
for damages inflicted In the race riots
Of 1908; the other 10 to decide whether
or not the proposed Springfield 4
Central Illinois Railroad company shall
be granted . franchise to bring ita
proposed interurban line into the heart
Of the city.
Il has been ofIlcially decided that
the women shall have no voice In the
election Of park district oficials. but
that they shall be permitted to vote
their sentiments on the two municipal
propositions. II is this Interpretation
Of the law. In the opinion Of the sui
frage leaders. that discouraged the
women from participating . In what
might have been their initial election
Mt. Auburn IL a Christian county
village. "a miles east Of Springfield
The election there 10 to be held or
the same day that the 1SS Springfield
women will have opportunity to vote
The difference 10 that at Mt. Auburn
q mayor 10 to be elected. and the WON
en- will be permitted to record theil
choice between two aspirants for that
high ONCE.
The enthusiasm of the Mt. Auburn
suffragists II yet to be weighed. The
primary election will not be held until
next Tuesday and It IL then that the
women's names will be recorded In the
poll books.
Mrs. Louis Tankersley. Q leader IN
almost every movement In which the
women Of Mt. Auburn take interest
has failed TO md any enthusiasm
among her sex over the. prospect o.
taking rank with the men at the ballot
hoY