The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-07-30
. o e y o . 9 3 . . . o . 9 . .
. WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE
...... COLUMN.
BY Mrs. J. D. Van Fleet.

SVNtC RucSlAOUS answered..
BY Sarah Plat Decker, .
Late President General Federation of
Women's Clubs and of the Denver
Woman's Club. .-...
So much has been said and written
on the matter of working of equal suf-
frage in Colorado that it is difficult to
present it in any new phase. I shall
attempt to give only an individual
opinion upon the following much-dis-
puted questions:
l. Do the Earnest, High-Minded
Women of Colorado Vote? Yes, most
emphatically. I do not hesitate to say
that the best women of Colorado have
far more conscience in filling their
responsibilities as voters than the men
of the same class. It is also true that
women of standing in the community
have great influence with men who
are not particularly interested in pub
lie affairs. We are constantly asked
by visitors to Colorado, "How do you
have time to vote?" as if voting was
like eating or bathing. It takes just
about one hour in a year to cast all
the ballots necessary and allowable.
2. Does not the vote of the Disrep-
utable, Low Class of Women Counter
balance the Better Element? No; the
women of the haf-world generally do
not vote. They are constantly chang
ing their residences and their names.
They do not wish to give any data
concerning themselves, their age,
names or number and street; they pre-
fer to remain unidentified. Occasion
ally some disreputable master COM
pels these slaves to vote for his own
purposes, but that is a rare occur
renee.
3. is 1t Not the Case that Women
Generally Vote as the Men of Their
Household Distate? No. Such has
not been my observation or experience.
Among the laboring classes, if the
wife cannot vote as her husband de-
sires, and he is not willing she should
make her own choice, she refuses to
vote at all l have been surprised at
the honest maintenance of opinion in
this regard among the wives of labor
ing men. One of the most cultivated,
beloved and influential women of the
State was sitting as delegate in one
party convention, not long since, while
her husband was at the same time ad-
dressing another assembly represent
ing opposite views. But the situation
excited no comment. Suffrage makes
women individuals.
A.. Has the Woman Vote Wholly
Purified Politics, and Has 1t Banished
Saloons? No, to both questions. 1t
would be beyond reason to expect such
result. Women have been in
churches and in society since the be-
ginning of time, but there are still
vicious minds and sinful deeds in both
religious and social circles. The most
we assert is that if we pour a clear
stream into muddy one, we shall
have moving Of the waters" for
betterment. The presence of women
at the polls as officers and voters has
brought quiet and order, while party
conventions are much freer from per-
sonal wrangles, profane language and
vulgar illusions, because women are
sitting as delegates.
5. Has Women Suffrage Been a
Success? Yes. All thinking women
admit that we have made some mis-
takes since we have had the right of
suffrage. But that has been the ex-
perience of all newly-enfranchised
people. In the beginning of equal suff-
rage in Colorado, the women voters
had no guide except the traditions and
advice of the men of their families and
acquaintance. The teaching was the
old one of party politics. We followed
a blind lead; and to me it was ter
rible awakening to discover that my
party was just as bad as the other,
and the. other party fully as high
minded in its purposes as mine. But
in spite Of mistakes, disappointments
or disbursements, there is an indie
scribable uplift in the thought that one
is no longer classed with terminals,
paupers and idiots" There is splen-
did womanly independence in being a
voting citizen, and an absorbing in
terest in fulfilling the duty of citizen
ship; and there is much more chival-
rous devotion and respect on the part
of men, who look upon their sisters
not as playthings, not as property,
hut as equals and fellow citizens.