Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-05-19
WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
In Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Utah,
Idaho, Arizona, Alaska Territory,
Illinois, Nevada and Montana.

In Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Utah,
Idaho, Arizona, Alaska Territory,
Illinois, Nevada and Montana.
America was the first place in which
was representative government by
men. Margaret Brent of Maryland in
1647 was the first woman denied her
demand for ''Place & Voyce." And
ever since, legislatures have denied to
women inalienable rights. Wyoming
is the pioneer equal suffrage state in
America, full political equality having
been the basis of its government, as
long as it had any government. The
very first legislative council, after its
organization as territory, passed in
1869 bill providing that women
should have the same rights as men to
vote and hold office. When the terri
tory of Wyoming was admitted as
state in 1890, before any other state
had given women the vote, equal
suffrage was made part of its consti-
tuition, since which time, space of 40
years, every governor has testified to
its good effects. In 1893 and again in
1899 the house of representatives
adopted resolutions declaring that
woman suffrage had been an unmixed
advantage to the state. Practically
all the adult women in the state are
married and are heads of households.
so few women have been Office holders
there. In 1910 woman was member
of the house of representatives and in
1912 two more women were elected to
the house, one, Mrs. Anna B. Miller,
a mother of six children, and one of
her sons served in the legislature the
year previous. A woman mayor has
served in Dayton, and earlier. women
served on juries to excellent effect.
Women have helped to make gambling
illegal, have helped to give women
rights over their own property. provided
that men and women teachers should
receive equal pay for equal work, have
raised age of protection of young girls
to 18 years, have helped plan penalties
for child neglect. abuse and cruelty,
making it unlawful to sell liquor or
tobacco to children, providing for the
care of dependent children and intirm,
INDECENT or incompetent persons. Chief
Justice Groesbeck says, "We have lost
nothing but gained much by our many
years of equal rights. The women
electors Of Wyoming are as modest.
womanly and God-fearing as the
women of New England ard we would
not discard the home element in our
politics if we could"
upon women by enactment of law,
which was submitted to the voters.
Practically every public man Of i'm
portance in the state, has at various
time commended the women in public
affairs. Not six men of standing have
been induced to assert over their own
signature that woman suffrage has
brought one single evil or failed to
effect improvements. In 1899 Colorado
legislature passed by vote of 45 to {
in the house and 80 to in the senate
a resolution declaring that women haC
used the vote as generallys as men,
with the result that better candidates
had been elected for office. election
methods had been purified, the char.
acter of legislation improved, civic
intelligence increased and womanbooC
developed. Colorado Equal Suffrage
Aid association, with eminent men tt
supply accurate information regarding
the system. has greatly helped tt
educate women. Women have helc
office more extensively in Colorado
than in any other state so far. One
or more women have been elected tC
the house of representatives. except
during six years. from 1903 to 1909
Four served in 1911. In 1912 {
woman was elected to the senate fol
Iu0 uISL tiLI6s MIS-. lSI0n hlQg TGODIn-
son of Denver. The same year there
were two women in the house of repre-
sentatives. The office of state super
intendent Of public instruction has
always been given to woman since
1893. Mrs. Helen L. GrenfelI was
twice reelected and is now serving as
one of the three state prison commits
sioners, under whom a number of stats
prison reforms have been introduced
Women very generally hold county auC
city Offices. Though women were
eligible TO sit on the jury,yet they have
never been impaneIed, except II
special cases. A large number of laws
affecting the welfare of women and
children and the home have beer
enacted largely through women's
votes. All such laws mentioned as
having been enacted with women's
help in Wyoming have been so made il
Colorado. and many additional ones
One, making the wife the head of the
family when the husband does MOI
provide principal support. Making il
crime for any person under Is years
of age to work as servant or employed
in a house of i'll fame. Making
immoral solicitation felony. Requir