New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-24
DECLARES EQUAL
SUFFRAGE RIGHT
Senator Shafroth Asserts
Colorado Has Proved
Its Success.
-From The Tribune Bure,n !

Washington, April 23-"Eoual SUI
frage is right, expedient and prac-
ticable and the highest considerations
OF good government demand its adop-
tion. EQUAL suffrage in Colorado has
caused no tendency in men TO omit the
politeness and gallantry TO woman.
which She always has commanded. Il
has not lowered the ideals Of woman
nor changed her refined, womsnly quail
tiles"
These expressions were contained in
- interview given out to-day by Sen
ator John Z. Shafroth. Of Colorado, who
defends woman sutiragc IN his own
state against charges recently made by
!. q. Mailing. OF Denver. that equal suf-
fragc had proved a failure in Colorado.
NJ attention has been directed to
statements made by Mr.. Mailing and
published DO Iowa papers that woman
suffrage was failure and should be
Abandoned said Senator Shafroth.
"Thcsc statements arc not substantiated
by the facts, and while would not dig
rifv them by calling attention TO his
specific indictments ] wish TO state that,
in my judgment, the experience of
twenty three years of equal suffrage IN
the State Of Colorado has conclusively
demonstrated It's righteousness. its OK
pediency and its practcability from
every point OF view.
do women want equal suffrage? ASK
the women OF Colorado. Submit the
question 20 those who have tried II, and
scarcely q small minority can be found
10 vote against H. Whenever a law IS
disapprovcd by tho people expression
Of that sentiment is found in appeals
for ITS repeal. Colorado has had equal
suffrage for twcnty-three years, yet no
petitions for its repeal have ever been
presented.
"The fact that no member of tho
General Assembly OF Colorado has ever
even introduced a bill 10 resubmit the
question 20 the people shows that there
is no demand for any change In the
elective franchise OF that state.
Furthermore, ! believe IN amending
the Federal Constitution 50 as 10 pro
vide equal suffrage. To US Of Colorado
who believe that influence IN govern
mcnt has always been, and is sure TO
continue 70 be, TO, the advancement OF
all good and moral legislation, II IS IN.
conceivable that woman's right TO vote
could DO any harm or wrong 10 any
state.
"M oman g presence IN tolorado pom
tics has introduced an independent ele-
mcnt which comjels better nominations
and better officials ], has not caused
-ho neglect by women of their home du-
ties IL has not been the cause for do
nestle dissension or divorce. Judge
George ". Allen. Of the Colorado Dis
trict bench, in writing to me on tins
question. declared that IN his twenty
wears on the bench he had not known
of divorce case wherein il was claimed
or suggested that political differences
i'm any manner had been the cause o'
trouble between husband and wife
Letters Of similar import were sent TO
me by all the other district judges IN
Colorado.
Every moral law or movement IN our
state has had the support Of large
majority Of the women. Il was the In
tcrparliamentary Union AZ London
which declared that Colorado has the
.ancs.. most humane. most progressive
most scientific laws relating TO the
child 20 be found on any statute book
in the world