The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-03-08
SUFFRAGE GRANTED
BY 18TH ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENTIAL AND MUNICIPAL
RIGHTS ARE NOW ENACTED
INTO LAW.
FULL FRANCHISE IN SIGHT
Both Houses Nearly Unanimous in
Support Of These Biils-Ma
Advantages to Women Of
the State.

Senate Bill No. IL. giving to the
women Of North Dakota limited suf-
frage Is the most important legisla-
ton ever secured in h interests of
the women of the state. 1t c~onfers suf-
frage to the fullest extent permitted
by the limitations of the state consti-
tuition. Senate Bill No. 10 amends the
constitution by striking out the word
male and gives the women full suf-
frage on equal terms with men. 1t
must, however, pass the 1919 session
Of the legislature and then be ratified
by the voters in the fall of 1920 and
requires only q majority Of the votes
cast on the question.
Senate Bill No. IL goes into effect
July l. 1917. After that date every
woman in the state who is of the age
of tw~enty-one and has lived in the
state one year and in the county six
months and in the precinct ninety
days, may have a voice in the govern
ment Of the township, village or city
In which she lives.
Women in h rural districts will
have the pleasure Of accompanying
their husbands, sons and brothers to
the annual Or special town meetings
n participating in the business
transacted. The annual town meeting
Is held the first Tuesday an March, at
which time officers are elected, rules
dIlu Hllu0 ~ Tic buSlIttSS
of the town and the town tax levied.
Women may vote for the following
township officers: Clerk, assessor,
treasurer, overseer Of highways. aud
constables.
In the incorporated villages women
will vote for trustees. clerk. assessor,
treasurer n marshal.
In cities governed by a and
council, women will vote for alder
men, q and treasurer. The other
. officers-except police magistrate and
city justice, are appointed by the Ii
Gil. The appoinrive officers are audi
tor, city attorney. city assessor, health
officer and heads Of departmnnts-po-
lice, fire, water. health and streets. In
cities under the commission form of
government, women will vote for the
five commissioners: one Of whom will
be elected presidCn. OF the board of
commissioners The others will he in
charge Of the following departments:
police and fire; street and public i'm
~provernents: water works and sewer
age: finance n revenue
In the county WOmen NAV vote for
county surveyors aud c~onstahleS. hey
may also vote on all questions or prop
ositions submitted to the township,
village, city or county. This includes
questions Of taxes, bonds. franchises,
etc, etc.
In addition to all this. last but not
least, women la vote for president
of the United States. This doubles the
presidential voting population of
North Dakota and greatly increases
the political Importance Of this state.
The DIRECTORS to oma suffrage
have argued that the average woman
will not use the ballot. The women Of
the suffrage states have proved that
the average woman is as vitality inter-
ested in governmental house keeping
rs is the average man.
We believe the women Of North Da-
kota will meet this challenge by TAX
ing up the study Of North Dakota
civics in Votes for Women leagues,
Woman's Christian Temperance un-
ions. Improvement leagues and Study
clubs to prepare themselves for a high
order Of intelligent citizenship. and
that they will use to the fullest extent
the franchise conferred upon them.
ELIZABETH P. ANDERSON.