The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-07

HOW WOMEN MAY VOTE
directions Given For Getting Name.
on Tax List.

on Tax List.
Votes for women seem to come
hard even after the law is made ant
signed but at last clue has been sup
piled that will help the women in get
ting their names on the check list
The following letter from the Yer
mont Equal suffrage association real
ly gives some information
To the Women of the State of Yer
a.. mont
The suffragists of this state have
been working for a term of ovel
thirty years to secure the passage OF
a town and municipal suffrage bill
they are now rejoicing that their eff
forts have been crowned with success
AS we now have the implement OF
power, the ballot, for the protection
of home, family. property and com
munity interests, we must go forward
and at the same time arouse the indif.
ferent.
The suffrage bill has now been sign.
ed by the Governor and reads thus:-
"A female citizen 21 years of age
whose list is taken In town at the
annual assessment preceding town
meeting, and where tax or taxes due
such town were paid prior to the 18th.
day of February preceding town
meeting, shall while residing In such
town be voter in town meeting"
The town referred to includes
village and city meetings.
Women who already have grand
70 trA tnt,fd
now legal voters
Under theinew law there Is no Doll
tax provision.
Women desiring to vote at the next
March meeting should as soon as pos
sible after April first, procure a blank
inventory from the listers of town or
city. fill it out, signing the same and
returning to the listers not later than
April goth. making sure their names
are placed upon the check list.
The taxation law provides that per-
sons having property. either personal
or real fill out such inventory for tax
alton purposes We would suggest
that they not enter such articles as
watches or pianos unless they possess
more than one. but enter money on
hand not in the bank, the amount
rangings from one to five dollars and
up.
The same may be listed under para
graph 25-section c, or furniture in
excess of $5O000, may be listed under
paragraph 16--section C. of the blank
inventory.
The amount of tax upon these items
would not prove burdensome from
twenty-five cents up, according to the
amount listed and the rate of tax.
Failure TO fill out such inventory
and return same within the specified
time-(before April 20th.) would de.
bar woman from voting until March
1919. this is why we urge immediate
action.
Under the school law women now
have same rights as men" Men are
obliged to take the freemans oath.
while this is not required of women to
vote III town meeting, it is required of
them TO vote in school meetings.
To avoid any confusion or possible
question, We would suggest that all
women go before the board of civil
authority and take the freemans oath,
which is a simple process, and at this
critical period of the nations history.
would seem TO be an act of patriot
ism. Women can take this oath of
allegiance singly or in groups
Ii is earnestly hoped that the wo-
men of the state will now avail them
selves of this long waited for oppor-
tunity. and qualify at once, they will
then be ready TO vote at the next
March meeting upon all community in
terests such as public improvements
sanitary regulations, appropriation of
money, election Of town and munici-
pal officers, questions of bonding,
schools. etc. F
+ We desire to reach the women of
your town and every town in the state
at once and We strongly urge you to
call as many other workers to your as
sistance as possible. Delay may mean
serious defeat to some greatly needed
question before your next town meet
ing. Do not disappoint u.s.
The Vermont Equal
Guffroua AccAo;atio,,