The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-10-26
Are You a
 Good Citizen?
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE WOMEN OF ALASKA

When the men of Alaska through their representives in the first Ter ritorial Legislature, met to lay the foundation for self-government in this mighty Empire of the North, they gave first consideration to an act that conferred full citizenship upon their women. But the politi- cal equality thus established did not include the right of women to serve a3 jurors, qualification for jury ser vice being fixed in the federal statute by the designation male citizen.
 Beginning with the war period when there was noticeable absence of desirable men for jury service, there has been an increasing demand chiefly on the part of law-enforce- permitted to qualify as jurors. In recognition of this demand the iaSr Territorial Legislature passed an Act
 ''To provide for an expres-
 sion by the female electors
 of the Territory of Alaska
 of their desire for an enact
 ment of law imposing
 upon them the same duty
 to serve as jurors as is now
 imposed on men,"
 At the next general election, November ', 1922, separate ballot will be distributed to all women voters, on which will be printed For a law requiring women to serve as jurors"
 Against a law requiring women to serve as jurors"
 Mote: Place cross (X) opposite your choice
 In placing this proposition before us, the use of the term Requiring women to serve as jurors is mis- leading. This vote will be only an expression of opinion; it has no legal status whatever. If we vote FOR a law making women eligible to jury service. we can then determine the character of the law for which We shall ask the Congress; and it is our intention, as leaders of the two lar gest organizations of women in Alas ka, to ask that jury service of women be made permissible but not con- pulsory. Under such a law any woman who canot, or who does not wish to serve on a jury, may simply ask to be excused. No hardship will be inflicted upon the mothers of young children or other too busy housewives; and the handicap will b. removed from women whose circum- stances render them free and able to accept jury service.
 The Nineteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution enfranchised 26,O00,00 women. In all of the earlier so-called suffrage states women have long been rendering acceptable service as jurors. Many eminent judges testify to that effect. In many of the other states, notably in the south and east, women are asking to be qualified as jurors by legislative enactment. Shall we pioneer women of the great North west be less patriotic and self sacrificing in our conception of the duties of an American citizen than are our sisters in states where the ment make greater demands upon obligations of larger social environ their time and strength? If we go on record as declining to assume the responsibility of this last and most important service to State and Ma tion, we shall be out of step with the great on-marching host of women in the world Outside, to whom we are bound by ties of fraternal loyalty to the cause of women everywhere.
 The men of Alaska have given us citizenship to the extent of their ability. They give us now ansoppor- tunity to declare our willingness to share with them in the full re- sponsibility of that citizenship.