 | University of Virginia record October 1, 1914 |  |
Women's Small School Vote.
The size of men's vote is just in proportion to the size of the election.
At presidential elections it is very large, at state elections
much smaller, at a municipal election smaller still, and at school
elections, wherever these are held separately, only a fraction of the
men turn out to vote. The smallness of the woman's school vote
is regrettable, but it is only a new proof of the truth of Mrs. Poyser's
immortal saying: "I am not denying that women are foolish;
God Almighty made them to match the men!"
In Kansas women were given school suffrage in 1861. Their vote
was small. In 1887 they were given full municipal suffrage. Their
vote at once became much larger, and has increased at successive
elections. In 1912, they were given the full ballot, and their vote
increased much more.
In Colorado women were given school suffrage in 1876. Their
vote was small. In 1893 they were given the full ballot, and on January
unanimous vote of both Houses, that "during this time (the preceding
five years) women have exercised the privilege as generally
as men."
In the states of Oregon and Washington, women had the school
ballot for many years, and their vote was small. Now that they
have gained full suffrage it has become large.
The women's school vote has completely disproved the fear that
the bad women would be the first to rush to the polls. In answer to
the prediction that the best women will not vote, Col. Higginson
says: "In Massachusetts, under school suffrage, the complaint has
been that only the best women vote."
| University of Virginia record October 1, 1914 | |