| Show Partial Suffrage The Illinois state senate has taken a step in the direction of woman suffrage We believe women have been permitted to vote on schOol boards for some time in Illinois as they have in several other states Butunder the bill which is likely to become a law all women above the age of twentyone years who are citizens of the United States and have resided in the state one year and in the county ninety days and in the election district thirty days will be allowed to vote for supervisors super-visors town clerks assessors and highway high-way commissioners also to participate in and vote at all annual special town meetings meet-ings Women voters are to have separate ballots and separate ballot boxes This measure is advocated by papers that have not been favorable to woman suffrage They argue that women ought to have a voice in a matter that ia so vital as taxation The only way to limit taxation tax-ation is by valuation The assessorsjmake the valuation and they are elected by the people Many women pay taxes directly on property held by them in their own right and all are interested in the taxes that are paid therefore they should have a voice in the election of the assessor If this is sound argumentwe do not say it is notit will hold good in other matters Legislatures fix the rates taxation tax-ation Hall who are interested in taxpaying tax-paying should be allowed to vote for the nicer who assesses the taxes they should be also allowed to vote for the legislators who fix the rates Once admit the principle of woman suffrage suf-frage as right and its exercise expedient in any particular and the way is open to equal suffrage in all matters that affect the welfare of citizens These preliminary steps may be regarded as preparatory to the adoption of the principle fully in the states where the experiment is being made and if it is found to work favorably there to its general establishment where a majority of the women desire it Wyoming appears to be confirmed in its adhesion to equal suffrage In Kansas Kan-sas recently a township election was held in which women participated A large vote was polled the election passed off quietly and the effect is pronounced good The prejudice against this measure will take some time to obliterate There is a deepseated antipathy to the mingling of women with political struggles and disturbances dis-turbances It is felt more than reasoned perhaps that this would be degrading to the sex Many of the most chivalrous of men object to it and shrink from what the think would be a contamination But the greatest obstacles in the way of woman suffrage are the women themselves them-selves Say what they will who are favorable to it the majority of women are either hostile or Indifferent to it And until that sentiment is changed it is not probable that there will be much general change in the laws in that respect When the women of this country be Q come converted to the doctrine and have sufficient interest in it to demand it we believeit will not be long delayed It may argued that those who want it should not be deprived it by those who do not But there is something in the matter that is beyond mere argument it is the wish and the will of the great masses ot those who would be affected by it Until they call for it it is not likely to come |
