Woman's World Column - April 9, 1885

In 1885, Catt (Carrie Lane) resigned from her position as superintendent of schools in Mason City, Iowa, and married Leo Chapman, editor of the Mason City Republican, a weekly newspaper. She became co-editor of the newspaper and started the column “Woman's World,” which she wrote would be “devoted to the discussion of such questions as purport to the welfare, the social, political and intellectual position of women.”

(letter to the newspaper):

Ed. WOMAN’S WORLD: Following the example of S.E. I want to express my thankfulness to you for having introduced a Woman’s column in THE REPBULICAN. I have long regretted the apathy of the suffragists in this county. Now, I want to ask through your paper, why some organization cannot be effected. Nearly all other counties and towns have them. There is also a state suffrage association. I know no reason why Cerro Gordo Women should be so far behind all others. I am sure it is not because of a lack of interest or conviction. We might not hope that much good would result from it, but it would do part and “every little helps.” Please tell us what you think of it. PHILLIS.

Your plan is without doubt a good one. Every State and Territory in the Union, besides many foreign nations, have well organized suffrage association, which are steadily growing in size and influence. Through these organizations much has been accomplished.

In England, Scotland, Wales, Ontario and Nova Scotia, single women and widows have full suffrage open municipal matters. In the United States women can vote upon school questions in twelve states. They have full suffrage in three territories and bills granting either partial or full suffrage are pending in several states. All this is directly the result of organized advocation of the cause.

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The recent defeat of the suffrage bill in Dakota is not to be regarded as a permanent rebuff to the cause. It should be no source of discomfiture to suffragists. Reforms of all kinds have grown sluggishly and public sentiment is slowly educated. No step of progress was ever made but its advocates fought dearly for the victory. Such an important advance as this, which would raise half our population from total dependence to a position of absolute independence, was never accomplished in a single generation. That women will have a voice in governmental affairs is inevitable. Equity demands it. Justice will conquor in the end.

For right is right, since God is God,
And right the day will win,
To doubt would be disloyalty
To falter would be sin.

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The Rhode Island legislature has passed a bill to submit a woman’s suffrage amendment to the people.

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Many women voted at the school election in the city of Portland, Oregon last Monday. They came to the polls, deposited their ballots, and returned to their homes. Among them were the wives of three men who have declared that under no circumstances should their consorts destroy their modesty and ruin their character by such brazen conduct. Not a woman was injured in the least. All deported themselves as though stepping to a box office to purchase a ticket for an entertainment, to a market to order a roust, or to a bank to deposit money. And it would be the same were they to vote at a general election, where their presence would have an excellent effect on the men who gather at the polls. They are needed much worse at general than at school elections.

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The women of Dakota own half the land and pay three-fourths of all the taxes. –Henry (Dak.) Republican.
But they are denied all voice in the government whose bills they pay. And this in the country which waged a war to convince the world that taxation and .representation should be inseparable.—New Northwest.

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The Woman’s Journal contains the following letter from Judge Brown of Laramie, Wyoming, in answer to a letter from a Dakota lady, inquiring in regard to the effect of women’s suffrage in Wyoming:

My dear Madam, –My prejudices were formerly all against women suffrage, but they have gradually given way since it became an established fact in Wyoming.

You ask,”Has woman’s suffrage worked good or evil in Wyoming?” I answer unqualifiedly it has worked good.

Again you ask, “What class of women go to the polls?” I answer, all classes. Women vote as generally as men and are no more restricted in the use of the ballot.

My observation of the workings of woman suffrage, extending over a period of fifteen years, satisfies me of its entire justice and propriety. Impartial observation has also satisfied me that in the use of the ballot women exercise fully as good judgement as men, and in some particular are more discriminating, as for instance on questions of morals.

You further ask “Has it a degrading influence?” Again I answer positively no—a very loud no. I should laugh at this last question if it were not asked in such evident good faith. Just think of the ridiculousness of it. My wife goes with me to church and prayer-meeting. We also associate in the family circle from day to day, without apparent injury to her. She also takes my arm and we walk to the polls together and deposit our ballots. Isn’t it ridiculous to suppose our association in the latter act would be more injurious than in the former? It seems so to me.

“Is the report true that ladies there are petitioning the Legislature to repeal the law?” I answer no, positively no. Any such statement is unqualifiedly false.

I believe I have answered your several questions. I will only add in conclusion, that woman’s suffrage is as firmly established in Wyoming as man’s suffrage and the latter is in as much danger of repeal or abridgment as the former. Our people are satisfied with it, and are proud of the fact that the youngest of the territories has set an example that all the older ones and the several states of the Union or sooner or later sure to follow. I am, madam, your most obedient,

MELVILLE C. BROWN.

Chapman, Carrie Lane. 1885. “Woman’s World.” Mason City Republican, April 9.

PDF version, courtesy of Mason City Public Library