Part 24 (1/2)
The State of Wyoming, Office of the Secretary of State.
Cheyenne, June 5, 1903.
Mr. Daniel DeLeon, New York City:
Dear Sir--Replying to your letter of June 1st, would say that the Legislature of Wyoming was not in session in 1894, and did not pa.s.s any resolutions on Woman Suffrage in 1893 or 1895.
I enclose herewith the resolutions adopted by the Legislature of 1901, and also Senate and House resolutions adopted in 1903 on the subject of Woman Suffrage. Yours truly,
F. Chatterton, Secretary of State.
The resolutions enclosed in the above letter were these:
[House Joint Resolution No. 8, adopted February, 1901.]
Whereas, Wyoming was the first state to adopt equal suffrage and equal suffrage has been in operation since 1869; was adopted in the const.i.tution of the State of Wyoming in 1890, during which time women have exercised the privilege as generally as men, with the result that better candidates have been selected for office, methods of election have been purified, the character of legislation improved, civic intelligence increased and womanhood developed to greater usefulness by political responsibility;
Therefore, Resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That, in view of these results, the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women in every state and territory of the American Union is hereby recommended as a measure tending to the advancement of a higher and better social order.
That an authenticated copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the Governor of the state to the legislature of every state and territory, and that the press be requested to call public attention to these resolutions.
Edward W. Stone, President of Senate.
J. S. Atherly, Speaker of House.
Approved February 13th, 1901.
DeF. Richards, Governor.
[Senate and House Resolution, Seventh Legislature, 1903.]
Whereas, The question of equal suffrage is being seriously considered in many States of the Union; and,
Whereas, Equal suffrage has been in operation in Wyoming ever since Territorial days in 1869, during which time women have exercised the privilege of voting generally and intelligently, with the result that a higher standard of candidates have usually been selected for office; elections have been made peaceful, orderly and dignified; the general character of legislation improved; intelligence in political, civic and social matters greatly increased; and,
Whereas, Under the responsibilities incident to suffrage the women of Wyoming have not in any sense been deprived of any of their womanly qualities, but on the contrary the womanhood of Wyoming has developed to a broader usefulness; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the Wyoming Legislature, That in view of the beneficence and practical results of equal suffrage for men and women in Wyoming, the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women is hereby endorsed as a great national reform and a measure that will improve and advance the political and social conditions of the country at large.
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, President National Women Suffrage a.s.sociation, 2008 American Tract Society Building, New York, and to Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, National Treasurer, Warren, Ohio.
G. A. Guernsey, Approved February 19th, 1903. President of the Senate.
DeF. Richards, Governor.
J. S. Atherly, Speaker of the House.
Agitational literature on woman suffrage, furnished by the Boston, Ma.s.s., ”Woman's Journal,” after the above note was in print, gives the address cited in the text, but not as issued by the Legislature of Wyoming, nor in 1894. The address was adopted in March, 1893, by the House of Representatives of the Wyoming Legislature, just before the final adjournment of the body, and was not acted upon by the Senate.--THE TRANSLATOR.
[155] In Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming women have full suffrage, and vote for all officers, including Presidential electors. In Utah and Wyoming woman suffrage is a const.i.tutional provision.