ct meetings the
same as men, the first one to contain such a provision. This excluded
all women in first and second class cities in after years, as their
school affairs are not managed through district meetings. When a test
case was made it was decided by the Supreme Court that no women could
legally vote for State or county superintendents, but only for
trustees. (5th Kansas, p. 227.) Both the constitution and the statutes
are confused as to the qualifications of those who may vote for
various county and township officers but women never have been
permitted to do so.

In 1887 the Legislature granted Municipal Suffrage to women. The law
is as follows:

In any election hereafter held in any city of the first, second
or third class, for the election of city or school officers, or
for the purpose of authorizing the issuance of any bonds for
school purposes, the right of any citizen to vote shall not be
denied or abridged on account of sex; and women may vote at such
elections the same as men, under like restrictions and
qualifications; and any women possessing the qualifications of a
voter under this act shall also be eligible to any such city or
school office.

This law includes women in all of the villages, as these are known as
"third class cities." Women in country districts, however, continue to
have only a limited School Suffrage. It does not give women a vote on
any questions of taxation which are submitted to the electors except
for school purposes.

Nevertheless this was an advanced step which attracted the attention
of the entire country. While in Wyoming women had Full Suffrage, it
was a sparsely settled Territory, with few newspapers and far removed
from centers of political activity. Kansas was a battle-ground for
politics, and great interest was felt in the new forces which had been
called into action. From the first women very extensively took
advantage of their new privilege. It was granted February 15 and the
next municipal election took place April 5, so there were only a few
weeks in which to accustom them to the new idea, make them acquainted
with the issues, settle the disputed points and give them a chance to
register. The question was at once raised whether they could vote for
justices of the peace and constables, and at a late hour
Attorney-General S. B. Bradford gave his opinion that they could not
do so, as these are township officers. This made s