m records sent us
by Mrs. Marietta Bones, to whom we are indebted for this chapter,
there seem to have been some spasmodic climatic influences at work,
though not sufficiently strong as yet to get that odious word
"male" out of the constitution. Our Dakota historian says:

The territorial legislature, in the year 1872, came within one
vote of enfranchising women. That vote was cast by Hon. W. W.
Moody, who, let it be said to his credit, most earnestly espoused
the cause in our constitutional convention in 1883, and said in
the course of his remarks: "Are not my wife and daughter as
competent to vote as I am to hold office?" which question caused
prolonged laughter among the most ignorant of the delegates, and
cries of, "You're right, Judge!" Although it is deeply to be
regretted that through one vote twelve years ago our women were
deprived of freedom, yet we must forgive Judge Moody on the
ground that "it is never too late to mend."

In February, 1879, the legislature revised the school law, and
provided that women should vote at school meetings. That law was
repealed in March, 1883, by the school township law, which
requires regular polls and a private ballot, so, of course,
excluding women from the small privilege given them in 1879. That
act, however, excepted fifteen counties[453]--the oldest and most
populous--which had districts fully established, and therein
women still vote at school meetings.

In townships which are large and have many schools under one
board and no districts, the people select which school they
desire their children to attend. The persons who may so select
are parents: first, the father; next, the mother, if there be no
father living; guardians (women or men), and "persons having in
charge children of school age." These persons hold a meeting
annually of their "school," and such women vote there, and one of
them may be chosen moderator for the school, to hold one year.
This office is a sort of responsible agency for the school, and
between it and the township board.

Since the legislation upon the subject of school suffrage there
has not been much work done for the promotion of the cause. The
wide distances between towns and the sparsely settled country
make our people comparative strangers to each other. We lack
organiz