ddress you on this
important occasion is fully appreciated. I am here in behalf
of the women of our territory, who are opposed to being left
in the State organization with no more authority in the
government than paupers, lunatics and idiots. We are willing
to do one-half of the manual labor in this country, and will
promptly pay our portion of the taxes. As sober and peaceful
citizens, we compare favorably with the other sex. I have
the honor to present to you a petition signed by hundreds of
Day county voters, praying your honorable body not to allow
the word "male" to be incorporated within our State
constitution. There is no doubt that this petition speaks
the honest sentiment of the people throughout the territory.
In but a single instance was I refused a name, and in a
second case a man hesitated, saying, "Well, now, if it's as
many rights you're wantin' es I hev got fur meself, you'll
be after signin' my name fur me--fur I niver do any writin'
at all fur meself." And yet that man whose name I had to
write has more rights in this, his adopted country, than I
and all other women have in this our native land. The right
of franchise, which has heretofore been regarded as a
privilege, should more properly be considered a right--a
right to be exercised by every citizen for the public good.
If there is not another woman in Dakota who wants to vote, I
do! There is no doubt that many women are indifferent upon
this subject, but when once given the ballot you will see
that their progress will equal, if not exceed, that of the
emancipated slaves in the South. Look at Wyoming Territory,
where woman suffrage has a fair test; no one will deny it
has proved a marked success. Elections there now are quiet
and more orderly than they are elsewhere. Before the
enfranchisement of the women of Wyoming, election days were
a terror generally, being both boisterous and riotous. It is
really true that Dakota men are the most energetic and
enterprising anywhere to be found, and in number they
largely exceed our women. Gentlemen, make this the most
advantageous State for women, and they