443 Votes, Horse-Drawn Turnout, and a Suffrage Preview
Newport’s school election drew a crowd, brought women into the campaign, and ended without ill feeling—just a hint of what Washington might see once women could vote.
The school election of last Saturday turned out to be a most exciting game. K. S. Appel, whose term as director was about to expire, was a candidate for re-election. Opposed to him was George Torreson, superintendent of the Fidelity mill. When the polls were opened those present selected A. M. Appel and A. S. Sherlock as judges of election, with D. H. Lusher as clerk.
The polls were open from 1 to 8 p.m. It soon became apparent that a large vote was to be cast, and several teams were engaged to bring out the ladies, and to bring in voters from the outlying parts of the district. A total of 443 votes were cast, of which Appel received 238 and Torreson 203. Two votes were thrown out as defective.
Although intense interest was displayed and every effort made to get out a large vote no ill-feeling was manifested. The interest shown by the ladies and their methods of campaigning for favorites are an indication of what may be expected if Washington should adopt woman's suffrage when the matter comes before the voters next fall.
“The interest shown by the ladies and their methods of campaigning for favorites are an indication of what may be expected if Washington should adopt woman's suffrage when the matter comes before the voters next fall.”
School-board elections still hinge on turnout, but today’s get-out-the-vote drives run on texts and social media rather than teams and wagons. The 1910 contest also previewed the suffrage fight: Washington men would approve women’s suffrage that November, and women were already doing the political work.
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