Spokane Editor Grudgingly Concedes Women the Ballot — and Fears for Their Womanhood

The bill authorizing women to vote has passed the Territorial Legislature and only awaits the signature of the Governor to become a law. Now the female has the same inalienable rights heretofore enjoyed alone by the rougher sex. The lady politician steps into the arena and wields an influence. It will be an oddity to see the female ward-striker sail down to the polls on election days, with her hands full of tickets and a gin in the pocket of her polonaise or some other fixing, ready to wheedle the unsuspecting voter into throwing his ballot, or to take a hand in a row. She is to crowd herself among rough men, forget her sex and the high station God has created her to fill, and come down to take part in the tricks and intrigues and not always reputable proceedings of an election. She may succeed in elevating territorial politics, which would be an occasion for congratulation; but if the politics had the effect of lowering the woman, what then? We are not opposed to women enjoying all the rights and privileges of men, but there are privileges, if exercised, that will not make women more womanly. Ladies have always held a warm spot in our affections. We confess this without a blush. There is nothing in the world that ought to be more respected by man than woman. He who has a wife, or mother, or sister, should feel thus if he possesses a semblance of manhood. Women should be elevated to the highest pinnacle in a man's esteem. She was created to occupy a sphere above that of her male protector. She leans upon the man. Too often is the support unworthy of her, but she still clings and confides, believes. She is an angel, and as such is worthy the homage of the lesser being. We have no desire to see woman step down from that height wherein she is fixed, nor to change a particle the good opinion of them we have always entertained. But can she wield the influence, can she retain the same position in the heart's of men, if she is to take on active part in politics? Would not the sight of a woman haranguing a crowd on the street corner, or guarding the polls watching votes, or stepping up to the polls among a crowd of men, many of whom may be skeptical as it regards women's motives, disgust the majority of men? Why? We may differ in this instance with the majority, and may come to see the error after the novelty wears off, but just now we are not too favorably impressed with the new law.