Colorado was not
easily won over to the cause of woman suffrage. The struggle which began
in the first decade of its history was marked by many, and to begin with,
almost constant defeats. There was first of all a heterogeneous population
the worst element of which, fortunately, soon disappeared, leaving the
solid pioneers to carve out the destiny of the country.
In the
southern part of the state there was a large Mexican population, which
could not understand the problems that agitated the better educated
classes of the territory. There was, moreover, a strong opposing saloon
element, which finally had to be caught napping.
In the
Territorial Legislature, 1868, the first effort was made by former
Governor John Evans and D. M. Richards, of Denver, to bring the matter of
equal suffrage in Colorado to a test vote. It found few friends at this
early stage.
On January 3, 1870, Gen. Edward McCook, then governor
of the territory, in his annual message to the Legislature used the
following language, recommending the granting of the franchise to women:
"Before dismissing the subject of franchise, I desire to call your
attention to one question connected with it, which you may deem of
sufficient importance to demand some consideration at your hands before
the close of the session. Our higher civilization has recognized woman's
equality with man in all other respects save one, suffrage. It has been
said that no great reform was ever made without passing through three
stages, ridicule, argument and adoption. It rests with you to say whether
Colorado will accept this reform in its first stage, as our sister
territory of Wyoming has done, or in the last; whether she will be a
leader in the movement or a follower; for the logic of a progressive
civilization leads to the inevitable result of a universal suffrage."
When the subject was brought before the House and council it found its
champions far more numerous than when the first effort was made, and it
became evident immediately that Colorado had jumped from the stage of
"ridicule" to that of reasonable argument. Advocates of the measure then
introduced but not passed by the Legislature were Judge Amos Steck, Judge
M. De France, D. M. Richards and Willard Teller. Both Judges Steck and De
France in presenting committee reports to the House and council made
elaborate arguments favoring the proposition. Woman suffrage was lost in
the council chamber by a majority of one, and in the House by practically
a two-thirds vote against it. But it must be remembered that any measure
publicly approved by Governor McCook at this time was bound to meet with
opposition in the House, which showed its un-friendliness to him in
various ways; the anti-McCook faction being always strong enough to defeat
any pet measure advocated by the governor.
Nothing further was
accomplished for woman suffrage until 1876, statehood year, and on January
loth, anticipating admission to statehood, a Territorial Woman's Suffrage
Society was organized and an enthusiastic meeting held in Unity Church,
Denver. Its first officers were as follows:
President, Alida C. Avery, M. D., Denver
Vice Presidents
Reverend Mr. Hosford of Denver
J. E. Washburn of Big Thompson
Mrs.
H. M. Lee of Longmont
Mrs. M. M. Sheetz of Caņon City
Mrs. L. S.
Ruhn of Del Norte
Mrs. N. C. Meeker of Greeley
Willard Teller of
Central
D. M. Richards of Denver
J. B. Harrington of Littleton
A. E. Lee of Boulder
Rev. William Shepard of Canon City
Recording secretary, Mrs. Eunice D. Sewall of Denver
Corresponding
secretary, Mrs. A. L. Washburn of Big Thompson
Treasurer, Mrs. lone T.
Hanna of Denver
Executive committee
Mrs. W. P. Shields of Colorado
Springs
A. L. Ellis of Boulder
M. E. Hale of Denver
Mrs. W. A.
Wilkes of Colorado Springs
J. K. Hanna of Denver
Mrs. S. C. Wilber
of Greeley
Reverend Doctor Crary of Pueblo
History of Colorado
Source: History of Colorado, Wilbur
Fisk Stone, Editor, Volume I, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Company, 1918 |
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