Faulk County, SD History .....Chapter XXIX - Woman Suffrage Question 1909
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CHAPTER XXIX.

THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE QUESTION.



    No history of Faulk county would be complete without an account of the

earnest and persistent work done by some of our Faulk county ladies along the

line of the Woman Suffrage movement.



    As early as 1872 the territorial legislature lacked but one vote of

conferring equal suffrage upon the women of South Dakota. While the territory

was too sparsely settled for thorough' and successful organization, there were

enough earnest, intelligent, educated women scattered over the territory to keep

the fire burning, and in this respect Faulk county occupied an enviable

position, with more than a score of active workers. Mrs. Anna R. Simmons and

Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler should receive special mention. In 1879 the territorial

legislature passed a law giving women the right to vote at school meetings, but

the school township law of 1883 which required regular polls and a private

ballot instead of special meetings, abrogated that right. At the meeting of the

territorial legislature in 1885 Major J. A. Pickler early in the session

introduced a bill in the house granting full suffrage to women of the territory,

as under the organic act, the legislative body had to prescribe the

qualification for the franchise. The bill passed the house, February 11, by a

vote of twenty-nine ayes to nineteen noes. Gov. Gilbert A. Pierce who had been

appointed only a few months before by President Arthur, failed to recognize the

greatest opportunity of his life, the power to enfranchise fifty thousand

American citizens by a single stroke of his pen. Such an opportunity seldom

comes to an American citizen and when so stupidly ignored turns pity into

contempt. In 1887 a law was passed enlarging the school suffrage possessed by

women and giving them the right to vote at all school elections and for all

school officers and also made them eligible for any school office. At this time

under the liberal land law of the United States, more than one-third of all the

land opened to settlement in the territory was held by women.



    In the same legislature of 1887, another effort, was made to pass an equal

suffrage bill and a committee from the franchise department of the Woman's

Christian Temperance Union, consisting of Madams Helen M. Barker, S. V. Wilson

and Alice M. A. Pickler appeared before the committee and presented hundreds of

petitions and able arguments. The committee reported favorably but the bill

failed in its passage to become a law. This is by no means the extent of women's

work and influence in South Dakota. In all its history they have been a power in

all social and moral legislation, especially in regulating where it was not

possible to control.



    In 1885 the American Women's Suffrage Association held a national convention

in Minneapolis, Minn., which was attended by some of the most active and

progressive men and women of this part of the state, and who took an active part

in its proceedings.



    The material for the following write up for another work was furnished the

writer by Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler of Faulkton, who is one of the most

influential workers in the Woman's Suffrage Association in the northwest and has

been honored with the presidency of the South Dakota State Suffrage Association.

In June, 1883, a convention was held at Huron.



    [History of South Dakota (Robinson), chapter 102, page 597:]

    "The territory of Dakota was created in 1861, but in 1889 it entered the

Union divided into two separate states, North and South Dakota. As early as 1872

the territorial legislature lacked only one vote of conferring full suffrage on

women. The sparsely settled country and the long distances made any organized

work an impossibility, al though a number of individuals were strong advocates

of equal suffrage. In 1879 women were given the right at school meetings. In

1883 a school township law was passed requiring regular polls and a private

ballot instead of special meetings, which took away the suffrage from women in

all but a few counties.



    At the convening of the territorial legislature in January, 1885, Major J.

A. Pickler (afterwards member of congress), without solicitation, early in the

session introduced a bill in the house granting full suffrage to women, as under

the organic act the legislative body had the power to prescribe the

qualifications for the franchise. The bill passed the house, February llth, by

twenty-nine ayes, nineteen noes. Soon afterward it passed the council by

fourteen ayes, ten noes, and its friends counted the victory won. But Governor

Gilbert A. Pierce, appointed by President Arthur and only a few months in the

territory, failed to recognize the grand opportunity to enfranchise fifty

thousand American citizens by one stroke of his pen, and vetoed the bill. Not

only did it express the sentiment of the representatives elected by the voters,

but it had been generally discussed by the press of the territory and all the

newspapers but one were outspoken for it. An effort was made to carry it over

the governor's veto, but it failed.



    In 1887 a law was passed enlarging the school suffrage possessed by women

and giving them the right to vote at all school elections and for all school

officers, and also making them eligible to any elective school office. At this

time, under the liberal provisions of the United States land laws, more than

one-third of the land in the territory was held by women.



    In the same legislature of 1887 another effort was made to pass an equal

suffrage bill, and a committee from the franchise department of the Woman's

Christian Temperance Union, consisting of Mesdames Helen M. Barker, S. V. Wilson

and Alice M. A. Pickler, appeared before the committee and presented hundreds of

petitions from the men and women of the territory. The committe of both houses

reported favorably, but the bill failed by thirteen votes in the house and six

in the council.



    It was mainly through women's instrumentality that a local option bill was

carried through this legislature, and largely through their exertions that it

was adopted by sixty-five out of the eighty-seven organized counties at the next

general election.



    In October, 1885, the American Woman Suffrage Association held a national

convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was attended by a number of people

from Dakota, who were greatly interested. The next month the first suffrage club

was formed in Webster. Several local societies were afterwards started in the

southern part of the territory, but for five years no attempt was made at

bringing-these together in a convention.



    At the New Orleans Exposition, in 1885, the displays of Kansas, Dakota and

Nebraska taught the world the artistic value of grains and grasses for

decoration, but it was exemplified most strikingly in the Dakota's Woman's

Department, arranged by Mrs. J. M. Melton, of Fargo, Among the industrial

exhibits was a carriage robe sent from a leading furrier to represent the

skillful work of women in his employ. There were also bird fans, a curtain of

duck skins and cases of taxidermy, all prepared and cured by women, and a case

of work from women employed in the printing office of the Fargo Argus. Four

thousand bouquets of grasses were distributed on Dakota Day and carried away as

curious and beautiful memorials. All were made by women in the territory.



    The long contention as to whether the territory should come into the Union

as one state or two, was not decided until 1889, when congress admitted two

states. Thenceforth there were two distinct movements for women suffrage, one in

North Dakota, and one in South Dakota.



SOUTH DAKOTA.



    [The editor is indebted to Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler, of Faulkton, president

of the State Woman Suffrage Association, for the material contained in this part

of the chapter.]



    In June, 1883, a convention was held at Huron to discuss the question of

dividing the territory and forming two states, and a convention was called to

meet at Sioux Falls, September 4th, and prepared a constitution for those in the

southern portion. The suffrage leaders in the East were anxious that this should

include the franchise for women. Mrs. Matilda Joslyn Gage, of New York, vice

president at large of the National Suffrage Association, lectured at various

points in the territory during the summer to awaken public sentiment on this

question. On September 6th a petition signed by one thousand Dakota men and

women, praying that the word "male" should not be incorporated in the

constitution, was presented to the convention, accompanied by personal appeals.

There was some disposition to grant this request, but the opponents prevailed

and only the school ballot was given to women, which they already possessed by

act of the legislature of 1879. However this constitution never was acted upon.



    The desire for division and statehood became very urgent throughout the

great territory, and this, with the growing sentiment in congress in favor of

the same, induced the legislature of 1885 to provide for a convention at Sioux

Falls, composed of members elected by the voters of the territory, to form a

constitution for the proposed new state of South Dakota and submit the same to

the electors for adoption, which was done in November, 1885. Many of the women

had become landholders and were interested, in the location of schoolhouses,

county seats, state capitals and matters of taxation. As their only organization

was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, a committee was appointed from that

body, consisting of Alice M. A. Pickler, superintendent of the franchise

department; Helen M. Barker and Julia Welch, to appear before the committee on

suffrage and ask that the word "male" be left out of the qualifications of

electors. They were helped by letters to members of the convention from Lucy

Stone, Henry B. Blackwell, Susan B. Anthony, Lillie Devereux Blake and others of

national reputation. Seven of the eleven members of the committee were willing

to grant this request, but there was so much opposition from the convention lest

the chances of statehood might be imperiled, that they compelled a compromise

and it was directed that the first legislature should submit the question to the

voters. They did incorporate a clause, however, that women properly qualified

should be eligible to any school office and should vote at any election solely

for school purposes. This applied merely to school trustees, as state and county

superintendents are elected at general and not special elections.



    The constitution was ratified by the voters in 1885, with a provision that

“the legislature should at its first session after the admission of the state

into the Union, submit to a vote of the electors at the next general election,

the question whether the word 'male' should be stricken from the article of the

constitution relating to elections and the right of suffrage."



    Congress at that time refused to divide the territory and thus the question

remained in abeyance awaiting statehood.



    In 1889, an enabling act having been passed by congress, delegates were

elected from the different counties to meet in convention at Sioux Falls to

prepare for the entrance of South Dakota into statehood. This convention

reaffirmed the constitution adopted in 1S85, and again submitted it to the

voters, who again passed upon it favorably, and the territory became a state

November 2, 1889.



    The first legislature met at once in Pierre and, although they were required

by the constitution to submit an amendment for woman suffrage, a vote was taken

as to whether this should be done. It stood in the senate, forty yeas, one nay;

absent or not voting, four; in the house, eighty-four yeas; nine nays,

twenty-one absent.



    On November 11, 1889, Miss Anthony, in response to urgent requests from the

state, made a lecture tour of twelve cities and towns and addressed the Farmers'

Alliance at their convention in Aberdeen, when it officially indorsed the

suffrage amendment. On her return home she sent fifty-thousand copies of Senator

T. W. Palmer's great woman suffrage speech to individual voters in Dakota under

his frank.



    A State Suffrage Association had been formed, with S. A. Ramsey, president;

Alonzo Wardall, vice-president; the Rev. Mr. Barker, secretary, and Mrs. Helen

M. Barker, treasurer and state organizer; but the beginning of this campaign

found the women with no funds and very little local organization. Mr. Wardall,

who was also secretary of the Farmers' Alliance, went to Washington and, with

Representative and Mrs. J. A. Pickler, presented a strong appeal for assistance

to the national suffrage convention in February, 1890. It was heartily responded

to and a South Dakota campaign committee was formed, with Miss Anthony chairman.

The officers and friends made vigorous efforts to raise a fund and eventually

five thousand five hundred dollars were secured. Of this amount California sent

one thousand dollars; Senator Stanford personally gave three hundred dollars;

Rachael Foster Avery, of Philadelphia, the same amount; Mrs. Clara L. McAdow, of

Montana; two hundred and fifty dollars; a number gave one hundred dollars, among

them United States  Senator R. F. Pettigrew, of South Dakota, and different

states sent various sums. The speaker raised about one thousand four hundred

dollars, which went towards paying their expenses. Over one thousand dollars

were secured by other means. Most of the state workers donated their expenses.



    The first of May, Miss Anthony returned to South Dakota and established

campaign headquarters in Huron. A mass convention of men and women was held and

an active state organization formed, with Mrs. Philena Everett Johnson,

president; and Mr. Wardall, vice-president, which cooperated with the national

committee and inaugurated an active campaign. The new state had adopted as its

motto, "Under God the People Rule," and the suffragists wrote upon their

banners, "Under God the People Rule; Women are People." A large number of

national speakers came in the summer. Local workers would organize suffrage

clubs in the schoolhouse and these efforts would culminate in large rallies at

the county seats where some noted speakers would make addresses and perfect the

organization.



    Those from the outside who canvasssed the state were Henry B. Blackwell,

editor Woman's Journal, Boston; the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, national lecturer;

Mary Seymour Howell, of New York; the Rev. Olympia Brown, of Wisconsin; Matilda

Hindman, of Pennsylvania; Carrie 'Chapman Catt, of Washington; Laura M. Johns,

of Kansas; Clara Berwick Colby, of Nebraska; the Rev. Helen G. Putman, of North

Dakota, and Julia B. Nelson, of Minnesota. Miss Anthony was always and

everywhere the moving spirit and contributed her services the entire six months

without pay. When three hundred dollars were lacking to settle the final

expenses she paid them out of her own pocket. Mr. Blackwell also donated his

services. Most effective state work was done by Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, of Huron,

and the home of Mr. and Mrs. DeVoe was a haven of rest during the campaign.



    Among the other valuable state workers were Dr. Nettie C. Hall, Mrs. Helen

M. Barker, and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wardall, superintendent of press. A large

number of ministers indorsed the amendment. Two grand rallies of all the

speakers were held, one at Mitchell, August 26th and 27th, during which time

Miss Anthony, Mr. Blackwell, Miss Shaw and Mrs. Pickler addressed the Republican

state convention; the other during the state fair in September. The 17th was

"Woman's Day," and the fair association invited ladies to speak. Miss Anthony,

Miss Shaw and Mrs. DeVoe complied. The summing up of the superintendent of press

was as follows: Total number of addresses by national speakers, 789; state

speakers, 707; under the auspices of the ^Woman's Christian Temperance Union,

104; total, 1,600; local clubs of women organized, 400; literature sent out to

every voter.



    It would be difficult to put into words the hardships of this campaign of

1890, in a new state throught the hottest and dryest summer on record.

Frequently the speakers had to drive twenty miles between the afternoon and

evening meetings and the audiences would coine thirty miles. All of the

political state conventions declined to indorse the amendment. The Republicans

refused seats to the ladies on the floor of their convention, although Indians

in blankets were welcomed. The Democrats invited the ladies to seats, where they

listened to a speech against woman suffrage by E. W. Miller, land receiver for

Huron district, too indecent to print, which was received with cheers and

applause by the convention. The minority committee report, presented by Judge

Bange, of Rapid City, asking for an indorsement, was overwhelmingly voted down.

A big delegation of Russians came to this convention wearing yellow' badges

lettered, "Against Woman Suffrage and Susan B. Anthony."



    The greatest disappointment of the campaign was the forming of an

independent party by the Farmers' Alliance and the Knights of Labor. The

Alliance at its convention the previous year, four hundred and seventy-eight

delegates present; at the close of Miss Anthony's address, had declared that

they would do all in their power to carry the suffrage amendment, and it was

principally on account of their assurances of support and on the invitation of

their leaders that she undertook the work in South Dakota. The Knights of Labor

at their convention in January of the present year had adopted a resolution that

said: "We will support with all our strength the amendment to be voted on at the

next general election giving women the ballot—believing this to be the first

step toward securing those reforms for which all true Knights of Labor are

striving." But the following June these two organizations formed a new party and

absolutely refused to put a woman suffrage plank in their platform, although

Miss Anthony addressed their convention and implored them to keep their promise,

assuring them that their failure to support the amendment would be its death

blow. The previous summer H. L. Loucks, president of the Farmers' Alliance, had

made a special journey to the state suffrage convention at Minneapolis to invite

her to come to South Dakota to conduct this canvass. He was a candidate for

governor on this new party ticket and in his speech of acceptance did not

mention the pending amendment. Before adjourning the convention adopted a long

resolution containing seven or eight declarations, among them one that "No

citizen should be disfranchised on account of sex," but so far as any party

advocacy was concerned the question was a dead issue.



    A bitter contest was being made between Huron and Pierre for the location of

the state capital, and the woman suffrage amendment was freely used as an

article of barter. There were thirty thousand Russians, Poles, Scandinavians and

other foreigners in the state, most of whom opposed woman suffrage. The liquor

dealers and gamblers worked vigorously against it, and they were reinforced by

the women "remonstrants" of Massachusetts, who sent their literature into every

corner of the state.



    At the election, November 4, 1890, the amendment received 22,072 ayes,

45,862 noes, majority opposed, 23,790. The Republicans carried the state by

16,000 majority.



    At this same election an amendment was submitted as to whether male Indians

should be enfranchised, it receiving an affirmative vote of forty-five per

cent.; that for women suffrage received thirty-five per cent. Of the two classes

of voters it seemed the men preferred the Indians. It was claimed by many,

however, that they did not understand the warding of the Indian amendment and

thought they were voting against it. (A graphic account of this campaign, with

many anecdotes and personal reminiscences, will be found in the "Life and Work

of Susan B. Anthony," chapter XXXVIII.)



    As the school suffrage possesssed by women applied only to trustees and did

not include the important offices of state and county superintendents, and as it

was held that the franchise for this purpose could be secured only by a

constitutional amendment, it was decided to ask for this. Through the efforts of

Mrs. Anna R. Simmons and Mrs, Emma Cranmer, officers of the state association, a

bill for this purpose was secured from the legislature of 1893. As there seemed

to be no objection to women voting for school trustees, it was not supposed that

there would beany to extending the privilege for the other school officers. It

was submitted at the regular election in November, 1894, and defeated by 17,010

ayes, 22,682 noes, an opposing majority of 5,672.



    In 1897 the above ladies made one more effort and secured from the

legislature the submission again of an amendment conferring the full suffrage on

women. The campaign was managed almost entirely by Mrs. Simmons and Mrs.

Cranmer. The national association assisted to the extent of sending a lecturer,

Mrs. Laura A. Gregg, of Kansas, who remained for two months preceding the

election; and. one hundred dollars' worth of literature also was furnished for

distribution. The Dakota women raised about one thousand five hundred dollars,

and every possible influence was exerted upon the voters. The returns of the

election in November, 1898, gave for the amendment 19,698; against 22,983;

adverse majority, 3,285.



    In 1890, the amendment had received thirty-five per cent, of the whole vote

cast upon it; in 1898, it received forty-seven per cent. The figures show

unmistakably that the falling off in the size of the vote was almost wholly

among the opponents.



    Petitions have been presented to several legislatures to grant municipal

suffrage by statute, but a bill for this purpose has been brought to a vote only

once, in 1893, when it was passed by the senate, twenty-seven ayes, eleven noes;

and defeated in the house by only one vote.



    ORGANIZATION.—After the defeat of the suffrage amendment in 1890, a more

thorough state organization was effected and a convention has been held every

year since. That of 1891 met in Huron and Mrs. Irene G. Adams was elected

president. Soon afterwards she complied a leaflet showing the unjust laws for

women which disgraced the statute books.



    In 1892 a successful annual meeting took place at Hastings and Mrs. Mary A.

Grosebeck was made president. In September, 1893, the convention was held in

Aberdeen during the Grain Palace Exposition. The state president and the

president-elect, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer, had charge of the program for woman's

day, and Mrs. Clara Hoffman, of Missouri, gave adresses in the afternoon and

evening.



    In 1894 Mrs. Anna R. Simmons was elected president and continued in office

for six years. This year one hundred dollars was sent to aid the Kansas

campaign. During 1894 and 1895 she made twenty public addresses and held ten

parlor meetings. At the convention in Pierre in September, 1895, she was able to

report fifty clubs organized, with seven hundred members. Mrs. Carrie Chapman

Catt, chairman of the national organization committee, was present at this

convention.



    Active work was continued throughout 1896 and 1897, when the submission of a

suffrage amendment was secured.



The year 1898 was given up to efforts for its success. Mrs. C. C. King

established and carried on almost entirely at her own expense the South Dakota

Messenger, a campaign paper which was of the greatest service. The state

convention met in Mitchell, September 28th, 29th and 30th. Miss Elizabeth Upham

Yates, of Maine, came as a representative of the national association and gave

two addresses to large audiences. The following October a conference of national

and state workers was held at Sioux Falls, the former represented by Mrs.

Chapman Catt, the Rev. Henriette G. Moore, of Ohio, and Miss Mary G. Hay,

national organizer. Several interesting public sessions were held.



    The annual meeting of 1899 took place in Madison, September 5th and 6th. The

tenth convention met in Brookings, September 5, 1900. Mrs. Simmons having

removed from the stats, Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler was elected president. Mrs.

Philena Everet Johnson was made vices president. Others who have served in the

official position are vice-president, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer; corresponding

secretaries, Mesdames Kate Uline Folger, F. C. Bidwell, Hannah W. Best;

treasurers, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wardall, Mrs. Marion L. Bennett, Mrs. Clara M.

Williams; auditor, Mrs. John Davis; superintendents of literature, Mrs. Jane

Rooker Breeden, Mrs. Delia Robinson King.



    Among the prominent friends of woman suffrage may be mentioned the Hon.

Arthur C. Mellette, first state governor; United States Senators, Richard F.

Pettigrew, James H. Kyle and Robert J. Gamble; Lieutenant Governor, D. T.

Hindman; Members of Congress, J. A. Pickler, W. B. Lucas and E. W. Martin; the

Hons. S. A. Ramsey and Coe I. Crawford; Attorney-General, John L. Pyle; Judge,

D. C. Thomas; General, W. H. Beadle; Professor McClennen, of the Madison Normal

School, and ministers of many churches. The Hon. J. H. Patton and the Hon. W. C.

Bowers paid the expenses of the legislative committee of the suffrage

association while they were in Pierre during the winter of 1897 to secure the

submission of an amendment. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, A. J. Edgerton,

was a pronounced advocate of woman suffrage and appointed a woman official

stenographer of his judicial district, the best salaried office within his gift.

Associate Justice, Seward Smith, appointed a woman clerk of the Faulk county

district court. The list of other men and women widely known and who have stood

faithfully for woman suffrage would be a long one. Among them are S. H. Cranmer,

Rev. Ramsey, Mrs. Ruby Smart, Kara Smart and Floy Cochrane.



    LAWS.—Neither dower nor curtesy obtains. If either husband or wife die

without a will, leaving a child or children or the lawful issue of one, the

survivor is entitled to one-half of the separate estate of the other. If there

are no children nor the issue of any, the survivor is entitled to one-half of

the estate and the other half goes to the kindred of the deceased. If there are

none the survivor takes all. A homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, or

one-quarter of an acre in town, may be reserved for the widow or widower.



    Either husband or wife may dispose of separate property, real or personal,

by deed or will, without the consent of the other. Joint real estate, including

the homestead, can be conveyed only by signature of both, but the husband may

dispose of joint personal property without the consent of the wife.



    In order to control her separate property the wife must keep it recorded in

the office of the county register.



    On the death of an unmarried child the father inherits all of its property.

If he is dead and there are no other children, the mother inherits it. If there

are brothers and sisters she inherits a child's share.



    A married woman cannot act as administrator. Of several persons claiming and

equally entitled to act as executors, males must be preferred to females.



    A married woman can control her earnings outside the home only when living

separate from her husband.



    The father is the legal guardian and has custody of the persons and services

of minor children. If he refuses to take the custody, or has abandoned his

family, or has been legally declared a drunkard, the mother is entitled to the

custody.



    The law declares the husband the head of the family and he must support the

wife by his separate property or labor, but if he has not deserted her, and has

no separate property, and is top infirm to support her by his labor, the wife

must support him and their children out of her separate property or in other

ways to the extent of her ability. An act of February 21, 1896, makes the wife

liable for necessaries for the family purchased on her own account to the same

extant that her husband would be liable under a similar purchase, but with no

control over the joint earnings.



    The causes for divorce are the same as in most states; six months' residence

is required. The disposition of the children is left entirely with the court.

In 1887, through the efforts of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the "age

of protection" for girls was raised from ten to fourteen years. In 1893 they

tried, to have it made eighteen, but the legislature compromised on sixteen

years. Rape in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the

penitentiary not less than ten years; in the second degree not less than five
years.



    The penalty for seduction and for enticing away for purposes of prostitution

is prescribed by the same words, "is punishable," which in reality leaves it to

judgment of the court, but the statutes fix the penalty for all other crimes by

the words "shall be punished." In addition to this latitude the penalty for

seduction or enticing for purposes of prostitution is, if the girl is under

fifteen, imprisonment in the penitentiary not more than five years or in the

county jail not more than one year, or by fine not exceeding one thousand

dollars, or both; with minimum penalty.



    SUFFRAGE.—The territorial legislature of 1879 gave women a vote on questions

pertaining to the school, which were then decided at school meetings. This was

partially repealed by a law of 1883, which required regular polls and a private

ballot, but this act did not include fifteen counties which had school districts

fully established, and women still continue to vote at these district school

meetings. In 1887 a law was enacted giving women the right to vote at all school

elections for all officers, and making them eligible for all school offices. The

constitution which was adopted when South Dakota entered the Union (1889)

provided that "any woman having the required qualifications as to age, residence

a/ad citizenship may vote at any election held solely for school purposes." As

state and county superintendents are elected at general and not special

elections, women can vote only for school trustees. They have no vote on bonds

or appropriations.



    OFFICE HOLDING.—The state constitution provides that all persons, either

male or female, being twenty-one years of age and having the necessary

qualifications, shall be eligible to the office of school director, treasurer,

judge, or clerk of school elections, county superintendent of public

instruction. All other civil offices must be filled by male electors.



    There are at present eleven women serving as county superintendents. They

sit on the school boards in many places and have been treasurers. A woman was

nominated for state superintendent of public instruction by the independent party.



    Efforts to secure a law requiring women on the boards of state institutions

have failed. The governor is required to appoint three women inspectors of penal

and charitable institutions, who are paid by the state and make their report

directly to him. They inspect the penitentiary, reform school, insane hospitals,

deaf and dumb institution and school for the blind. There is one assistant woman

physician in the State Hospital for the Insane. Women in subordinate official

positions are found in all state institutions. They act as clerks in all city,

county and state offices and in the legislature, and have served as court

stenographers and clerks of the circuit court. There are eight women notaries

public at the present time.



    OCCUPATION.—No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to women. Ten

hours is made a legal working day for them. Four women are editing county papers.



    EDUCATION.—All institutions of learning are open alike to both sexes and

there are women in the faculties. In the public schools there are 1,225 men and

3,581 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $36.45; of the

women, $30.82.



    The Woman's Christian Temperance Union .was the first organization of women

in the state and through its franchise department has worked earnestly and

collected numerous petitions for suffrage. The Woman's Relief Corps is the

largest body, having one thousand eight hundred members. The Eastern Star,

Daughters of Rebekah, Ladies of the Maccabees and other lodge societies are well

organized. The Federation of Clubs, the youngest association, represents two

hundred members. A number of churches have women on their official board.



    In the year 1904 an effort was made, led by the W. C. T. U. of the state, to

secure names of verified voters sufficient, undef the initiative and referendum

law, to justify the legislature in again submitting a woman suffrage amendment

to the constitution, to the electors of the state. They presented more than the

required number of names to the Secretary of State, O. C. Berg, whose duty it

was to transmit the same to the legislature, to be .by them submitted to the

people. He refused to receive the petition stating to-the committee of ladies

and taxpayers that they might invoke mandamus to compel him to act if they saw

proper.. As it was impractical to do this in the closing hours of the session

they again met defeat. We are pleased to state, that at this writing, the men of

Norway, Mr. Berg's native land, have given to their women the same political

rights that they enjoy. 



    In the legislature of 1907 a still larger enrollment of those who believe

that women should vote was presented and acted upon by the senate in a joint

resolution, carrying by 24 to 21 and was lost in the house by 51 to 33.



    In the legislature of 1909 through the efforts of the W. C. T. U. a petition

of over 12000 names was again presented in both senate and house and a joint

resolution submitting the amendment to the electors in 1910 was passed in the

house by 56 to 42, in the senate by 34 to 10, and signed by our broad minded

governor, Robert S. Vessey, who has always believed in the broad principles of

our national constitution, recognizing women as citizens in every sense of the
word.



    Senator Frank M. Byrne and Representative Alex Miller, in both the

legislature of '07 and '09, honored the women and did credit to themselves in

this senatorial district and Faulk county by voting in the affirmative.



    Ever since statehood twenty years ago, the Equal Suffrage Association has

maintained an organization auxilliary to the National Woman's Suffrage Association.



    The annual convention held at Aberdeen, June 18th, 1909, had representative

men from republican, democratic and prohibition parties and women representing

the largest organizations in the state, as accredited delegates.



    The roll call showed the following officers:



President, Alice M. A. Pickler, Faulkton.

Vice-President, Edith M. Fitch, Hurley.

Corresponding Secretary, Florence Jefferies, Ft. Pierre.

Recording Secretary, Rose Bower, Rapid City.

Member National Executive Committee, Anna R. Simmons, Faulkton.

Treasurer, Jennie M. Taylor, Oral.

Auditors, Ruby J. Smart, Wessington Springs and Jane R. Breeden, Pierre.

Superintendent Press Work, Jane Waldron, Fort Pierre.

President District West of the Missouri River, Nina R. Pettigrew, Belle Fourche.



    The convention elected the following officers:



President, Lydia B. Johnston, Fort Pierre.

Vice-President at Large, Harriette Curtiss, Aberdeen.

1st Vice-President, Mrs. Olson, Lead.

2nd Vice-President Mrs. Margeret Hendricks, Sioux Falls.

Corresponding Secretary, Emma Stiles, Blunt.

Recording Secretary, M. L. Ogin, Mitchell.

Treasurer, Mrs. Record, Watertown.

Member National Executive Committee, Mrs. Scott, Sioux Falls.

Auditor, Miss Walker, Bruce.

First Delegate to National Convention, Mrs. Philena E. Johnson, Highmore.

Second Delegate to National Convention, Florence Jeffries, Fort Pierre.

Third Delegate to National Convention, Mrs. Mundt, Pierre.



    The National Society sent Miss Laura Gregg of Kansas and Mrs. Ella S.

Stewart of Chicago, who were made members of the convention, and as this is the

third time Miss Gregg has been in the state much credit must be given her for

timely aid, while Mrs. Stewart's address in the evening was a very able and

convincing one to the very interested audience that filled the court room to

listen to it.



    Mrs. Pickler, who for nine years has been the State President, retires from

active work on account of illness of her husband and was elected a life member

of the national organization.



    Since the convention the Relief Corps and G. A. R. at their annual

encampment have expressed themselves as favoring the amendment, and the

Commercial Club of Sioux Falls have invited the national association to hold its

convention in Sioux Falls in 1910. Prospects are bright now that the pioneer

women of South Dakota may come into their own in the twenty-first year of

statehood."





Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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