“Tucson Women Deserve Praise”, The Arizona Daily Star, 2 May 1913 Friday morning, [editorial page]. Transcribed by Karen Board Moran.
The women of Tucson are to be commended for the interest they have taken regarding the matter of suffrage as shown by their desire to get their names on the great register so that they would be eligible to vote at any election that may be called before the registration books are again opened. Over five hundred of them now can walk up to the polls and cast a ballot expressing their opinion on any public question which is being voted upon. They are real citizens with a real citizen’s rights. And with the rights of the citizen come the duties and one of the most important duties is to attend elections and vote. It is the only way that we have of determining the fort of government we shall have, either city, county, state or national.
No doubt the women who have registered feel the duty they now owe the state. It is the fear of this assumed duty that kept many women away from the recorder’s office, but the novelty of being a voter will soon wear off and then more women will register. As mentioned before they have done remarkably well for it takes considerable determination to break into something entirely new and strange as registration is to the women.
The registration books will be closed a year and in the meantime the timid women and the ones who for other reasons failed to register will become accustomed to talk about elections and voting and they will be ready to place their names on the great register before the next state election.
In Phoenix the women have taken a great interest in the matter of voting because they have an election May 6 and they have started an election school or “trial elections” so that they can become accustomed to casting ballots and will know just what to do when they are given a ballot by the judge and enter the election booth. This might be taken up in Tucson with advantage to the new voters although there is no election to be held immediately, still it would not be time wasted and it might be well worth the while. In telling of the “trial elections” the Gazette says:
“Probably nothing more unique has been devised or promoted since equal suffrage became effective in Arizona than the ‘trial elections’ which are being conducted under the auspices of the Civic League at the regular Wednesday afternoon meetings of the organization. Prospective women voters from all over Phoenix, whether members or not, have manifested interest in the educational features of the affair and have entered into the work with unusual energy.
”Next Wednesday afternoon the second floor of the city hall will present every indication of a genuine election being in progress. The collapsible voting booths will be erected and in place. Judges, clerks and inspectors will be in their proper places. Regular sample ballots will be on hand and great registers will be employed.”
Arrangement could be made for the same sort of “trial elections” here should the women think it worth their while to take a short course in voting. We believe it could be done with profit and it certainly would prevent embarrassment at the polls.
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It is said that 3,000 women have registered in Maricopa County and that they expect to vote against the county or the city of Phoenix being “wet”. Well, well, well! And how are the visitors to get their morning’s morning?
[A “morning’s morning” is the traditional free round of whiskey by the saloon owner when he first opens the doors each morning.]
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The registration books are now closed and the issues that will come before the people within the year will soon be discussed.
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