distinguished honor my membership in this convention, which, for
the first time in the history of all this broad land, rising
above the prejudice and injustice of the past, will incorporate
into the fundamental law of the State a provision that shall
secure to every citizen within her borders not only the
protection of the courts, but the absolute and equal enjoyment of
every right and privilege guaranteed under the law to any other
citizen.

MR. COFFEEN: ... The question, as I take it, is already settled
in the hearts and minds and judgments of the people of our
glorious State proposed-to-be, and shall we stand here to-day and
debate over it when every element of justice and right and
equality is in its favor; when not one iota of weight of argument
has been brought against it; when every word that can be said is
in favor of continuing the good results of woman suffrage, which
we have experienced for twenty years?... I shall not go into the
policy or propriety of submitting such a proposition as this now
before us to the people of this Territory....

MR. HOLDEN: I do not desire at this time to offer any reason why
the right to vote should be granted to women; that is not the
question before us. The question is, shall we secure that right
by fundamental law? The proposition now under consideration is,
shall we leave it to the people of Wyoming to say whether or not
the privilege of voting shall be secured to women? Now, Mr.
Chairman, I believe that I voice the wishes of my constituency
when I say that rather than surrender the right which the women
of this Territory have so long enjoyed--and which they have used
not only with credit to themselves but with profit to the country
in which they live--I say that rather than surrender that right
we will remain in a Territorial condition throughout the endless
cycles of time.

MR. CONAWAY: ... The sentiment of this convention, and I believe
of the people whom we represent, is so nearly unanimous that
extended discussion, it seems to me, would be a waste of
time.... If it were proposed to submit to a vote of the people
whether the property of the gentleman from Laramie should be
taken from him, or my property should be taken from me and given
to somebody else, there would be no difference of