slip 'twixt the cup and
the lip!" Before nine o'clock the next morning, the word had been
communicated all over town that "the women need not come out to
the polls as the judges would not take their votes." They would
give no reason why, but said "they had decided not to take the
votes of the women." About a dozen of us gathered together to
consult what was best to be done; finding most of them inclined
to back out, I urged the necessity of our making an effort; that
whether the judges took our votes or not, it was not best to give
it up as the rest had done; if we did, it would be harder to make
an effort next time; that I had been to the polls once and had my
vote refused, and could be refused again; at any rate, I had the
right to vote, and I should go and offer it if I had to go alone.
Three of the number said they would go with me--Mrs. Patterson,
Mrs. Wiley and Mrs. Dofflemyer; these, with Mr. Patterson, my
husband and myself made our party. As we reached the court-house
where the election was held, Mr. Dofflemyer met us and took his
wife home, she meekly submitting.

Just before us a cart rattled up bearing a male citizen, who was
too drunk to know what he was doing, or even to do anything. He
was lying on his back in the cart, with feet and hands up,
hurrahing at the top of his voice. This disgusting, drunken idiot
was picked up out of the cart by two men, who put a ticket into
his hand, carried him to the window (he was too drunk to stand),
shoved him up and raised his arm into the aperture; his vote
received, he was tumbled back into the cart.

I then stepped up and offered my vote, and was answered with, "We
have decided not to take the votes of the women!" "On what
grounds do you refuse?" I asked. No answer. "Do you refuse it on
legal grounds?" Still no answer. I then said, "Under the election
law of this territory, setting aside my constitutional right as a
citizen of the United States, I have the right to vote at this
election. Have you the election law by you?" "No, we have not got
it here," they said. I knew they had, but did not dispute their
word. "Very well," I said, "I can quote it for you." I did so,
and then said, "Under this territorial law I claim my right, and
again I offer you my vote as an American citizen. If you d