ping pine-knot open fire of the log cabin of Mrs. Morris, discussions and debates on questions that gave to Mrs. Morris the inspiration that grew from a dream into a reality, that of the franchise of women.
In September, 1869, there was to be held in the mountain city of South Pass an election for members to the Territorial Legislature. A few days prior to this election, Mrs. Morris gave a dinner at her home, the table filled with wild game and relishes personally prepared. To this feast were bidden forty men and women. Among these guests were Captain William Bright from Maryland and Captain Herman G. Nickerson, opposing officers in the Civil War, and both candidates for the same legislative position in the Territorial Senate. After the repast, while lingering around the unemptied table, Mrs. Morris arose, confessing to the strategy of the gathering. "There are present," she ventured to state, "two opposing candidates for the first legislature of our new Territory, one of whom is soon to be elected, and we desire here and now to receive from them a public pledge that whosoever is elected will introduce and work for the passage of an act conferring upon the women of our new Territory the right of suffrage."
Both of the candidates solemnly pledged themselves to the request, receiving the applause of all present. There were no Republicans elected anywhere in new Wyoming at the first election, the Democrat, Colonel Bright, being the choice of the people.
True to his promise, William Bright introduced a bill in the Legislature in October, 1869, a bill which became a law on December 10th, granting to Wyoming women "equal sufrage," a right which has continued to them from that date to the present day. Thus Wyoming became the first state or commonwealth in the world to grant to women unrestricted franchise.
Was the toothsome dinner the psychological cause of the final result, or was the ultimate outcome of the appeal for suffrage due to the eloquence of the hostess? Was Mrs. Morris a diplomat or a politician?
The Women of Tacoma
By Alice D. Engley Beek
(Painter, Writer and Lecturer)
When I came to live in the State of Washington, it was after a youth spent in New England and many years of study in Europe. I turned my face to the West with the spirit of
210
