%images;]> N835u Woman suffrage and prosperity / by Gail Laughlin: a machine-readable transcription. Winning the Vote for Women: The National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection; American Memory, Library of Congress. Selected and converted. American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, 1993.

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Selected from the National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. Copyright status not determined. 001

Political Equality Series Vol. 1. Subscription Price 10c per Year. No. 9. Published monthly by the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Headquarters, Warren, O.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE AND PROSPERITY By Gail Laughlin

Copies of a circular letter were recently sent to the Governor of California and to the members of the Legislature, in which the statement was made that the effect of woman suffrage in the States where it exists has been to drive people from the State and to prevent other people from coming there; that woman suffrage has demoralized business and thrown people out of work; and that, while other Western States have prospered, the equal suffrage States have been retarded in their growth.

Reference to the United States Census Report for 1900 reveals the absolute falsity of these statements. The census figures show that there has been a large percentage of increase in population and in the amount of capital invested both in manufacturing and in farm property in every one of the equal suffrage States since the granting of suffrage to women.

According to the census figures, in the ten 002years from 1890 to 1900, the percentage of increase in population was 30.6 per cent, in Colorado; 82.7 in Idaho; 31.3 in Utah and 47.9 in Wyoming. In California with all its marvelous resources, the increase in population from 1890 to 1900, was only 22.4 per cent. In Colorado, Idaho and Utah, woman suffrage was granted subsequent to 1890. In Wyoming women have voted since 1869, and the census shows that the population of Wyoming was more than ten times as large in 1900 as it was in 1870. The population of California was less than three times as large in 1900 as in 1870.

That the increase of population has not been due solely to an influx of women, is sufficiently evidenced by the fact that the census shows fewer women than men in each and every equal suffrage State. Men as well as women, therefore, seem to appreciate living in a State where women as well as men are politically free.

In reference to business conditions, the census shows the following: In the ten years from 1890 to 1900, the total capital invested in manufacturing was increased by 135.7 per cent. in Colorado; by 180.4 per cent. in Idaho; by 122.5 per cent. in Utah and by 70.9 per cent. in Wyoming. In California the increase in the same time was 39.9 per cent. During the same time the value of farm property increased by 37.1 per cent. in Colorado; by 160.2 per cent. in Idaho; 003by 90.4 per cent. in Utah and by 99.8 per cent. in Wyoming. In California the increase was 2.5 per cent.

That prosperity is not limited to the few, but is enjoyed by the people as a whole, is shown by the percentage of private families who own the homes in which they live, free from all encumbrance.

In Colorado 31.9 per cent. of the total number of private homes are owned free from all encumbrance; in Idaho the percentage is 56.3; in Utah, 56.8; in Wyoming, 41.7; in California, 30.9.

These facts speak for themselves, and show that woman suffrage is conducive to material prosperity; as well as in accordance with what is right and just.

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