Colorado Election - 1893
In the days after Colorado’s November 7, 1893 vote on suffrage for women the Durango Herald’s editorial stand became the target of a swipe from the Mancos Times. The November 10 edition noted:
“With its usual slop-over tendencies the Durango Herald asserts that women suffrage has undoubtably received its final death blow in this state. At least it will be a long time before advocates of the measure will have an opportunity to vote on the question again. The above article appeared on the editorial page of that paper, but its telegraphic columns and Denver dispatch says the amendment has carried by several thousand. Lon, you should not classify the voters of the state on the same basis as that of your 5-cent beer berg. The vote of La Plata county does not commend itself to us as one based upon intelligence but rather as the legitimate offspring of cheap beer and consequent stupidity.”
The term “suffragette” was coined by the newspapers of the day to belittle the movement with the diminutive “ette”. The more militant English movement embraced it. The Durango Herald used “suffragist”. It remains a mystery how the Mancos editor felt about that. Silverton approved the measure by 52 votes while Pagosa Springs voted against suffrage for women.