Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1917 — WOMEN’S VOTES DON’T COUNT [ARTICLE]

WOMEN’S VOTES DON’T COUNT

And Wet Goods Will Continue to Be Dispensed in Wheatfield. The women of Wheatfield township were the first in Indiana to cast their ballots, and of these Mrs. H. E. Remley was the first to enter a polling booth. But this distinction is their only satisfaction for their votes will not be counted. A local option election was held there Tuesday and about the middle of the forenoon of that day a telegram purporting to have been received from the governor appeared on the scene. This telegram stated that the acts of the recent legislature were put into effect that day, and that the women of Wheatfield township were entitled to vote at the option election. There was , great excitement among the members of the fair sex and 125 of them hastened to the polls. Of this number 103 voted for a “dry’’ township and twentytwo signified their preference for plenty of booze. The men voted eighty-six “dry" and 115 “wet,’’ and there was great rejoicing among the temperance forces with a clear majority for their side of fifty-two. ' ' But just when the temperance forces were feeling best and arrangements about completed for a great temperance celebration, along came the information that the telegram from the governor was a fake and the women’s votes would nbt be counted. This situation gave the “wets" a majority of twenty-nine. •No amount of inquiry or felicitation could change the situation for the governor had not declared the new laws to be in full force and effect and some practical joker had evidently pulled over a hoax that will probably not be healthy for him if his identity becomes known. And so wet goods will continue to be sold at Wheatfield until April 2 next, and the only satisfaction the “dry" women get is that they wefe the first in the state to enter a voting booth.