Occupations: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to women except that of mining.
Education: All institutions of learning are open to both sexes alike. Bethany College has admitted women for more than ten years, and four are on the faculty. In 1897 the State University was made co-educational, after much opposition. It has eight women on its faculty, and two of the three members of its library staff are women.
In the public schools there are 4,096 men and 2,712 women teachers. It is impossible to obtain the average salaries.
FOOTNOTES:
[461] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Annie Caldwell Boyd of Wheeling, who has been an officer continuously in the State Woman Suffrage Association since it was organized.
[462] This club raised money by suppers, festivals and a Woman's Exchange for use in the work. It subscribed for twenty-five copies of the Woman's Journal to be sent to the State University, to the six Normal Schools and to various individuals. It also offered $35 in prizes for the best orations on The Enfranchisement of Women, to be competed for by the students of the above schools.
[463] In the Legislature of 1901 a bill was introduced conferring on women the right to vote for Presidential electors, as this can be done by the legislators without a reference to the voters. The bill was drawn up by George E. Boyd, Sr. It was reported by the House Judiciary Committee, February 21, with the recommendation "that it do not pass." Henry C. Hervey spoke strongly in its favor and was ably seconded by S. G. Smith, who closed by demanding the ayes and noes on the Speaker's question, "Shall the bill be rejected?" The ayes were 31, noes 25, the bill being defeated by six votes. Speaker William G. Wilson voted against it.
The bill was presented in the Senate by Nelson Whittaker, but U. S. Senator Stephen B. Elkins came on from Washington and commanded that it be tabled, which was done.