Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-02-02
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN pENNA.

Can only be obtained through an
amendment to the Constitution.
1900: In the early Colonial times
al persons who wished to vote, hold
Office, or carry on business of any
kind, were compelled to buy fleeman
papers varying in cost from five shil-
Iings to four pounds. Women as
well as men purchased these papers.
The evenues Of the Colony were so
limited that people were urged to
buy the rights Of citizenship.
i776; At the time OF he Revolu-
tlona provincial Confer ence was held.
A Bill of Rights and Constellation for
pennsylvania was famed.
l7s9-9O. a new Constitution was
forl@hlated. The election clause
reads; "In elections by the citizens
.cycly freeman of he age of2l years
having resided in The State two year.
next before election and SIX months
in The voting district shat be emitted
II vote"
lS37-3S: The Constitution was re-
vised by Constitutional Convention
IA new element had entered inc
citizenship-the black mae. Th,
election clause reads: "In election.
by the citizens every white f,eeman
OF the age of q Yeas living in Che
Slate one year and voting disi'ict ter
days shail be entitled tovote." Nouh-
ing is said so far as / have been alb,
q cad about women freeman VOC
ing, or tying to vo,e.
1871: But when the next re-
vision took place the election CLAUSE
reads "Evely male citizen 2l yee 5
Of age" The ecolds OF this ConVen-
tion state that on Thursday Feb. 20,
1873 the Citizens Sulf age Assoc'a-
ion of Philadelphia, Elizabeth L..
Bladen p, es., applied for the use OF
the Convention Hall for the pa pose
OF holding suffrage meeting, II
was granted. Elizabeth Cady made
the add ess. A committee ofsuff.ag-
lists attended The sessions of this Con-
vention and endeavored 60 prevent
the use of the wojd 'mfle" in the
election clause, Their efforts weiein
vain. 1t is quite possible the very
agitation of The question caused the
line 10 be moe closely dlawl.
For twenty-six years webave I;ved
under this oides. A revision OF the
present Constitution may be made in
the near future. 1t w.il depend up
on publicsentiment whether the word
"male" remains in the election clause
or not.
We are so often asked why we dc
not Try 10 secure the passage of bills
extending school suffrage 0 women,
or property qualification suffrage e
women.
The Leg stature cannot pass bills
that conflict with the text of the Con
sti tution, all that can be done is to
amend the Constitution. The h'sto, y
of the past has shown this to be az
expensive and uncertain measure.
The Constitution is SO qua, a,ded chat il
is difficult to amend it. The pro,
vosion for amendments reads: "A
bill to amend must receive a major.
ity vote of all the members elected
in both Senate and the House OF
Representatives then be advertised
three months before the next elec
tion of members. AT the next ses
sion of the Legislature be agair
passed by "a majority vote of al
members elected to this legislature
Then submitted to popular vote a
a special election not sooner thar
three months after passing the sec
ond session"
The prospect for womau suffrage
in Pennsylvania is not near at hand
unless it comes to us tb cough a Ma
tional amendment, The Convention
Of 1878 was obliged to strike out tn,
word "white" in the election CLAUSE
because the 10th amendment to tn
National Constitution prohibits tn
denial of the right of suffrage on ac
count of color or previous condition
There are, then, but three chance
for women of Pennsylvania to gail
the franchise-a new Constitution
an amendment 20 this Constitution
or by a National amendment.
LOCRETiA L. BLANKENBURG.
Pres. Penn'a. Suffrage Association