The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-18
VIRGINIA WOMEN
TO VOTE BY 1918.
Hill Montague Will Pave the
Way by Introducing Bill i'll
Next Legislature.
NO CHANGE TO WIN OUT NOW
But Champion Is Certain Fran
cfise Rights Will Be Granted
Despite Protest.


II am not optimist enough to believe
| that my bill for tho enfran chiscment
of women VIII DO passed by tho next
legislature said Hill Montague. mem
Der OF tho House of Delegates, to a.
reporter for Tho Times Dispatch last
night But 1 do believe this: wo-
I mans suffrage will win In Virginia
much sooner than most people think
II VIII. 1t is coming earlier than the
| ten-ycar wait prophesied by Governor
Mann / am all but convinced that
| women VIII vote In this State by 1918
Don't be taken in by all this talk
that Virginia is too staid and con-
scrvativc to carry constitutional
amendment providing for womnn's suf-
iraRe. It's not truo to history 1t IS
the conservative and cnrcful state very
often that decides upon line of Pc
form and acts quickest. Look at con-
SENTATIVE England taking the lead in
the enactment of workingmcn's in
surance, and employers liability laws
which arc still considered hardly short
OF socialistic in the United states IT
was ultra conservative France that
furnished the greatest revolution of
| modern times"
No Visionary Scheme.
In the general discussion of tho suf-
II aSe question AIR. Montague made 1t
to tho cause of votes for women, and
that the part he IS taking In the move
ment is dictated by his conviction that
women have the same moral and
ethlcal right to vote as men. lie want
ed IL understood, no said jokingly, that
he has no ultcrior motive In publicly
cspousing the cause since he has no
ambition for public Office.
"Woman's suffrage is no more vision
airy to-day ho declared, than the
proposition to accord married women
the Same property holding rights as
their husbands, was In 1887. Calamity
howlcrs twenty-five yenrs ago prophe-
sied the same disintegration OF tho
home if the measure was passed that
antisuffraEists predict will follow the
acknowledgements OF women to-day Il
is stock argument and quite veneer
able"
To the question as to the stand that
the next Legislature will take on the
bill, which he proposes to Introduce
before 1t. Mr. Montague replied that
he did not know. He wns sure, how
ever. that there will be plenty of op-
position, and that for time ut least
the measure will have to proceed
against the current of public opinion.
What immediate benefits do ! en-
pcct to follow the entrance of women
into politics? Well. It's hard to say
offhand. The result of the election
In Los Angeles the other day, is.
think, good answer TO that qucs-
ton. More than 90 per cent. OF tho
women voted for the good government
candidate. 1 consider that highly Sig
nifcant. Imagine what that would
mean to the good government of any
city. l believe. too, that when women
enter politics. the liquor interest will
get out OF 1t. In my opinion one OF
the worst features OF politics in Vii
Einia, and for that matter in the
South. IS the part taken in It by the
liquor and antiliquor factions"
y good deal of transformations
thought Mr.. Montague. still exists
about the Legislative machinery which
Will have TO grind before the suf-
fraEe measure becomes law Even II
tho next Legislature passes the bill
which Is most unlikely. II will he 1915
before women will be admitted to the
polls.
joint Resolution Needed.
In order to effect the passage Of
the measure it Is necessary for the
Legislature To adopt Il joint resolution
by a majority vote OF oil tho mem
bers of both the House and Senate. II
adopted. the bill must then be sub
United to the succeeding General AS
sembly, which has to ratify II by a
similar vote. Following this the meas
next general election. and must poll Il
majority of the then qualified voters
before 1t becomes law
The bill which will be introduced by
Mr.. Montague when the Legislature
meets in January. involves an amend
mcnt to article . of the Constitutions
which defines tho elective franchise
and qualifications for office. Section
20, which uses the term male
citizen" in designating the person en-
titled 10 suffrage under the limita-
lions set forth. is the particular one
which will have to be changed
IL have not decided definitely unon
The form of amendment | shall pro-
post" said MIR. Montague. There arc
"a number of ways in which II can be
done. each one Of which would meet
the situation Ii could he done by ada
ing Il new clause at the end of section
30. reading as follows:
THAT after the first day Of Janu-
AIRY. 1915, women having the qualifi-
cations herein required of male cit
liens, shall be entitled to register and
vote. am inclined to favor this
| form. OF course. it will also be ncccs-
/ sury 10 include an amendment to ar
! ticlc Il, on taxation, in order TO pro-
| vide that cnpitation tax shall be
| levied also against women instead Of
as now. against men only"
!
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