Morris tribune., 1913-02-07
PREPARED FOR
WHAT HAPPENED
Women Expected Defeat Of SUI
trage In Senate,
DEAD FOR NEXT TWO YEARS
ne Chance for House Measure to Get
Through Upper Branch at
This Session.
Especial Correspondence


st. Paul, Feb. Sunless it be the
defeat of woman suffrage the fifty
eighth session of the Minnesota leg
islature has done nothing as yet that
would commend 1t as something out of
the ordinary, still it has much in the
making and another week may see
history written. The defeat of the
suffrage amendment is an old story
row as news runs, but it might not
be amiss to say that the women in
charge of the movement were pre-
pared for what happened They knew
the outcome three days in advance,
when q careful poll OF the senate.
which gave the bill Its Quletus.
showed two votes shy Of the nsces-
Bary number to pass It. There was
40 hystsria when the vote was an
haHNced: the women In charge knew
what was coming and they simply &C.
sSptad the findings. Various things
have been assigned az the cause OF
the defeat Of the bill. One excited
individual on the taking Of the vote
dramatically declared that the liquor
interests were responsible and he
vigorously assailed the dissenting
senators at the close Of adjournment.
s9F which he was taken to task by
Senator McGrRth of Winona, who
RsSA the word "Har' in resenting tha
taSiRuation. From an inner knOwl-
edge OF the whole thing / would hard
IT, like TO charge the defeat up to the
brewers alone. There were any num-
bee OF the senators honestly opposed
b the movement and in casting their
votes In the negative they had to so
against hostile city press and but
sOShOEing on the part Of women lob
byfsta that would have daunted many.
At the same time the brewers did not
favor the movement and they had al
Hes in many interests who figured
aaat doubling of the franchise only
meant trouble for them However,
Il they conducted any crusade against
the movement it was outside the leg
fslative halls, for it has to be said
that as far as professional lobbyists
and representatives Of the interests
are concerned they are less in evil
dence this time than in years,
:. :. :.
The question of whether the wom-
en- of Minnesota want the ballot or
that the male voters of the state
favor letting them have it is some
thing that yours truly can not see his
way clear to even hazard a guess.
The Twin City press was almost a
unit in favor Of the women but it's
views count for nothing when it Is
known that latter day ideas only fig
UFe with it from the standpoint of
circulation Right or wrong has no
consideration with it, What will
boom the circulation counts first.
Quoting one managing editor who was
approached on the question of an or
dinanoe cutting down the price of
gas: "To hi with the gas com
pany; how many subscribers will it
get us if we play it right?" Putting
It cold two-thirds of the housewives
and women of Minnesota would not
use the ballot if they had it-certain.
~ it is the least Of their troubles now
but that other third constitutes a
considerable number and they are on
the job tWenty-fOur hours day
What they have to say in favor OF
the movement makes readable stuff
1t brings subscribers to the Twir
City press and when they run out OF
readable stuff some enterprising re
. porter can always be counted upon to
fill the gap, and SO there you are. Il
Is the same with every movement
"What is there in it for us?" is the
cry, and so it goes. If it looks good
the live ones hack it and. II it. does
not it fails
i = J
Some OF the friends of the suffra
gtst movement are hanging theil
hopes on the house bill, known as tns
Larson act, which has: been recon
mended to pass It will go to the
senate should it pass the house
which has caused some to think tina
there is yet chance, but for theil
Benefit viii say there is not thu
ghost Of show, Woman suffrage il
dead as far as 1913 is concerned anC
hat is all there is to it. With thii
knowledge many house members will
likely climb aboard when the bill
comes before them. Under ordinar,
circumstances they would be agains
the measure-that is a majority O
them wolild-but the fact that tn
henate is due to kill it anywa,
changes matters materially
What changes few years bring a
FAR as legisI ton is concerned. Fou
and two years ago it was county OF
ton. The fate of many a lswmake
hinged on the outcome The propos
ton failed both times and it is agai
up with a Ike fate in sight ]. /
- nR oil Sc tho t%I,S