The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-02-06
Women Expected Defeat Of Sut-
trage in Senate.
DEAD FOR next TWO YEARS
No Chance for House Measure to Get
Through Upper Branch at
This Session.
Especial Correspondence

| Especial correspondence.
st. Paul, Feb. 3.-Unless it be the
de1eat OF woman suffrage the fifty
eighth session of the Minnesota leg
lslature has done nothing as yet that
would commend it 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
now as news runs, but it might not
be amlss 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 a careful poll of the senate,
Which gave the bill it's quietus,
showed two votes shy of the neces-
Fsary number to pass it. There was
no hysteria when the vote was an
nounced; the women in charge knew
what was coming and they simply &C.
cepted the findings. Various things
have been assigned as 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 assaulted the dissenting
senators at the close of adjournment.
Tor which he was taken to task by
Senator McGrath Of Winona. who
used the word "liar' in resenting the
|insinuation. From an inner knowl-
edge OF the whole thing I would hard
ly like to charge the defeat up to the
| brewers alone. There were any num-
Der Of the senators honestly opposed
to the movement and in casting their
votes in the negative they had to go
against hostile city press and a but
tOnhOllng on the part of women lob
byists that would have daunted many.
At the same time the brewers did not
favor the movement and they had al
lies in many interests who figured
that a doubling of the franchise only
meant trouble for them. However,
if they conducted any crusade against
the movement it was outside the leg
islative halls, for it has to be said
that as far as professional lobbyists
and representative of the interests
are concerned they are less in evi-
|dence this time than in years.
:. :. ::
The question of whether the wom-
en- of Minnesota want the ballot or
that the lie 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 ity press was almost a
unit in favor Of the women but it's
known that latter day ideas only fig
ure 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
dinance cutting down the price of
gas: ITO HI with the gas CON-
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-
ly it is the asst of their troubles now
but that other third constitutes a
considerable number and they are on
the job tv enty-four hours a day.
What they ave to say in favor of
the movem' makes readable stuff
it brings bscribers to the Twin
City press I'd when they run out of
readable. stuff some enterprising re-
porter can ways be counted upon to
fill the gap, nd so there you are It
| Is the sam with every movement.
what is there in it for u.s." is the
cry, and so t goes. If it looks good
the live ones back it and if it does
not it fails.
:. !. :.
Some of the friends of the suffra-
| g1st movement are hanging their
hopes on the house bill, known as the
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 that
there is yet a chance, but for their
benefit I will say there is not the
ghost of a show. Woman suffrage is
dead as far as 1918 is concerned and
| CuoI Is oil Clloio is ~ IL. WIFI CQlS
knowledge many house members will
| likely climb aboard when the bill
comes before them. Under ordinary
circumstances they would be against
the measur> that is a majority of
them would-but the fact that the
senate is Tue to kill it anyway
changes matters materially
| !. :.
| What changes a few years bring as
far as legislation is concerned Four
and two years ago it was county op-
ton. The fate of many lawmaker
hinged on the outcome. The PROPOSE
/ ton failed both times and it is again
up with Ike fate in sight J. F.
| Lee of Ann ldale is the author this
time and he has hopes for the passage
j OF the measure, but the best posted
| figure that It will lose out by about
eight votes. It Is nc longer even a
/ ro1iro rr1~@ei<s4n T1,o o-o