New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-08
by Ida Hustled Harper.

mass meetings, organizations OF many
names and hearings before Congress and
legislatures, the public is cXcusable for a
state Of bewilderment as TO the true IN
wardness of 1t all. During the last week
in Washington body of women appeared
before the House Committee on Elections
at a hearing granted on the bill of Repre-
sentative French. of Idaho. which pro-
/ vides that qualified women in all states
shall be made eligible to register and to
vote at the election of members Of the
House Of Representatives.
This hearing was under the auspices OF
a society known as the Federal Suffrage
Association, founded over twenty years
ago, if the writer remembers CORRECTLY
by the Rev. Olympia Brown. OF WIS
consin, who has been continuously us
president II holds that If the national
Constitution does not confer fun suffrage
| OH women-as some people claim-it does
at least guarantee federal suffrage. the
| right to vote for Representatives i'll tho
lower house of Congress. Able lawyers
have sustained this claim, which is based
partly on Article | Of the national Con-
stitution which says
Section 2-The House of Representative
| shall be composed OF members chose"
every second year by the people OF the
several states: and the electors snail nave
! the Qualifications requisite for electors OF
| the most numerous branch OF the state
Legislature. ..,.,,,,,
Section 1.-THE time. place and manner
| of holding elections for Senators and KEEP
resentativcs shall be prescribed in each
state by the Legislature thereof pul tht
| Congress may at any time by III" MAI
| or alter such regulations, except as 10 mo
places Of choosing Senators.
! Congress is thus unquestionaolN en-
dowed with the right TO regulate the cleo
ton OF Representatives, and bills have
been often introduced durins the last
twenty years calling upon that body To
enact a law forbiddns the states 10 deny
10 women the right TO vote for such Rcp-
resentatives. full discussion OF tis
question. with various Supreme Court de-
cisions. will be found in Volume ~ HIS
tory of Woman Suffrage" The national
association. which always has represent
ed the principal organized movement for
woman suffrage. never has believed there
was any possibility of securing such
action by Congress or made any attempt
10 obtain IT, This association has con-
fined its efforts entirely TO the securing oil
an amendment 10 the national Constitu-
ton which shall prohibit the states from
DENYING the right TO vote TO any cltizeh
on account of sex. This would settle tue
whole question of suffrage at once ana
forever.
4 tyo-thirds vote Of Congress would be
Necessary to submit such an amendment
which then would have TO be ratihed py
the legislatures Of three-fourtns oil 'he
states This would be the simplest anu
most direct way for women 10 get the
franchise. as IL would relieve them from
the tremendous task Of winning MAJOR
itv of the individual voters in each sep
arate state. and for this reason the ma
tional association has appealed TO every
Congress. beginning in 1863. This has
been done for the educational effect and
for the wide publicity of having the ar
ouments at these hearings circulated IN
thousands of Congressional documents. IL
has been well understood. however tha'
ro such national amendment would oe
submitted until a large number 81 states
had already enfranchised women ana
therefore the national association mas
lent it's assistance 20 all those staies
that were striving to have their ihui-
vidual constitutions amended Tor THIS
purpose.
For many years this seemed a slo" ana
almost hopeless process, but now IL Is
moving so rapidly that the close OF inc
nresent wear may see woman suffrage
fulIv established in one-fourth OF the
states When this mas been accomplished
in half OF them it may be possible TO on
tain the submission of a national amend
ment, as the gaining OF each state no"
ever unimportant. means TWO th'eo
States Senators obliged 10 support woman
suffrage and a legislature that would feel
compelled 10 ask for such al amendment
If its women constituents desired IL
Meanwhile. very helpful factor in the
situation is the adoption OF the income
tax amendment and the almost sure ac-
ceptance Of that for direct election OF
United States Senators. This action VIII
break down the almost superstitious oD-
lection 10 amending the federal constitu-
ton and demonstrate that IL must %
added TO occasionally in order TO meet the
demands OF new century
Suffrage Record for January.
The LEGISLATURES OF most OF the states
met In January. and the results AS 10
woman suffrage up 10 date are the SUP
mission of a constitutional amendment III
three of them-Nevada, Montana all"
South Dakota This is the second Legs
lature in Nevada that has given iavor-
h,e ma iority and therefore the question