The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-20

WOMAN SUFFRAGE
SURE ETOCONFRONT
HObSON'S CAMPAIGN
BlackmOn Tells How Senate
Amendment Has Made
1t Live Issue
NEGRO WOMEN COULD
BE GIVEN SUFFRAGE
Alabama Congressman Thinks Ques.
ton of Suffrage Should Never
Be Taken Out of the Hands
of the States
BY G. Il. sTEWART


or the endeavors of politicians in many
states 10 Keep the question of woman's
suffrage out of their individual campaigns
Tor Congress, and in spite of their denials
IN some instances that this question was
all issue, the proposition is destined to
become live issue in the campaign of
every candidate both for the House and
the Senate in the next general election
particularly is this, true in the south
This issue has been made by the introduc-
ton of joint resolution, on April of
TINS year, by Senator Chamberlain of
Oregon, that the following article be
proposed to tine legislatures of the sew
eral states as an amendment to the con-
sttution:
Section l. The right of citizens of the
nited States to vote shall not be denied
OF abridged by the United States nor by
any state on account of sex.
Sec .. The Congress shall have mower
by appropriate legislation. to enforce the
provisions of this article"
The committee to which this Joint res
olution was referred has reported fav-
orably, but it is but fair to state that
the committee was composed in most part
by senators from states where woman's
suffrage is in effect.
Representative Hobson. who favors
woman $ suffrage. and who is candi-
ua'e tor the United States Senate in Ala
pama, mas denied that woman's surfra pe
is an issue in his campaign. and has oh
Jected to It's injection into his fight for ID,
senate. But this was before the Senate
Soi',i.ilt'ee lad reported favorably upon
senator Chamberlains resolution. and il
IS TO be presumed that Mr. Uobson viii
now admit that the question is go,n,a - -
the senatorial contest. Whether he does
or does not he cannot nor can anv otbor
candidate. ignore the issue 1t is to he
toueht out in the coming elections
Blackmon Discusses Question
Representative Blackmon, who has
gwen the question of woman's suffra ee
90 aPp.'caple TO the southern state a great
deal OF study from the legal standnojnt
III the event of the passage of such a res'
oluton as the one proposed bv Senator
ohanperlaln, by the Congress and its
adoption as an amendment to the consti-
tuition by the states. in discussing tho
question today. said
undertook to sound a note of WARNING
IN Ala bama when the Roosevelt party an.
houhced IN their platform that they un
- ~ 'oon Tue TASK or securing equal suf-
frage for men and women
The forefathers evidently conten,n,ataa
tfat condition might arise which would
rehder IL imperative that each state
should nave the right to regulate suf
frage within its own borders" continued
MI Blackmon. Therefore. thev reserved
10 the states the right to fix the qualifica-
uons for voters, and the supreme court
OF the United States has almost without
exception upheld the states in dealing
with this important question
For instance" he said ''the s11preme
court has upheld the suffrage oualifica
tlcns of the state of Alabama
our best citizens for many years
Wrestled with this perpexing question.
and finally, by the constitution of 1901
legally deprived a large majority of the
objectional portion of our population of
the right of suffrage, which, as exercised
by them, had been constant menace to
the best interests of our people
THE Chamberlain resolution if passed
by Congress, approved by the President
anc ratified by the states, would in eff
tect, repeal the wise provision of our
present constitution, which leaves the i'm
portant question of womans suffrage TO
the states. This resolution in section
l provides as follows: The right of a
citizen of the United States shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States
nor any state on account of SEX.
Should Think Seriously
In view of the difficulties hitherto ex-
perienced in Alabama and other southern
states in dealing with the suffrage aues-
tion, should it not behoove the thoughtful
citizen to think seriously before giving
l, ,I<.tr 81
from the wise provisions of our present
constitution or to any advocate of this
departure?
THE advocates of the proposed change
i'll the constitution are deceiving the peo-
pie or some of Them. declared Represen-
tative Blackmon, "by citing the expert
ence of the southern states which have
in recent years dealt with this question,
and, unless our people are aware that
the proposed amendment to the federal
constitution would take from the states
the right to deal with the suffrage ques-
ton. many of them will be or may be de-
ceived. If the federal constitution is so
amended, II would annul our present state
constitution and laws so far as they re-
late to suffrage. and hereafter deprive
the state of Alabama or any other state
Of the right to fix the qualifications for
suffrage.
which our people should think of Is this:
The supreme court of the United States
has held that our suffrage plan was not
violative of the fifteenth amendment and
we have eliminated large portion OF the
Objectionable element in our population
from participation in our elections. Should
this amendment to the federal constitu-
ton be adopted and we should undertake
to eliminate the negro women from par
ticipation in our elections. would 1t not
be apparent that we were discriminating
against them on account OF race. color
or previous condition of servitude? Wouiu
1t not be wise, so far as we in the south
are concerned, to adhere to the old maxim
let well enough alone?
II realize that there are number or
good women who feel that they shouid
have the right to vote, but l cannot be-
ieve that the women of the south Tor
one moment would consider the question
seriously when they realize what II may
mean for our section. should the federai
constitution say that the right or CIT
izen of the United States to vote snail
not be denied or abridged by the on',eu
States nor by any state on account OF
sex
I'm my Judgment" declared Represen-
tative Blackmon, there is no reputable
la wyer or thoughtful citizen in Alabama
who would not agree that, II the pro-
posed amendment to the federal constitu-
ton is adopted. It would enfranchise ne
gro women and take from the severai
states the right to deal successfully Win
the suffrage question"
Members Are Beseiged
As further proof that the question is an