The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-01-01
0 M SUFFRAGE E W
Votes for Women In 1918.


Nineteen thirteen has been u won
'lerful year for woman suffage. The
progress which the movement has
made during this period cannot yet
,e measured, for the most remarka-
llc advance has been in the number
# suffrage workers, their enthusiasm
and determination to win-and TO
win soon. But the tangible results
II the years work may be briefly
unmarried. First in Importance Is
he granting OF presidential and mu
nicipal suffrage to the women of I'LL
lois-an event Of deepest political
significance not only to the women
of the country but to all Of the great
political parties. In the legislature
IT Alaska which was created In 1912,
and convened for the first time on
March 1, 1913, the first measure in
reduced was an equal suffrage bill
which passed both houses by a unau-
nous vote and became a law with
out submission TO the voters. Very
carly In the year the legislatures OF
Nevada, North and South Dakota,
and Montana passed suffrage amend
ments which will be submitted to the
electors IN the several states at the
general election OF November, 1917.
The legislatures o. Wisconsin. Mich
gan, New York, New Jersey, Penn
'ylvania and Iowa also passed equal
,ufrrage bills. Tie Wisconsin bill
was vetoed by the governor; the
Michigan bill was submitted to the
voters at the Apral election aud de.
fcated; the New Jersey bill was not
published 80 days before the Novem
Der election and will therefore have
o be introduced over again this year.
The proposed amendments In New
fork, Pennsylvania and Iowa must be
approved by the next legislatures III
these states before they can be sub.
nitted to the voters. Suffrage bills
were passed by the Arkansas senate
and the Minnesota house. In the
Texas house, the Maine house. and
the Massachusetts house and the
Maine senate and the West Virginia
=enate and house suffrage bills failed
only because a two-thirds and not a
majority vote was needed. Suffrage
bills were defeated In the Connect
cut house, the Delaware senate and
house, the Minnesota senate. the Nc
hraska house the Texas senate land
The Florida senate and house. In
Missouri u suffrage bill was ordered
cent TO engrossmeht Sby both houses
but was referred again to committee
Just before the legislature adjourn
cd. In New Hampshire and Vermont
partial suffrage bills were defeat,
ID. In Indiana, Rhode Island aud
North Carolina suffrage bills were
introduced but were not reported out
Of committee.
On April 18th q bill was introduced
In both houses of congress TO amend
the constitution OF the United States
Sc as to prevent any citizen from be.
ing deprived Of the right OF franchise
because OF SEX. In June this bill was
reported favorably by the senate COM
mittee on woman suffrage but 1t has
not been voted upon by either the
senate or the house.
In marked contrast with the fail
ure of congress to discuss the SUI,
fragc question is the attitude OF the
many European countries. In the
last year the question Of woman suf-
frage has been discussed in the I'M.
perial Parliaments OF Ireland, Dem
mark, and Norway lin all three OF
which countries equal suffrage bills
have been passed this year,: ilt the
Imperial Parliament OF Great brit
ain; in France. where, following a
parliamentary Investigation, several
Of the local councils have recently
passed resolutions calling upon par
lament to take action; in Sweden,
where the king has recommended
woman suffrage In his message. aft
er a committee headed by a hostile
chairman had inyesti gated the ques.
tion: Equal suffrage was discussed
in the Douma of Russi4, in Holland
lin connection with the proposal for
constitutional convention and In
Portugal and Italy. 1t vas not dis
cnssed in the Imperial paritaments OF.
Austria and Germany, but Il was in
come ofathe local dietss Oh thekn cnsn.l