The Washington herald., 1914-12-06
women NEARING
SUFFRAGE GOAL
Mrs. R. B. Morgan Tells Of
Result of Recent
Elections.
CHARGES POLLS FRAUD
Although Amendment Lost in Several
States. Showing Presases
Victory. Is Claim.

The Congressional committee of the
National American Woman Suffrage As
ISOLATION has received during the past
week official reports from the State
presidents OF those States where an
equal suffrage amendment was submit
ted. A careful analysis of these figures
conyinces the committee that suffragists
have reason to be encouraged by the re-
suit even in those States which were
lost.
Ohio. in an election won by the reac-
tionary element in politics, cast the
greatest vote ever recorded for suffrage.
The number Of votes cast on the amend
ment was S63,ss5 Of which 81, go were
favorable. Two years ago at the spe-
cial election the total vote was only
$4,000 with a favorable vote of 246.272.
In South Dakota the suffrage amend
ment was defeated by only 1900 major
ity. as compared with 22,OOO four years
ago. The Official figures for North Da-
kota have not been received. but at last
reports suffrage got Il per cent of the
total vote cast on the question, SO far
as the count had gone.
Got Largest Vote.
In Missouri. although there was an ad-
verse majority OF 10000. II is estimated
that nearly 10000 were ''mutilated bal
lots i. &. having a line drawn through
all amendments. These ballots. accord
ing to the State president, which should
not have been counted on either side
were counted as adverse.
There was an affirma tive vote OF 1T2
co. making the suffrage amendment
second only to the proposition to PEN
sion the blind, which stood first in ia
vor OF the fifteen submitted amend
ments.
% he NnNa rNFnGiHnrF
the large number of amendments was
one Of the factors in the defeat Of them
all As it was. the suffrage vote of 4s4.-
co. was the largest cast on any propo-
sition.
II is considered remarkable by those
who have followed the growth of SUI
fraEe sentiment that in these two States
Of Missouri and North Dakota. where the
campaign was carried on for the first
time, the favorable vote should be so
large, as II is a matter of experience that
an equal suffrage amendment rarely ~ins
on its first submission. This is especially
noteworthy in the case OF Missouri, a
Southern State, in which the State or
granization is hardly more than year
old Another significant fact is that
Kansas City gave an adverse mapority or
only 1900.
In Nebraska more men voted on suf
frage than ON any OF the five other pro-
posed amendments. Nearly 80 per cent
Of the voters, is. SIS voted on the Ques-
ton. The amendment was beaten by
about 5000. but the favorable vote equaled
p per cent Of the total vote for gov
ernor whereas only j per cent is neces-
sary for passage. However, according to
reports coming from various parts of
the State, it is quite possible tha the
suffrage amendment was really carried.
hut was counted out.
Ii is reported that in certain country
districts election judges had ben in
structed to count all ballots which were
not actually marked in favor of the
amendment as cast against it. II that is
what happened II would explain why in
some cases the number of votes reported
as cast on the amendment eQua!ed the
number cast for governor. a thing un-
precedented in thehistory of amendments
II would explain also the surprising fact
that the country districts gave as large
a majority against the amendment as the
city Of Omaha. in spite OF the fact that
it is recognized that the city vote is the
most difficult to win.
In Omaha the votes were counted cor
reCtly. In the country districts there is
reason to suspect that they were not.
An investigation OF the matter is now
under way.
In view of these figures and their inter-
probation the Congressional committee
feels that whereas only two more States
have reached the goal the rest are on the
way. In several of the defeated states