The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-22

vote, and continued to vote until 1874.
when the legislature of that State barred
them by passing an act that they knew
women would not sanction. and would not
vote for their return. Women did not
know that the United States Constitu-
ton pronounced an act in conflict with
said Constitution null and void and they
submitted TO such act
when the Constitution of the United
States was ratified by the thirteen States
it was done under the guarantee that It
should be a Republican form of govern
ment, and it was understood that al
States should be sharers Of all the rights
of the respective States, and that no
right should be curtailed in any State
that was enjoyed in any other State-they
should be on equal footing.
Women had been voting in New Jer-
sey and Maryland before the Declaration
of Independence. and when the Constitu-
ton of the United States was framed
there was not a thought of taking any
rights from any State, it being well
known that attempted oppression would
prevent ratification.
Foundation of Government.
THE Constitution of the United States
is the foundation of our government; but
AOA NlldbS lLtEC "OhAo We HO NOh6ACooS ho
supreme bench, no President; and woe
be TO any citizen who belittles the execu-
tive, the judicial, or the greatest branch
of all, the legislature, by attempting a
wheedling process to defeat the provi-
sions Of the United States Constitution.
President Wilson exhibited his intelli-
gence when he refused to sanction a
committee on woman suffrage in the
House of Representatives, since there
can be nothing to be brought before such
committee, as the United States Consti-
tuition fully recognizes women as having
all rights that men enjoy. The Growing
Constitution Argument was sent to him
and all governors of States, and he did
not ignore it
THE women seaboard State voters
were to be respected, since they were,
by location, In possession of power to per-
NIT or invite Britain to land on their
soil, IL this was not to be a republic in
reality, recognizing the rights of women
citizens as well as those Of men citi-
zens.
Case of CIcrSymen.
THAT the women of other States, be-
sides New Jersey and Maryland, did not
use the right to vote did not preclude
them from such rights any more than II
did the clergymen of all denominations
not using the right to vote, until they
saw it was their right, in the time of the
civil war. and began to vote unquestioned.
No one can be deprived of rights be-
cause they do not use them as soon as
accorded. no matter from what cause.
or for what length of time they fail to
avail themselves OF such rights.
AS women were citizens and voters
before the framing of the United States
Constitution, and as equal rights of sex
were clearly guaranteed protection by a
blanket Republican govern
ment. they are the rights Of all States
today, as they were at the time of the
ratification of the United States Constitu-
ton in 17sS Senator Charles Sumner and
Chief Justice Chase told the author of
The Growing Constitution Argument
that Her argument was true, and that no
5urist had seen the Constitution of the
United States in its true light regarding
women. and a woman's brain had seen II,
and 1t opened the door through which ali
women would walk and vote"