The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-12
V to- on Submitting
Amendment toStates
for Ratification Will
BeTaken Late To-day
HOUSETO DEBATE
MATTER 6 HOURS
Driving Rain Storm Failed to Dampen
Ardor of Suffragists and Anti-Suf-
fragists as They Assembled in the
Galleries This Morning

Washington, Jan. 12.-After an
hour and half of debate the House
to-day adopted 209 to 81, special
rule for considering the proposed con
stitutional amendment for woman suf
frage and then settled down to six
hours actual debate before voting on
whether to submit the resolution to the
States for ratification.
The country agitation for WON
an suffrage to-day reached climax in
the consideration in the House of Rep
resentatives of an amendment to the
federal constitution providing "voteS
for women.' Under special rule
brought in by Representative Henry
chairman of the rules committee, oppor.
tunity to discuss and vote on the Mon.
dell resolution, providing an amendment
for women suffrage, was assured.
The Mondell resolution would sub
mat to the State for their approval an
amendment to the constitution insert.
ing new article as follows:
The Proposed Amendment
The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied OF
abridged by the United States or by a
State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power, bv an.
propriate legislation, to enforce the
provisions of this article
All the feminine forces that have
taken part in the suffrage campaign
were IN evidence at the Capitol to-day.
The officers of the National American
Woman's Suffrage Association and
kindred organization and the officers of
che National Association opposed to
woman suffrage were assigned places
IN the galleries where provision had
been made for record-breaking crowds.
The anti-suf1'ragists were enthusias.
tie in their predictions that the attempt
to secure suffrage for women through
federal means would fail. They declared
mat the sutfragistS would not muster
more than one-third of the votes in the
House, although two-thirds were neces-
sary to submit the amendment to the
States. The suffragists claimed to have
about a majority.
Vote on Bill Early Tonight
The determination of the Democratic
leaders to allow direct vote ON the
suffrage question resulted in the adon.
tlon of the special rule without a record
vote. This may bring the final vote on
the bill early tonight
A driving rain storm failed to dis.
courage record.breaking crowd. At
clock this morning the first arrivals
Went INTO the house galleries to await
the beginning of the debate. An hour
hefore the session opened practically all
the unreserved seats for women were
hiled with suffragists and anti -suffra
gusts. In the men S gallery. however
there were vacant seats a-plenty. When
the women doffed their waternroof
coats the purple and yellow banners
and sashes of the suffragists filed the
galleries with wave of color. A
whole block of reserved seats was occu.
pied by women wearing the broad satin
ribbons. Many brought their knitting
and needlework.
Knit and Sew as They Wait
The gallery to the left of Speaker
Clark s desk was occupied by the suf.
fragists. On the right the anti-suffra
gists, each wearing red rose, knitted
and sewed as they waited. Separating
the hostile camps was the men s gal,
lery.
In the suffrage gallery DR.. Anna
Howard Shaw, Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait, Mrs. o. II. ?. Belmont, Mrs. Peth-
lex Lawrence of london, and the Con.
gressional committee of the National
Association were in charge. Across the
way were Mrs. Arthur NJ. Dodge, presi.
dent of the National Association On
posed to Woman s Suffrage; Mrs. A. J.
George, Mrs Daniel A. Markham and
the legislative committee of that asso-
ciation. The galleries applauded gen
orally when DR., Shaw and several other
prominent suffragists were invited bv
the Speaker to leave the public gallery
and took places in his private gallery.
Special Rule Presented
At II O'Clock Chairman Henry, of
the Rules Commi tee, presented the spe-
cial rule upon which it was agreed to
allow one and one-half hours debate.
exclusive of the six hours provided for
the resolution itself.
81 shall support the rule because [
believe vote should be given on anv
which has become a national
issue said Mr.. Henry. ''But | be-
lieve this is purely matter of state
iurislietion | shall never vote for
any amendment that proposes to take
from the states powers now reserved
to them and to vest those powers in
the federal government.
Representative Campbell, Republican,
spoke for the rule and the Mondeli
resolution.
Talks of Ante-Bellum Days
The President and many of his fol-
lowers" said he, "insist that granting
the right of suffrage to women is one
that must be dealt with by the states.
He invokes the doctrine of states
sovereignty with the same enthusiasm
and conviction that others of his par
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