The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-04
Local Suffragist Analyses Results of Election in
 3 Eastern States
SCENE OF FIGHT
 SHIFTS TO CAPITAL
Reverse in East Only Temporary Iu- terruption of Campaign-Will Not Slacken State Activities While
 Seeking to Have Congress Act
By PATTIE RUFFNER JACOBS

The defeat of the suffrage amendment in three big eastern states Tuesday was not unexpected; the general impression in suffrage circles for sometime has been that Massachusetts and Pennsylvania would certainly lose, but that New York might be saved by a small majority. It is the first time the conservative east has submitted the question, but it will not be the last time for equal suffrage is inevitable
 Dislike of change, even fear of the un- tried. the new, seems to be inherent in the majority of people and it is this at- titude of mind that accounts for their tenacious clinging to things as they are, rather than as they ought to be.
 That there will be no abandonment of the demand for the ballot is foregone conclusion; the defeats are merely tenn porary Interruptions to the campaigns. The scene of operations will now be shifted to Washington. and Congress will by women asking the passage of fed eral amendment. A hearing on the ques- tion Is already arranged for December 20,
 
 The federal amendment is known as the short cut,'' for after it's passage by two-thirds of both branches of Congress, it is submitted to the legislatures of the various state, and when ratified by three- fourths of the legislatures becomes auto matically a part of the constitution of the United States.
 Thus the question is never voted upon by the individual voter at the polls and the women of America do not have to convince the newly arrived Slavs Italians, Germans. Poles British, Russians and me- groes that they are worthy ot enfran- chisement.
 But the suffragists who understand political situations do not propose to les- sen their activities in the various states; they expect to urge both routes for of course, it is understood that the more individual states there are in the suffrage column, the more congressman will re- spond.
 Alabama has within her borders mil itant suffragette!
 Only-she is a man.
 A man who has been interested casually in the suffrage doings of his wife.
 A man who is the father of two daugh- ters.
 When he read The Age Herald yester- day morning he became primitive, for his fighting blood was up; he wanted to set out and do something, single-handed. if need be, to the stupid eastern men who admit thousands and thousands of aliens each year to citizenship and who stii deny their own wives, mothers and daugh- ters the same right.
 The determination of New York men not to allow their women the vote leaves Chicago, where women have the ballot with the greatest voting strength of any city in the United States
 The Illinois supreme court refused last week to permit the question of the con stitutionality of the woman suffrage act to be reargued. and the verdict Is said to have been unanimous.
 It will be recalled that Chicagos mixed population did not vote on tie equal suf- frage subject; the legislature of Illinois enfranchised the women, so far as il was able under their constitution.
 
 It is significant that no big city has yet cast a majority in favor of the won- en; the large adverse vote in San Fran cisco several years ago was chilling news to the workers in California, until the rural districts began sending in returnS and the tide was turned.
 Big business, in it's offensive sense. is so well organized, the spoilers so well entrenched, that the women can not rea- sonably hope to carry the cities.