The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-19
POOR OUTLOOK FOR
SUFFRAGE IN PENN'A
Canvass Of state Shows Only
16 of 81 Counties Are Sure
to Favor Cause.
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT

are that the equal suffrage amendment
to the Pennsylvania Constitution will
be defeated at the polls in November.
This view Is based on sentiment sounded
In every niche and corner of Pennsyl-
vania. But man. things may happen
between now and election day. A care
full survey OF the situation shows that
there is almost widespread apathy in re-
gard to the suffrage question.
The net results of a canvass OF the
State are summarized as follows: For
the amendment. 16 counties against the
amendment. 2s; non-committal or
doubtful. 23.
Following liz how the counties stand,
according to the canvass:
For the Amendment-Blair, Bradford,
Cambria, Clarion, Clearield, Erie, For
est. Indiana. Jefferson, Lawrence, Mon
tour, Pike, Potter. Susqpehanna, Wayne
and Wyoming.
Against the Observation-Disclosures,
Beaver. Bedford, Berks, Cameron. Cen
tire. Clinton, Columbia, Delaware. Elk.
Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntington.
Juniata, Lehigh. LuZerne, Mercer. Mil
hin, Monroe. Montgomery. Northampton.
Northumberland, Perry. Sullivan, Tioga,
Union and Westmoreland
Doubtful - Allegheny, Armstrong.
Bucks, Butler. Carbon. Chester, Craw-
ford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette.
Lackawanna, Lancaster. Lebanon, Ly-
coming Mexican, Philadelphia, Schuyl-
kill. Snyder. Somerset, Venango, War
rem, Washington and York.
Influential political leaders in every
county of the STATE. men who are in a
position to know the feeling of the vot-
ers, were asked what in their Judgment
Is the present status of affairs In regard
10 the suffrage issue. The results were
the foregoing forecast from the sixty
seven counties Of the State.
Women on Both sides Confident.
Just completing a tou of the state,
which has taken them into many coun-
ties with the celebrated Suffrage Liberty
Bell, the suffragists are confident the
verdict will be in favor of the enfran-
chisement Of their sex. Equally con-
fdent are the "antis,' who have labored
just as faithfully and energetically.
Mrs. Frank VI. Roessing Of Harris
burg, president of the Pennsylvania
Woman Suffrage Association. said re-
garding the vote in November;
Reports indicate n strong and ever
increasing suffrage sentiment in all
counties except a few that are abso-
lutcly controlled by interests inherently
opposed to women voting. Every vote
which these interests can control will be
thrown against us. Blu we will secure
the vote OF every man who considers the
suffrage amendment in a fair minded
spirit and votes accordingly. The real
political leaders realize that woman suf-
frage is coming eventually and are
shrewd enough to appreciate that a de-
feat for the suffra gists in Pennsylvania
this year would be IA milestone around
the necks OF those who instigated Il,
even though the orders were given Sc
cretly.'"
Emily Sargent Lewis. president Of the
Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia,
expressed this opinion
pennsylvania will probably favor
woman suffrage in November. Its best
outlook comes from the support of the
press, of numbers OF the clergy and OF
large organizations, such as the Penn
~aylvania Grange. Federation of Women's
Clubs, labor unions, educational and
business associations and all reform as
sociations. Suffrage associations are
taxed to their limit in answering all the
interested inquirers, furnishing speakers
for meetings and satisfying the demand
OF an eager public for education in this
great democratic crusade
Florence r. Hall of this city. chair
man of the Public Interests Committee,
Pennsylvania Association Opposed TO
Woman Suffrage, said
AS Hucn cralCt pl suffrage carry ms
Pennsylvania as OF my being elected to
the Presidency OF the United States next
election said one man in the central
part of our State a few days ago. This
opinion expressed in a variety of ways
comes from every section OF the State.
There seems 20 be little sentiment for
suffrage even in the big cities, and the
question is rather how large a majority
we shall roll up than whether we shall
.,tp We y rpDpipp a race with Mas
~eachusetts, New York and New Jersey,
and we call on the men Of Pennsylvania
TO put our State at the head of the list
N defeating woman suffrage"
Mrs. Horace Brock OF Philadelphia,
president of the Pennsylvania Associa-
tion Opposed TO Woman Suffrage, gave
the following views on the question
"Pennsylvanla will overwhelmingly
defeat woman suffrage in November.
This is admitted even by many sut-
fra gists. My opinion is based upon re
ports received from our workers IN every
county of the State also upon the TACT
that the men OF Pennsylvania know that
Few women of the State want to vote,
Under the laws of Pennsylvania II
be liable to jury duty, and men do not
want TO see their women on juries,
Nrdther do they want them deprived OF
the rights and privileges which they
now enjoy under the laws of the state,
To nIease a few women they are not
willing to bring about this state or
affairs. with Increased taxation, a
doubled electorate and no compensating
gain"
II appears from the canvass Of the
state that there is little Interest In the
outrage issue. A state Of general apathy
A the condition reported In "A majority
OF the twenty-three counties listed as
.non-committal or doubtful The fact
that only sixteen counties report directly
for suffrage while almost twice as many
declare the amendment will be lost in
their districts is the most striking In
dication of the probable result.
Quite a number of counties say the
vote will be close. In some districts II
In reported that the women are not
interested in the situation. In a few
counties there il an outspoken sentiment
that the women are opposed to partici-
patton In political affairs,
II is widen from the poll of the state
that the suffrage issue is to have a
fsir and squsre chance to stand solely
on its merits. 1t appears that the
political "bosses' have not yet given any
orders one way or another. Apparently
the issue IL left to the voters, the polit-
ical leaders adopting the same tactics
as they did when the suffrage resolution
came before the State Legislature, when
Senators and Representatives voted
without dictation.
S%uffragists take great satisfaction from
the speech made by Gov, Brumbaugh at
Denver on August 26, en- route to the