Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
OBJECTS or
CONGRESSIONAL UNION
Miss Il. b. Hanchc Tells OF Plan for
Federal Suffrage Regu-
lation.
REQUIRES NO REFERENDUM

>ouhu Dc aSSSu uS SohStSSS anu
Legislatures of Three-Fourths OF
States Without Reference to the
Wishes of Minority States.
Differences both as to methods and
objects between tho two organizations
working for votes for women were out
lined yesterday by Miss L. B. Hanche
organizer for the Congressional Union
who has been conducting a campaign
IN Virginia for some weeks. The ire or
the Congressional Union advocates has
been aroused by n headline In The
Times Dispatch which read: PLAN ad-
vocatcd by the Congressional Union
would take tho control Of the suffrage
qualifications from the States and in.
vest it In the United States govern
ment" Miss Hanche explains that this
is only true as TO the sex limitation.
there being no intention on the part
OF the workers for n Federal amend
ment TO block the efforts of States
which have adopted literacy or other
tests as Il prerequisite of suffrage.
Briefly the Equal Suffrage League of
Virginia, OF which Mrs. b. B. Valentine,
OF Richmond. is president, is asking
the State of Virginia to grant suffrage
to women, by means OF an amendment
to tho State Constitution, which before
adoption must be passed on ut the polls
by the qualified voters of the State AS
other amendments to the Constitution
are adopted.
CONGRESSIONAL UNION
PROPOSES NO REFERENDUM
The Congressional Union proposes
no referendum to the qualified voters
at any stage. 1t advocates a Federal
amendment submitted by Congress to
the Legislatures of the States, which
Will be effective when adopted by
70, nc, Of Ia
thus serving to force female suffrage
whether wanted or not, on the minority
States which do not, through their
Legislatures, approve tho amendment
Miss Hancho outlined yesterday the
plan and purposes of the Congressional
Union as follows:
Tho Susan Il. Anthony amendment
proposes that the right of citizens OF
the United States TO vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States
or by any State on account of sex"
When this amendment has been
passed by a two thirds vote OF Con-
Srcss. It will go to the States for rati-
fication. That three-fourths of the
States will ratify 1t rapidly is almost
certain, for there are eleven suffrage
States, and Illinois with partial suf-
frage, and these are expected to ratify
1t Immediately. Then there are fifteen
States whore Legislatures have recently
voted to refer the question of woman
suffrage to the voters, or where the
voters have by initiative petition called
for referendum. Out OF the remain
ing twenty-one States 1t will only be
necessary TO secure nine. Then all the
women of every section of every State
in the Union viii be free.
DOES NOT AFFECT RIGHT TO
REQUIRE OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
VIII 1t affect the matter of the right
OF State 10 prescribe the voting quail
tications of its voters? That is absurd
OF course II will not. The only dis
ability which will be removed will be
that of sex, and the things which bar
any man from voting in his State will
bar woman OF that State equally
effectively. The passage of a Federal
amendment does not mean that all the
women OF a state will DO allowed to
vote. II means that all tho women
who measure up TO the qualifications OF
the State requirements shall not he
disbarrcd on account of her sex.
What then is the advantage of Sc
curing suffrage by n Federal amend
ment? Federal action is more direct
man state action because n State con-
stitutional amendment must usually be
passed by n two-thirds vote OF the
State Legislature, and in some States
twice over; and must then be submitted
the State
United States constitutional amend
ment once passed by Congress needs
to secure only q single majority vote
in three fourths OF the State I.cgisla-
lures: and no referendum OF the pco-
pie is necessary. Thus twelve state
campaisns and the appeal TO, 100000
individual voters is, lifted. Iron, the
burden which the suffrage workers are
carrying
WORK Conferred on
MEMBERS or LEGISLATURES
Federal amendment once rasscd
ny Congress. is passed forever. and is
thereafter before the State I.egisla-
lures for their constellation II y
state Legislature rejects the Federal
amendment IL can reconsider lis ac,inn
If IL ratiii"s the amcndmcn, the rati
fcation is final y state amendment
II rejected by IN" male voters. must
be introduced into the State I.crIsla
turc and tho work begun all oyor ncoI,
from the hcginninc
fcu"rAl work SiVcS the c.nordttur.
OF great sums Of money in r.ac,,iro
ihHlEidual voters scattered over v.s,
areas Work for the Federal amend
nehr IS centorcd on comparatively rcw
IheHnneFS Of Congress ANA Of Tho State
l-eSls iatGrcs--all Responsible nNici,lv
gathered togethc! at national an5 60"
capi-ols. '''"'e
we have tremendous leverage in
IohsTeSs which docs no: exist in tho
legislatures Of tho thirtv-siy lrfrno
states There are in tho United states
congress the representatives of nil.
mons OK enfranchiscd women. fourth
or me Senate, onc-sixth Of the uous.
ana "ne-ffth of thc electoral ya,,
comes from States where wornor vo,.
IN national elections Nearly 4 0on 400
so'e log nc President ot the United