Evening journal., 1915-03-10


the won the right to vote for Presidential cleo
tors and municipal officials.
Passing TO another phase OF the suffrage question
with tho attendant question whether suffrage is Is
not advancing let ns look at those States in which, in
1916 aud 1916 the question Of the enfranchsement of
tho will be submitted to the voters
Iowa. by a vote of 81 to 26 in the House and 81 to IS
in he Senate decided to submit the question in 1916
Massachusetts, by a vote of 16s to 80 in the House
"a in the Senate, decided to submit It to the
voters this year
New Jersey by a vote of 40 to in the House and Is
to in the Senate, agreed to do likewise.
New York. by vote of 1876 to in the House and 40
TO the Senate provided for submission Of the ques-
ton the voters this year, did Pennsylvania by
vote of 13l to 20 in the House and 26 to 20 in the
Senate
North Dakota put itself record by vote of n to
30 in the House and 81 to 10 in the Senate,
referendum vote the question in 1916.
II also may be said that partial woman suffrage finds
recognition in New Mexico. North Dakota, South
Dakota, Nebraska Oklahoma Louisiana. Mississippi,
kentucky. Wisconsin, Ohio Delaware. New Jersey New
York, Connecticut, Massachusetts,, Vermont and New
Hampshire. Much Of that recognition has existed, how
ever for many years and in instances slight that
it does not figure Importantly in the controversy
In the last year the sunragiss have two out Of
States in which referendums held effected
crystazaon OF suffrage sentiment IN the States not
in those and other States
The sunragiss also boast that full suffrage been
In tho following countries and 9rovinces New
Zealand. Commonwealth OF Australia South Australia,
Western Australia, Tasmania Queensland Victoria,
Finland. Norway, Isle of Man. Iceland. Burmah and
Bosnia They also speak grauyingly of the fact that
there are twenty-four countries provinces. prin
cipalites and dependencies in which woman now have
partial suffrage
There several States in which the suhragists
admittedly have lost for the time being least their
fight full suffrage Delaware being one of them the
House yesterday having killed, by a vote of 22 to
s. and tho Senate by vote Of II to G. the
proposed suffrage amendment It is altogether likely
they also will lose their fight in of the States that
will vote the question this year and next year It
would be remarkable they TO carry them ALL and
yet there is telling what few months will bring
forth in such situation that which confronts
the people Il has been only short time since persons
rdlculed the thought that in States like Pennsylvania.
New Jersey. New York and Massachusetts the question
ever would get TO be submitted TO the voters
and yet the swing in favor Of submission with
suddenness that surprised both the friends and the foes
OF women suffrage.
We adhere to our statement that with the exception
Of the od-tme instance OF New Jersey the suragists
never lost State after they have gained it.
This historical fact AS regards the outcome Of
fights on submission and the spread Of suffrage sen-
comforting TO the ansufragists congratulate them
upon having found and think they fully justified
n nOurshnE e. We would remind them, however. that
the suEragsis have comeback quality about them
that Il viii be we'll for them recognize and guard
against IN other words they do not accept reverse
as a defeat. DO they. 10 commonplace
preston. to know when they licked" There
is an aggrayatng resiency about them that leads them
begin fight almost before the old fight is ended
and lost
AS regards the outcome Of the fight here in Delaware,
II is distinct victory for Mrs Thompson and her
associates On the other hand it may be said that the
Delaware suffragists did not expect TO win. They
looked upon it merely the entering wedge, to
speak, and have emerged from il with record of
having enlisted in their rihe than twenty
per cent. of the entire membership OF the House OF
Representatives and a little than 33 1-3 per
cent Of the total membership Of the Senate. We
venture the prediction that from this time
the fight between the sunragists and the anti
sunragists here in Delaware will be spirited
than it has been in the past and that the agitation
the country. over far from dying down. will become
more pronounced time eapses, regardless Of the
outcome Of the referendum votes in the States alluded
to above. We may be wrong and Mrs. Thompson may
be right with respect TO that but think. without
prejudice either side in the controversy. that time
will bear out our prediction.