The Washington herald., 1915-01-24
women TO turn
GUNS ON STATES
Congressional Committee of
'National' Considers That
Easiest Course.
DIFFICULTIES In THE WAY

- - = NV - = AAAS AN AAA w IA i
Shafroth-PaImer Resolution and Pres
idential Suffrage Will be Two
Goals Sought.
The Congressional committee of the Ma
tiOnal American Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation has already begun its activities
along the avenues it feels will lead ul-
timately to the passage Of the resolution
lately rejected by the House. one of these
is the Shafroth- Palmer resolution. an
other is Presidential suffrage in the
States. Both of these measures are de-
signed to relieve the situation in those
States where the passage of a suffrage
amendment to the State constitution is
difficult, II not impoSsib
A study of the State constitutions re-
veals the fact that One-fOUrth of the
number are exceedingly difficult Of
amendment In Arkansas. Illinois. Mis-
sissippi and Minnesota an amendment
when submitted tn the people must re-
ceivc a majority of all votes cast at the
election. As William Allen White says
in the Public Ledger:
"A proposition has to be practically un-
debatabIc to receive a majority of all
votes cast Every voter too lazy or ig
nOrant to cast a vote on a proposition is
counted negatively"
TrGe State Measure.
In Illinois only one amendment may be
submitted at a time. and the same not
oftencr than once in five years.
In Kentucky only two amendments may
be submitted. and the same one not
Oftencr than once in five years. In Yer
mont the constitution may be amended
only once in ten years; in New Hamp-
shire only once in seven years, and then
only by a constitutional convention. 1t is
obvious that in these cases the chances
Of the passage Of woman suffrage
amendment are very slight
To meet this situation the National
American Woman Suffrage Association is
recommending to all States such as are
not contemplating a suffrage campaign
that they introduce bill in their legis-
latureS asking for Presidential suffrage.
similar to that won and exercised by the
women Of Illinois Since the Constitution
Of the United States provides that Presi-
Dental electors shall be chosen in such
manner as the various legislatures decide.
such suffrage can be- granted by legisla-
tive act without the necessity Of an
amendment to the Constitution. The bill
can he passed and made effective by
majority vote in the legislatures without
submission to the people.
Illinois is so far the only State in
which such measure has passed the
Legislature. though bills providing for
Presidential suffrage have heen constant
ly introduced in various States from the
SOS up to the present time: as early as
ISIS in Massa chusetts. 1Sg2 in Rhode Is
land. lS96 in South Carolina. and 1891 in
Kansas.
Put Up Two Bills.
In Illinois the suffrage association had
always followed the plan Of introducing
into the legislature a resolution for
amendment to the constitution and
Presidential bill then doing the work on
either one that they chose, on the theory
that IL they met defeat on the resolution
they might hope to pass the more linn
tied legislation.
The Illinois legislature passed the bill
in 1913 granting To women Presidential
and municipal. suffrage. including the
right to vote for municipal judges, county
and township officers, all propositions in
the political divisions Of the State. and
several miscellaneous offices. The act was
declared constitutional in decision hand
ed down 10y the state Supreme Court on
June g. 1914.
II is this decision which has decided the
National Association to push similar bills
in all possible States on the ground that
il affords a batternE ram that will even
tuaIIy lead to fun cnfrauChisement The
Illinois women feel the passage Of this
measure has made fun suffrage possible
in the near future either through con-
stitutionaI convention or by an amend
ment which up to the time they got
this legislative action they regarded as
practically hopeless.
Tho vote in the House. where twenty
five members Of the Illinois delegation
registered in favor Of suffrage. although
the women cannot vote for their cleC-
ton. is regarded as conclusive proof Of
the effectiveness OF the Presidential bal
lot in the hands Of women
The Congressional committee is making
a study OF the State constitutions and
statutes and sending reports to the
States showing how extensive suffrage
in each State may he granted by legis-
lative enactment
Several States have already SiEnified
their intention OF pressing such bill. |
Mrs AntOincttc Funk. vice chairman of
the committee and chairman of "A sub
committee Of the National campaign COM
mittce is in charge of this work and has
already spoken at a hearing before the
Vermont legislature on this subject She
is thoroughly COnVersant with II, being (
not only a citizen of Illinois. but having
been one Of the famous lobby of four
women who secured the passage Of the .
bill through the Illinois legislature.