New Britain herald., 1915-01-12
HOUSE ADOPTS RULE TO DEBATE SUFFRAGE Vote or Proposed ConSt.tut|ona.
 Anendne0t Tonight.

Washington. Jan. 12.-After
 hour and a half of debate the house
 today adopted. 2O9 to II special rule for considering the proposed
 constitutions amendment for woman suffrage and then settled down to six
 hours actual debate before voting on
 whether to submit the resolution to
 the states for ratification.
 The overwhelming vote in favor of
 the rule was by no means indicative
 of the sentiment on the resolution it.
 self. Many who voted for the rule
 in order to bring the question up for
 a yes and no vote announced their
 intention of voting against the reso-
 lutiOn itself
 antis Claim Victory.
 Anti-suffragists claim the suffra-
 gists would not muster the necessary
 two thirds vote: the suffra gists did
 not predict more than that the house
 would register a majority in favor of
 their proposition.
 The debate on rule had been spirit
 ed, bringing support and opposition from all parties. The real debate
 which began at 1 o'clock with six hours to run, brought out the heavy artillery of both sides and promised a
 vote some time after 7 o'clock this evening.
 Plunge Into Debate. To the applause and cheers of sup porters of both sides on the question, packed in opposite galleries, the house plunged into a debate fully as spec tacular as that which attended the vote on the prohibition amendment some time ago.
 Representative Webb, chairman of the judiciary committee led off the debate in opposition to the amend ment He believed if the question
 were voted on by women more than eighty per cent. would vote against suffrage.
 Concluded By Leaders. Debate on the special rule had been concluded by the floor leaders of the republican and democratic sides, Representa- tive Mann supporting the amendment and Representative Un- derwood opposing it.
 ! The Mondell resolution would submit to the states for their approval an amendment to the constitution in- serting a new article, as follows: "rhe right of citizens of the United ] States to vote shall. not De denled Or l abridged by the United States or hy a state on account of sex. Congress shall have power, by ap- propriate legislation, to enforce the provisions of this article.' Feminine Forces Present. All of the feminine forces that have taken part in the suffrage campaign were in evidence at the capitol today. The officers of the National American Womans Suffrage association and kindred organizations. and the offi- cers of the National Association Op- posed to Woman Suffrage, were signed places in the galleries. Sui | fragists and anti-suffragists were on hand to see the first legislative con- sideration of the question of suffra ge in congress.
 The anti-suffra gists were enthusias- 1 tic in their predictions that the att l tempt to secure suffrage for women 1 through federal means would fail 1 They declared that the suffragists would not muster more than one ! third of the votes in the house, al l tn hough two thirds were necessary to l The suffra gists claimed to have about l a majority.
 Final Vote Tonight. It was believed that the determina- | tion of the dem ocratic leaders to aI-