The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-08-06
Governor Of Wyoming Gives
Striking Examples Of In
crease in Living Cost.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-The Ma
tional Woman's party is the response
Of the western women to the appeal
Of the eastern women for help in Sc
curing the vote declared Mrs. Abby
Scott Baker, press chairman Of the
womans party. at the national head
quarters here recently.
ut is academic, therefore, to dis
cuss whether western women will
united in a demand for a national SUI
frage amendment" she continued,
since they already have united and
are fully organized to work for this
issue in the coming presidential cam
paign,
"As to the charge sometimes made
that It will not be possible to get
the 100000 women voters Of the
West to vote together on the issue of
suffrage that is almost too childish
to refute. The woman's party does
not need 100000 women's votes.
Suffrage States Doubtful.
'"The suffrage states are close and
doubtful political territory. During
thCslast five presidential campaigns
an average change Of less than nine
per cent Of the vote would have al
tered the election results. In 1912 a
change Of IS votes would have
altered the election results. In 1912
change of eighty-eight votes would
have swung California from the
Progressive to the Democratic cCl-
umn. In Wyoming, 376 votes would
have made the state Republican in
stead of Democratic, and 500 votes
would have brought about the same
change in Idaho.
at is not expected that the women
Of the West will vote solidly with
the woman's party Only portion
of those qualified to vote will go to
the polls, the same being true of
the men voters; and some will divide
along old party lines. But there will
be a sufficient number to hold the
balance Of power.
western women cannot be salts
fed with approval given by political
parties to the principle of votes for
women unless at the same time some
means Of attaining the desired end
are either promised or bestowed
State Plan Cumbersome.
Nationwide enfranchisement can
not be extended to American women
by the states. Extension by this
method would require the amend
ment Of thirty-siX state constitutions
and the constitutions of many states
nre practically impossible to amend.
For instance, in New Mexico an
amendment to the state constitution
requires a three-fOurths vote Of both
houses of the legislature, a three
Fourths vote of the entire electorate
and two-thirds vote Of all voting
in every county.
"In New Hampshire new amend
ment can be submitted only by a con-
'stitutional convention which cannot
he called oftener than once in seven
years and the calling Of it is exceed
ingly difficult The amendment re-
uuires a two-thirds vote OF all cleo
tors voting. Indiana requires for the
approval Of an amendment a majority
of all the votes Of all the qualified
electors of the state. 1t has never
been possible to amend the constltu-
ton Of Indiana. Seven states fixed a
term Of years after an amendment has
failed Of adoption before it can be re-
pIjhmitted: four states restrict the
number Of amendments that can be
resubmitted at an election; twelve
states are without provision for con-
stitutional conventions. These are
. only a few Of the difficulties in the
way Of extension Of suffrage to wom-
en by the states.
Answer to Opponents.
"Western women do not hesitate to
demand an amendment to the consti-
tuition enfranchising women, because
they believe this method is not an
infringement Of states rights, since
the rights OF n state cannot be
abridged by using method prescrib-
ed by the constitution and agreed to
by the states. 1t does not impose any
Injustice upon tho individual voter,
since he has his share in the election
Of a representative to the state legs-
lature. which must ratify federal
amendment.
This year there Isl splendid chance
Mr. a large independent vote on any
subject that makes special appeal,
4 IL