The Arvada enterprise., 1916-02-24

EQUAL SUFFRAGE CHAMPIONS
WORKING HARD FOR FED.
ERAL LAW TO AID CAUSE.
SENTIMENT is FAVORABLE
congressman In Both Houses Heedino
Pleas and Threats From SkIrted
Leaders in Washington and in the
Home Districts All Over Nation.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

the question OF woman suffrage no
matter what their opinions may be as
to the wisdom Of granting the vote to
the women of the land. So it is that
woman suffrage is still a prime mat
ter Of interest and perhaps concern
in the congress of the United States.
There are many woman suffrage
champions in this city today. For
some reason or other they have
strengthened their hopes recently
until they have taken on the sem
blance of actual confidence, that in
each OF the three national conven.
tiOns next June there will be a resolu.
ton indorsing the movement for
which many of the women have been
fighting for so many years.
The women with the suffrage cause
at heart have been working in Wash
inSton for the last three years harder
than perhaps anybody supposed it was
in women to work. There have been
rows in the suffrage camp. as witness
the trouble between the National Suf-
Irase association and the Congress
sionai Union, but the end sought has
been the same in all factions, and the
driving has been along the same road.
Women to Win Finally.
Congress will vote again this year
on the proposition to submit a suf-
frage amendment to the states. There
is little chance that it will carry by
majority necessary to put the reso-
luton into effect. but if the happen.
lnss OF last year can be taken as a
symptom it is probable that the vote
will be heavy enough to supply rea-
son TO the women for thinking that
finally their cause in IA national sense
is on a stable basis
What makes the women so certain
today that Democrats and Republic
ans, and, of course. Progressives, will
sanction their cause By inserting suf-
irage planks in their platforms? One
by one many of the leaders in CON
gress have been announcing fealty to
votes for women. Most of the Demo-
Gratis from the Southern states have
declined to sanction suffrage, but the
president pronounced in favor of it
sometime ago, although he said that it
was matter for the states mdivid.
uaIly TO settle
PEhhc prononuCcment of some of
the leaders. the women say. are not
tn only things upon which they are
building faith in their ability to get
wha, they want from the national
cOnvuntions. These women have been
wori ing away on the sympathies and
perhaps the fears of senators and rep
resrrtativCs IN congress. but they also
have been WORKING away back in the
home districts where the women lead.
crs now in Washington have lieuten-
anus HoalOusly preaching and trying
to iuluCc the converts TO let their rep.
rrsontatiyes in Washington know OF
their conversion.
T3c women in Washington seem 20
be snre that ms a result of all this
the delegates to the national convcn-
tiuus will feel the impulse of the
movement and of the alleged change
in the thoughts of members OF con.
cr"ss and will be ready to urge or. at
any rate, to agree. that suffrage
planks shall be put into the platforms
II must be understood that this Is only
a setting forth of th" views of the
WON an. who. It must be admitted. are
extremely optimistic The fact re.
mains. however. that the change in
the sentiment In congress toward the
question of suffrage is marked.
conaressmer Are Listening.
II may be tha, a great many OF the
members of congress of all parties are
no more favorable to suffrage than
they were some years ago. but there
are several states now in which the
women can vote, and as their field Of
operations increases in size the in.
nucnCe of the movement II felt more
broadly, and SO some Of the congress
men who arc good politicians perhaps |
think that It l8 wise 10 give the move
mont more careful consideration to-
day than they gave 1t IN the past.
Once on time It was quite the |
thing IN congress to send suffrage |
resolutions OF all kinds to the com |
mitiocs on judiciary, who promptly |
shoIvcd them and would have been
willing to forget all about them were |
It not for the fact that the Suifragls,s |
kept asking for action. Action. how. |
over. was never forthcoming The |
judiciary committee OF tho house n |
year ago finally got tired OF bearing |
the blame for Bmoihoring suffrage
resolutions.
The suffrage resolution VIII be nj.
lowed to go before the house ngala .
this year and rul" for It's consd
Grafton VIII be supplied by the house
committee on rules, which has ma.
jorlty IN Il that do not believe In the .
suffrage cause, The change OF the
attitude toward suffrage lB shown BY .
this forthcoming action OF tho rules
committee. IN the years past when
II committee was uninEonstIc 10
thing II stood out against It's suhmlls
Finn. but now since suffrage has be.
come 50 much Of n political issue tho