The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-06-27
SUFFRAGE STREET



ory no amendment has been made
lave ono Immediately after the war
10 make the state conform to the ma
ional. which was affected generally
n the other states OF the United
States.
Miss Barker gave the history In
brief, OF attempts to amend the con-
ttitution which had been made by
other interests and for other reasons,
Tut, on account OF the manner In Whlcn
IN amendment had TO be put through
he Indiana legislature. nothing had
aver been accomplished. That, after
It's problematical passage by two leg
lslatures, meeting, as in Indiana, but
every two years, such measure had to
go to the people for a special election
and hence, the opposition to any such
measure had so much time to work
against any favorable action the legis-
lature might originally have given It,,
that all hope of accomplishment was
nullfied before the measure had an
opportunity to reach the voting CON
sideration of the people.
To work then, for a constitutional
amendment in Indiana, was hopeless
task. Therefore, Miss Barker stated,
suffragists Of the state who we're in
terested in seeing the women Of this
commonwealth attain the right to vote
saw the futility of any longer working
for state amendment and the logic OF
concentrating their efforts on fed
eral amendment, and hence organized
a branch of that suffrage organization
which worked only for a federal
amendment, and branch was conse-
quently formed OF the Congressional
Union.
Would Bring Results.
Miss Barker stated that, while the
federal amendment would have to be
referred to the state legislature for
ratification, the effort on the part OF
suffragists and their supporters to get
It ratified would be characterized by
such immediate results that the argu-
ment against working only for the
federal amendment could not be sus-
tanned, since there was no comparison
between the time taken in the ratifi-
cation Of the federal amendment and
that consumed in securing an amend
ment to the state constitution.
Miss Hill, a trained speaker Of COM
polling oratorical gifts, then presented
the case Of the suffragists in their at
titude toward the Democratic admin
istration should 1t, before the coming
election, fail to pass the federal
amendment, which it had so far failed
to do although within the four years Of
the administration the bill had been
constantly before the legislative mach
inery Of congress.
Party Stand Inconsistent.
Miss Hill emphasized the fact that
this attitude toward the suffrage
amendment was inconsistent with the
Democratic record toward constitu-
ton amending, since their alleged po-
sition against the suffrage amend
ment was announced as one Of gen
eral conservation and their record
showed great initiative toward amend
ment Of the federal constitution Illus
trated by the income tax and other
measures which affected the entire
population regardless Of sex or civic
rights.
Mrs. Ida Finney-Mackrille Of San
Francisco. one of the leading suffra-
gists Of the country, a member OF
the Woman's party and former resi-.
dent OF this city. whose appearance
ELECTED great applause, then spoke as
a woman voter and recited the reasons