New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-14
WOMEN TO VOTE ON ELECTORS
Mrs. Batch Explains tho Purpose
of the Slater Blocker Bill.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In the Albany news in The Tribune
TO- day I read that there 10 n belief that Sen
ator George A. Slater introduced the bill
comforting on women the right to vote Tor
Presidential electors with the object Of "pro-
viding tho means for a legal battle In the
courts" VIII you permit me to correct this
misunderstanding The bill WAS introduced
at the suggestion Of tho Womens Political
Union with no desire for lawsuits and with
no fear that lawsuits would result should
the bill pass the Legislature.
Further. although tho Women's Political
Union Is alone responsible for tho drafting
Of tho bill and securing its introduction, all
suffrage organizations are ut one in its sup
port. To quote from the January number
Of "The Woman Voter: AT n mass meet
ing in Cooper Union which opened the 1917
campaign suifragists of New York passed
resolution indorsing this measure 'Preslden-
'ial suffrage which they regard az an open
ing wedge for tho winning OF full suffrage
The first step toward passing the bill -
70 educate the Legislature 10 full knowledge
of irs power To this end the Women's Po-
ltical Union sent TO every member brief
on the subject of Presidential suffrage, pre-
pared by member Of tho Illinois bar This
brief Is doubly strong in that IL Is not only
convincing argument. but comes from
state in which the Legislature has already
conferred the vote for Presidential electors
on women.
The United States Constitution determines
the broad lines as 10 the election o. Presi-
Dental electors AS il does the election OF
United States Senators. Senator o German
he. ho Iout q la ~ of he
Of New York, Senator Wadsworth was named
by the voters. The Federal law was amend
ed, the right of the Legislature 10 elect Sen
ators was taken away and conferred on the
voters in the separate states. In the same
way the national Constitution and not the
state constitution determines the method OF
naming Presidential electors. In Clause OF
Section | Of Article II Of the United State
Constitution it is laid down that each state
shall appoint in such manner as the Legis-
laturc thereof may direct" the electors Of
President and Vice President. The right
and duty rest wholly in the Legislature, act
ing under the fundamental law OF the ma
,onal government
The election law Of the State of New York
which is purely an act Of the Legislature
lays down the regulations for choosing the
Electoral College. We are asking the Legis-
lature TO amend Section 451, which deals with
this subject in such n way as to place on a
broader, more democratic basis Presidential
suffrage With the object of emphasizing
the power of the Legislature TO confer or
women the vote for members of the Electoral
College. the opinions OF Roger Foster and
ether leaders Of the New York bar will
shortly be printed and sent to every member
of the Senate and Assembly.
The Legislature has the power TO confer
Presidential suffrage and no suffrage organi-
zation objects to the exercise of that power
Therefore prophesy that next session, il
not This. the Slater Blocker bill vii! become
law. HARRIOT STANTON BATCH.
New York. Jan. 6. 1916