Evening star., 1916-01-09
Senator Thomas Will Push
Resolution for a Constitu-
ti0naI Amendment.
FRIENDS OF MEASURE
DOUBTFUL OF OUTCOME
.elieve Change of Heart for Some
Necessary to Secure Re-
quired Two-Thirds.


enate on the joint resolution propos-
ng constitutional amendment for
ation-wide woman suffrage will be
,ade by Senator Thomas of Colorado.
enator Thomas is chairman of the
oman suffrage committee OF the Sem
te. and reported the resolution to the
enate favorably from that committee
esterday.
Whether the resolution Will be
dopted by the Senate is doubtful,
owever It's friends in the Senate are
cpeful that the resolution will re-
Give the necessary two-thirds major
" required for its adoption. During
ne last Congress a similar resolution
,as put to vote in the Senate and
eceived a majority vote. but fell con-
lderably short of the two-thirds re-
uired to put through any resolution
roposing an amendment to the Con-
.itution. The personnel of the Senate
as changed considerably since then,
ut not sufficiently to warrant a pre-
lotion that the resolution can De
3onte6 unless some of the senators
no voted against it have changed
1eir minds.
II is the hope of supporters of the
,easure that enough members have
light as well put the resolution
trough. get rid of it and allow the
:ates to vote on it as they ultimately
ouId have to do il it is passed by
ongress.
orner Stone of q. S. Government.
In the committee report it is pointed
n that the government Of the United
:ates is one Of delegated powers. The
mort saws: Its corner stone is popular
svereignity Its authority is derived
ON the people. whose will is expressed
the ballot box. Manhood suffrage has
.en from time to time extended Every
,larrement of the franchise has been
,turaI and logical development Of the
inciple Of popular sovereignty. We may
sume that universal male suffrage is an
tabiished factor in our system of gov
nynent.
cry principle upon which universal
anhood suffrage rests demands the ex-
nsion of it's privileges and RESPONSE
Iities to women If the people are the
arce of all power. then should all
omen of lawful age be invested with the
,wer to vote They are subject to the
ws. are taxed for the support of gov
nment and subject with men to a COM
ON political destiny. They comprise so
" cent of our population. They are
Not Inferior to Men.
Together with the men they constitute
re. people In patriotism. intelligence.
rvotion to welfare of the government
I'd in capacity for franchise they are
no. wise inferior 10 men. Neither
gically nor justly. therefore. can un-
nited suffrage be recognized as an es-
f-1 10 hi frvr nf eyCN--
nment and its existence at the same
ne be limited to one-half of the people.
bitrartly segregated from the other half
the accident of sex.
I'VE are not impressed by arguments
gainst equal suffrage based upon diff
renee in sex They are in this age
miliar through much repetition as
:e those which assert that woman's
aties and mission conflict with her
Sc of the ballot. 1t is sufficient to
~ that these objections have not ma
rialized in the states where equal
iffrage prevails. Any attempt in
iese states to. disfranchise the wom-
would be resisted by the male
,ters.
'Womans activities. her participa-
on. her sacrifices and her misfortunes
the great conflict now raging over
tree continents have for all time dis
,sed Of the contention that she should
1T be armed with the ballot because
ne cannot WELD the sword. She has
ken mans place in all the Industrial
1rsuits of organized society: she has
aintained his government, manufac-
ired his ammunition. observed and
iforeed his laws, operated his ma
lines. bound up his wounds, buried
r. dead and has been his comrade in
ms upon the firing line. Man has
scome conscious of her powerful CO.
re the justice of her demand to share
- burden in public affairs in times
peace"
Answers Another Argument.
rhe report asserts that any argument
the effect that women have wrought
monumental change for the better
the states which have given them
e ballot is no argument against their
.neral acknowledgment. "As well
light a debtor assert the right to re-
ne payment of q debt unless the
aditor could assure him that the
Dney would be used for the better
ent Of the community" the report
ntinuen.
I'VE do not overlook the fact that ad-
.cates Of EQUAL suffrage insist the
tllot should be given women because
ey have used II wisely and well. But
At 10 an fnducement merely, not an
xument In its behalf"
rue coinmtttee holds that women who
h< for suffrage should not be denied
itil all women make q similar request.
On were never thus enfranchised, 1t
iys, and II 10 wholly wrong to with
sld from one person the enjoyment of
right or privilege because another
sires II.
Il 10 pointed out that fnasmuch as the
ttion nearly half q century ago de-
rmined to restrict state authority
,er tho ballot by abolishing the dis
taiification Of color. there is no reason
by IL should not continue this policy
abolishing the disqualification OF
uffragists Are Encouraged
BY Favorable Senate Report