The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-20
TALKS
4 BY NATIONAL LEADERS

frage association in every state pu'
up the strongest fight that il was
apable OF. and not in one did IL per
nit an election 10 go by default II
is true that their opposition seemed
very small compared to the tremen-
dous forces Of tho vested interests ar
! rayed against the amendment "bui
! they did their best, This was true
also in Montana and Nevada in 1914
These two states gave the largest
favorable maioritv in proportion to
the NUM- her Of voters OF any on rec
ord
by this time opponents OF woman
suffrage had become thoroughly
aroused Puthc sentiment ersry-
where was growing in favor Of IT; an
Immense impetus had been given by
the Endorsement of the National Pro-
Eressive party that year, legislatures
showed a willingness to submit the
question to the voters. Suffragists In
the various states eagerly took ad-
vantage Of this when they were not
prepared for campaign either finan-
ctal'y or by organization The re-
sources OF the national association
were not sufficient to meet the de-
nand. and series OF defeats was the
result Possibly the Womar's Anti
suffrage association helped 10 secure
. IUCIl. BAl IN ever tiit u biItSt 5tftt -
tho amendment would have been lost
II il had not existed
For twenty years the suffra gists
have been trying TO persuade lesisia
lures to grant to womeH.a vote for
presidential electors which the fed
eral constitution gave them the au-
fhority TO do. but they fea-ed that Il
would invalidate the vote OF the sta te.
A very progressive Legislature N Ilit-
4rN
and the women used the vote for the
first time in 1875, IT was accepted in
the electoral college without ques-
ton and It's Legality established. The
national association Immediately had
;hts presidential suffrage A!A intro
ducod in many legislatures during the
past winter
The voting Of the women in tf1o
Western states a the election last
/ fan had a wonderful effect on
public sentiment aud many Of the
lowing the women in one section OF
the country ia have a vote for the
president which was denied TO women
in other sections. This caused the
Legislatures -AeNen- states to confer
this privilege ON their women, and
several Of them added TO it as much
additional suffrage a 3 il had the power
to grant.
/ Their members would strongly re
sent the charge made by Mrs Ballet
and other "antis, that these wer,
victories for intimidation and bland
shment--for 4 bold and bullyins
feminine lobby over weak and shame
less Legislators The Pennsylvania
legislature was among several which
defeated this bill The Woman
Anti Suffrage association in that stat
is one Of the most influential, but
in commenting on this defeat. no
one newspaper In that state gave i
the smallest Credit---in fact, it wa
not once mentioned in this connec
ton. MANY OF the largest newspa
pers did say, however (the Philadel
phia North American, for instaDre)
The charge that the suffrage bill
was killed by the liquor interest
rests upon notorious and admitted
facts. Rum lobbyists swarmed in TIL
Capitol. and the pressure applied t.
legislators was as strong as though
the passage of local option itself wa
, threatened The defeat has un
masked finally the most powerful an
; most relentless enemy"
The Evening Ledger said; 9TH
: liquor interests won control Of tn
legislature. defeating local optjoi
and woman suffrage Mrs BalCh savs
speaking for the Woman's Ant-Suf
frage association: We regard womal
suffra ge as force tending to destro
the things vital to our highest civil
zauon Possibly that may be IN
reason for trv violent opposition n
= tho LIQUOR trafTic "