Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-03


House OF the Delaware Legislature
the following statement arguing that
It Is not incumbent upon the legisla-
tors TO give women the right to vote
lin Delaware because OF any declara-
tions in the Republican or Democrat
ic platforms.
ITO tho Honorable Members Of the
Senate and House OF Representatives
Of the State Of Delaware in General
Assembly met
Gentlemen We understand that
an effort Is being made to persuade
you and each OF you to adopt an
amendment to the Constitution Of the
State OF Delaware giving the right OF
franchise TO the women OF this State;
and that, among other arguments adj
duced to Influence you, you are being
told that both the Democratic and Re
publican National platforms OF 1916
declared In favor Of woman suffrage
I'm such manner as makes II incum-
bent upon you 10 give women the
right to vote In Delaware.
1--WE respectfully submit that this
argument is not only misleading, but
false and for the following reasons:
1.-THE Democratic National platform
| declares: We recommend the OK
tension OF the franchise to the women
Of the country by the States upon
! the same terms as men,; and the Re
publican platform states: THE Re
publican Party reafirmlng its faith I'm
government Of the people. by the peo-
pie for the people, as measure Of
Justice to one-half the adult people
OF the country favors the extension
OF suffrage to women, but recognizes
the right OF each State to settle this
quest on for Itself
you have been or Will be told by
those who are in favor OF woman suf-
frage that you and each OF you by
running as candidates upon your sew
eral party platforms committed your
selves 10 vote IN favor OF an amend
ment TO the Constitution Of the State
OF Delaware granting the right OF
franchise to women. You have been
or will be told that as an advocate Of
the Democratic or Republican Ma
tional platform. you have advocated
such a change In the Delaware Con-
stitution and have gone before the
people and asked their votes on this
basis, and having been elected, are in
| honor bound to make the necessary
/ Constitutional Amendment.
I'VE submit TO you. first; that the
! Democratic platform, speaking for
the Democratic Party In National
Convention assembled, does not more
than state that as a National Party
Il recommends such legislation TO the
several States, and that the facts
and circumstances surrounding the
adoption OF this plank In it's platform
are well known to every thinking per
SON and plainly demonstrate that Tho
meaning OF the plank was that eaol
, state as II saw ht should adopt o.
reject this plank 10 Is inconceiVaDl
, for any sensible or wellinformed per
son to imagine that the Democratic
delegates at the National Convention
from the South and Southwestern par
OF the United States intended for on'
moment that this plank was meant &c
bind either the individual States as
such or the Democratic candidates
running for Office in those States The
facts and the logic OF the situation
even upon a superficial examination
entirely explode and dlssipate the
contention that the Democratic mem
hers of the present General Assem-
bly, of the state OF Delaware are IN
anv sense. way or manner bound tc
vote for woman suffrage.
Second, the Republican Nationa
platform recognizes the right OF eacl
state to settle this question foi
ITSELF Here Is definite. clean Gu
, statement. so far as the Republican
Party is concerned speaking from III
National platform, that each State ar
ter due consideration is expected t
determine this question for itself
I There was no plank In the Republi
[ can state platform in Delaware Il
j. 1916 pledging the candidates runnin
8 for Office in the General Assembly I
y vote either for or against woman SUI
h fraee: so that II must appear to a.
y reasonable minded people that n
n member of the present General AS
q sembiy. who Is elected as a Republ
IL can TO office IN November, 1916,
O from any point OF view bound to vo'
4 for Constitutional Amendment civ
e ing women the right to vote
q aDELAWARE ASSOCIATION OF
+ POSED TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
o Mrs. Henry B. Thompson Pres
q dent. .
e "Vice Presidents-Mrs. Thomas
i Ravard. Mrs. Preston Lea, Mrs. u
@ siah Marvel. Mrs. Willard Saulsour
L Mrs. Henry p. Scott.
d recording Secretary-Mrs. Murra
y Stewart -,
corresponding Secretary - MI
+ Emily p. Bissell, No. 14O4 Frank
street. Wilmington.
n "Treasurer-Mrs. Eugene dufol
~ "Directors-Mrs. George P. Bisse
z Miss Amy dupont. Mrs. James Ave
+ Draper. Mrs. George Elliott MI
' Ferdinand L. Gilpin. Mrs. George
r 9offecker. Miss Virginia Reese MI
B q L, Ward. MRS. Henderson VIE
o Mrs Joseph L. Cahall, Georgetown
S Miss FLORENCE Hall, Delaware Cit.
r Mrs. George W. Marshall, MILFORD
Il Mrs c. c. fulton, Dover; Mrs; Jam'
5, PennewilL Dover; Mrs. S. J: lie
a. nolds. Smyrna; Mrs. John W. took
N Laurel
es at Baltimore He was scrupulousl