The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-05-25
Campaign Has Been Open
and Above Board, With No
Attempt to Hide Facts
FULL STATEMENT
HAS BEEN ISSUED
Covers Essential Features
on Which Vote on Partial
Suffrage is Asked

representation TO obtain signatures 10
petitions asking the referendum of the
socalled partial suffrage act, passed by
the last legislative assembly, are un-
true and without foundation, accord
ing to Mrs. n. G. Young, president Of
the North Dakota organization, who,
in statement given to the press to-
day declares that the movement has
been entirely open and above board,
and that there has been absolutely no
attempt to mislead the voters OF the
state.
A complete statement of the reasons
for the referendum Of the suffrage
measure in question was issued by the
women's organization some time ago,
when the first petitions were placed in
circulation, and the statement in qies-
ton goes to the voters with the petit
ton, so as to avoid the possibility OF
any misunderstanding as to the actual
purpose of the referendum, according
to Mrs, Young.
Mrs. Young's statement follows:
"No law extending or restricting
the right Of suffrage shall be IN force
until adopted by majority OF the
electors of the state voting at gem
eral election
"This is the langua@S ce Section 122
Of our North Dakota constitution, and
it is so plain that no one can misunder-
stand it. In order to make law valid,
which extends suffrage, it must be
adopted by majority Of the electors;
unless we are to treat our constitution
as a scrap Of paper.
"The last legislature passed law
which attempts to extend partial suf-
frage to women without a. vote Of the
electors. Those who are opposed to
woman suffrage want a vote on the
question:: those who wish to extend
woman suffrage should also want a
vote, if they have any regard for the
constitution. On April s, the date fol-
lowing our announcement that referen-
dunn petitions would be circulated, the
suffragist leaders announced through
The Courier-N News that they would not
oppose the referendum. Evidently they
have changed their minds.
"The referendum provision of our
constitution authorizes electors to re-
quire a vote on any statute by fling a
sufficient petition therefor within nine
ty days after the legislature has ad-
Journed.
"The North Dakota Association OPP
posed to Woman Suffrage prepared
and placed referendum petitions in
circulation. We also prepared and
printed an explanatory circular. Our
organization bore the expense OF print
ing the petitions and these circulars.
The petition, as circulated by us. is
circulated by volunteers. The Mems
National organization, with headquar-
ters at Boston, has a number Of mem
bers in this state. That organization
offered it's assistance in circulating
petition. Ellis Guild represents this
organization and is in charge in the
eastern part of the state.
"The question is a very important
M ehn "A dnfMrr11fY1nd fairly
and upon mature consideration and
full discussion. Where there have been
such discussions, the decision has been
against woman suffrage.
For instance Massachusetts, de-
feated it in 1915 by I33,447 votes;
Pennsylvania by $3.50 votes; New
Jersey by b1.10s votes; New York by
194,9S4 votes. In 1912 Wisconsin de-
feated it by 91,47s votes. In 1914 Ne
braska defeated it by 10,104; North Da-
kota by 9,401 votes; Missouri by 140,-
206 votes; and South Dakota by 11,914
votes. In 1912 Ohio defeated 1t by ST.
455 votes and again in 1914 by 182,905
votes. Michigan in 1912 defeated 1t by
| 760 and in 1918 by 96,144 votes.
I'VE should use judgment on a mat
ter so important and we should also
have regard for the provisions of our
constitution, which requires a vote OF
the electors.
There has been no secrecy as to this
referendum. The explanatory circulars
are the only documents that were sent
out and these accompanied the peti-
tions.
"On April 26 The Courier News had
a copy of the circular, and it was gen.
orally distributed, and also accom-
panied the petitions sent out by the
mems organization. Mr.. Young is
member of that organization, and also
a contributor. This mornings paper did
mot correctly state his attitude toward
the referendum petitions. We have
had, and still have, his sympathy and
encouragement. He did not employ cir
culators. That was cared for by the
mems organization.
There is no ground for stating that
misrepresentation has been made by
either the women's or the mems or
ganization. Both have used the same
circular. Just read it. Here it is in full:
To the Voters of North Dakota:
The 1917 legislature at the request
of the suffrage lobby, passed an act
which attempts arbitrarily and with
out a vote on the question to extend to
the women of this state the right and
duty OF voting herafter for certain
specified Offices, namely township
clerks, assessors, treasurers. constables
and overseers of highways, with q
right to vote at township meetings;
also for presidential electors county
surveyors and officers Of cities and viii
lagos, except police magistrates, city
| justices of the peace, and to vote upon
all questions or propositions submit
ted to the electors of such municipali-
ties.
The Referendum is Available.
The referendum provision of our
state constitution gives the right by
petition to compel the submission of
this act to the voters of the state for
approval or rejection. Petitions for
this purpose have been prepared and
will be circulated and filed.
Our Request to Refer and Defeat
the Act.
The North Dakota Association OPP
posed to Woman Suffrage in the inter-
est of sound government and of the
wonnanhood of our state ask you to sign
the referendum petitions and vote
against this statute.
Il Violates the Constitutional Provision
Which Requires a Vote.
This act was passed in fragrant de-
fiance of the plain provision of our
state constitution which forbids the
extension or restriction Of suffrage ex-
cept BY popular vote
Section 121 places the right and duty
of voting upon males Of the qualifca-
tions therein specified.
Section 128 gives to women the right
to vote for all school officers and ques-
tions and to hold school Offices
Section f22 reads as followss
HSecfion 122-The legislative az
senlbly shall be empowered to
make further extensions Of suf-
fraaee hereafter at it's diseretion 20
an citizens Of mature age and