Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-25
Federal Amendment
Up To Democrats
Says Sufraeist

speaker, out under the auspices, OF, the
National Women's party, gave an adj
dress at the homo Of Mrs. p. M. Cole,
South Sixth street. last night. Mrs.
Ascough discussed, the federal amend
ment and Its position before the SELL
ate. saying in part: j.
Never before In the history Of the
suffrage movement has the situation
been more critical than today. For
the first time suffragists have some
thing to lose. Unless the federal suf-
frage amendment which passedstth
house. Of representatives in January,
passes tho senate during this session
Of congress, all that has been gain
ed will be lost, and suffrage workers
campaign on the 435 men in the next
house Of representatives. The, Demo-
Gratis r holding the issue back" she
said. six Republican, senators are
definitely opposed to the amendment.
while % Democratic senator's still de-
clare they win vote NO on the meas
ure. The month Of May Is being de-
voted to a campaign throughout the
48 states. urging speed. Not only is
order to avoid losing all that has
been gained. but, also to bring the
ratification campaign quickly to a
close. At the present moment the
legislatures Of Kentucky. Maryland,
Massachusetts,. Mississippi, Montana,
New York. Rhode Island, Virginia,
Wisconsin and Texas are in session.
gan and Georgia will soon convene
in regular session, and the legisla-
lures of Connecticut, Missouri, Ne
braska. Nevada and West Virginia
may possibly be called in special ses-
sion. Some Of these legislatures will
soon close, and all of them in a short
time. After these sessions have come
to IN. end. there will be no further
sessions OF any legislatures until 1919
suffrage amendment Is passed imme-
diately by the senate it will mean that
it a come at n before these var
ious legislatures for ratification. II
on the other hand the senate delays.
the opportunity of bringing the res
olution before the present sessions Of
these legislatures will be lost, and
ton will be greatly prolonged. The
amendment will not come before the
senate until we have aroused such
opposition to further delay that we
convince the Democrats that they
dare not stand in our way any longer.
More than two-thirds of the Republic
an senator's stand already pledged and
Ouly OuO.klAlL Ol ZIG ~SUlOCCdIS. 1cL
"a Democratic senate leader naively
said to me last week in Washington:
1T is up to the Republicans. We have
done all we can. When the Repub-
licans give you enough votes to pass
1t, we will bring it up 1t is a Demo-
cratic administration. The Democrat
ic party is in the majority. If we
lose, the responsibility will rest en-
tirely upon the shoulders Of the Dem
ocrats."
Mrs. Ascough has been touring I'LL
nois. Iowa. Wisconsin,, Minnesota and
North Dakota, and throughout the
territory she has covered she declar-
ed that the sentiment was strongly
in favor OF suffrage and the federal
amendment, Mrs. Ascough impress
ed on her hearers the need of con-
icerted action in bringing pressure to
}beae on the North Dakota represent
|Eatiyesa in the senate. She referred
to the fact that many persons would
Question the propriety Of expecting
the senate to consider anything but
war problems Of the immediate pres.
ent, but she considered it necessary
to prepare for big problems of the
near future that will undoubtedly be
brought about by the war-the suf-
frage question not being the least OF
these. ..-' ~,