The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-26
SUFFS WIN OR LOSE
IN SENATE TO-DAY
Administration Using Every
Effort to Pass Anthony
Amendment.
ANTS PREDICT VICTORY
Vote Advocates Say Pairs Are
Arranged to Carry Meas
ure Through.
speciu, Despatch 10 The suN

Special Despatch TO THr srN.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.-The climax OF
forty-three years OF persistent battling
for the right of suffrage for women Will
come In the Senate tomorrow when the
final vote on the Susan B. Anthony
amendment to the Federal Constitution
Is scheduled TO take place. Tonight on
the eve of the test both suffragist and
anti-suffragst leaders in and out oil
Congress express confidence in the out
come
The prediction of the suffrage leaders,
Senator Curtis (Kan.) for the Repub-
leans and Senator Sheppard (Tex) for
the Democrats Is OF victory for their
cause On the other hand, Senator
Jones IN. NJ, chairman OF the COM
mittee on Woman Suffrage, tonight ad-
mitted that he was not sure OF success
1t will require two-thirds OF the Sen
ators present to adopt the concurrent
resolution known as the Anthony amend
ment This means that II the entire
Senate were present thirty-three mega
tive votes would defeat the measure.
But there will be many absentees For
every absentee opposed to the amend
ment two Senators supporting 1t must
be found willing to pair with him IN
order to Offset the absence. These pairs
usually are effected in ordinary circum-
stances. when only majority vote Is
necessary for tho passage OF Dill or
resolution. with the greatest ease. Bur
where the two to one ratio prevails
numerous difficulties arise. The last
time the Anthony amendment came up
for q vote the refusal of the suffragists
Senator
James (Ky) precipitated a filibuster
which as soon as II had gotten under
way halted the proceedings abruptly and
put off the vote fer intervening months.
Secrecy Marks Vote Plans.
For tomorrow the pairs are said TO
have been arranged in advance. but the
greatest secrecy prevails as to how they
have been worked out The suffragists
assert that there can be no repetition OF
the James episode and the ants express
entire satisfaction that all OF the pairing
has been effected in such n way that the
vote OF the Senators present Will exactly
express the will of the Senate.
Tonight the anti-suffragists asserted
that they had thirty-three members OF
the Senate pledged to vote down SURFACE
Accessions to the suffrage side since the
last vote was taken include Senator Gull
| berson (Tex.), Benet Is. Co and Martin
(Ky). But even with these acquisitions
Of strength the anti-suffs will only yield
that the proponents have all told %
| votes out OF the sc Senators.
II the claims of the anti-suffs are
realized and the members of their fac
ton stand firm suffrage Will be beaten in
| the Senate tomorrow by the lack or a
single vote, but on the other hand the
! SUITS have the vast power OF the Presi-
| dent to rely upon and likewise. as In
| variably happens when great questions
of national importance are under dis
cussion the possibility OF a stampede.
The votes Of Senators Culberson. Benet
and Martin are the result Of Executive
pressure.
Claims Made by Antis.
The 80 anti-suff votes claimed by the
| opposition TO the Anthony amendment
are a mixture OF Republicans and Demo-
Gratis Already the Republican side of
! the Senate Is converted to n veritable
sun camp, but the holdout element are
| unmovable opponents. The Republican
| count shows that as a party the Re-
publicans will cast more than the neces-
sary two-thrds Of their votes for suf-
| frage The anti-suff Republicans, how
ever, will remain as they are tonight.
| The antl-suff group contains con-
| siderable number OF Democrats. Upon
| these the hand OF the Administration is
| falling heavily. Pressure OF the severest
| character Is being applied to Senator'S
| Shields (Tenn). Overmau On. c., and
| Trammel (Fla.).
At the White House the greatest inter-
| est in the situation Is expressed The
| President has let It be known that he Is
! sincerely concerned as to the outcome
and hopeful OF success. Also the White
House attaches high Importance on the
! action of the Senate tomorrow in nu-
merous critical political situations in the
| sections of the country where woman
suffrage prevails When the measure
passed tho House last January SO per
cent. OF the Republican vote OF that body
was cast in favor Of suffrage while but
| 30 per cent Of the Democrats so voted.
| There Is no doubt the Democratic
party has lost caste in woman suffrage
States through this very ratio being pre-
scented to the women. Should suffrage
he defeated now through the rccalci-
| trancy of the Presidents own partisane
| the effect politically will, be appalling
and source of undoubted handicap to
| the Adm! abstraction in the suffrage States