Evening star., 1918-01-10

One of the long and hard fought goals
of the woman suffrage cause seemed to
be in sight today when the House took
up debate on the constitutional amend
ment.
Backed by the approval of President
Wilson, suffragists were sure the Susan
B. Anthony amendment would poll more
than the necessary two-thirds when the
House begins voting at o'clock this
afternoon.
So certain were the suffragists of
success in the House that they already
have turned their attention to the
Senate. where the amendment waits on
the calendar. but without such favor
able prospects. They are hopeful,
however. that with the Presidents aid
they will break down the opposition
and pass it there, too. Then the ques-
tion would be ready for submission to
the states and years of effort would
become reality.
Furnished Spectacular Scene.
Today's debate furnished a spectacu-
lar scene. The House was in a happy
mood and heard the arguments with
applause and laughter.
Women packed the galleries It was
a field day for the suffragists, and,
bouyant with the expectation of VIC
tory. they made the most of the oc-
caSion.
offered Special Rule.
Representative Foster of Illinois
opened the fight by offering the special
rule which fixed four hours for general
debate and reading Of the bill for
than 5 o'clock.
Representative Parker of New Jersey.
republican. led off the debate, opposing
the amendment.
tive Raker, in charge Of the amend
ment, said his prediction of adoption
with fifteen to twenty-five votes to
spare stood unchanged. Representa-
tive Taylor of Colorado, who ar
ranged last nights White House CON
ference. admitted the vote would be
close. but said If the republican caucus
declaration last night recommending
that republicans vote for the amend
ment swerved some of the republicans.
adoption of the amendment was abso-
lutely assured. Representative Len
root of Wisconsin, a republican leader
said adoption of the amendment was
certain.
For the anti suffragists in the
House, Representative Meeker of Mis-
souri,, who has led their fight. gave
only this estimate of the result:
What can you expect when Con-
gress is run by the preachers and the
women?"
Question Asked at Capitol.
"Will the solid south stick to its
convictions and to it's previous inten-
tions, or will the members from south
ern states take a hint from the Presi-
dents statement was the question
asked most frequently about the Capi-
tol today.
Southern leaders say that very few
votes have been changed by the action
of the President. The southern mem
bers say that they do not dare to sun
port suffrage and go back home to
seek reelection. Some say that they
must obey their conscientious conyic-
tions. Some salve their change of heart
by saying that petitions from their
home states have shown them the wish
Of the people whom they are here to
serve.
even though the majority leader, Rep
resentative Kitchin, and the minority
leader, Representative Gillette, are go
ing to vote against 1t.
A poll of republicans made today
gave twenty-six republicans against
the resolution. The democratic leaders
from the south say that II one-fourth
of the republicans vote against the
resolution 1t will be lost.
Kentucky. Tennessee, Texas and
Florida are some of the southern states
in which a break is. coming. Kentucky
is about evenly divided. Tennessee will
be about an even split. Texas may
vote seven for the amendment, and
surely Ave. Florida will probably go
two and two.
Hard to Break Solid South.
AS the House met among those op-
posed to the amendment there was a
frankness that the Presidents declara-
ton had probably changed enough votes
to insure adoption. although some of
the opposition still contended 1t would
be hard to break the alignment against
it in the south.
Speaker Clark announced he would
not vote from the chair unless there
| was a tie. in which case he would vote
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