Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-14

has not the power itself to give the sum
rage to women but the Senate IL with
holding its consent to the resolution OF
the House OF Representatives to permit
them to carry their case to the Lsgis-
latures Of the forty-eight States. It IL
an intolerable situation which the press
OF the entire country should demand to
have ended. We respectfully but ear
nestly urge that in a leading editorial
you will call upon the Senate to ADOPT
this resolution without further delay.
1t has been sanctioned by the President
of the United States and the national
committees OF both the Democratic and
Republican parties and the Senate should
recognize tnio mandate. The resolution
should be brought to a vote next week."
The way in which 100000 women were
Of Parliament. IN February is summed
up as follows by III. London Daily
Chronicles:
'Under the new reform act the cleo
torate Of the United Kingdom will be
nearly doubled, the total being increased
from s,boQoD voters in 1915 to about
1sSooooo. OF the 100000 new voters
approximately e.oooon Will be women,
aged 30 and over. OF whom 100000 are
wives Of househoiders. Soldiers Of 70 will
get the vote and facilities for voting
BY post will be given to soldiers and
sailors absent from the country on serv-
ice. The act provides that at a general
election all Parliamentary contests shall
take place on the same day
when battle clouds are dispersed
and the tumult and the shouting die 1t
will be realized that the passage into
law this week Of the reform act is one
Of the greatest events in our domestic
history. A vast revolution, modifying
the very basis Of political sovereignty in
this country. has been effected with all
but universal assent, In strange contrast
to the violent commotion aroused by
past and relatively trivial extensions Of
the franchise. For the first time a
great European state has bestowed on
women the full rights of citizenship.
and in a few months there will he
6.Oo0poo women on our Parliamentary
register.
''It is fitting that the native home Of
Parliamentary institutions should have
led the world in the enfranchisement
of women. The British example is GER
tain to be followed in other European
countries. No one can say what effect
the influence of the new women voters
will have in the realm Of government.
the position of women in the home and
the factory What is reasonably certain
is that the enfranchisement OF women
will add to the dignity Of womanhood
by increasing its responsibilities, and
will strengthen the forces against war.
This far-reaching reform would not
have been carried In the past session
| had we not had Liberal prime minister
More than once in the past six months,
when its fortunes were trembling in the
balance. It was only the decisive voice
and influence of Lloyd George that saved
the bill. Fortunately the measure had
behind it the high authority Of the
speakers conference and a strong body
of supporters in every political party,
ntoIl
party. The name of Mr.. Lowther, who
presided with so much wisdom and ability
over the conference from which the bill
sprang, will always be honorabiy asso-
ciated with this great enfranchisng
measure. as will that Of Sir George Cave,
the home secretary, who conducted It
through all its stages In the House of
Commons with conspicuous fairness of
mind. enviable equableness and temper.
and consummate Parliamentary skill"
Residents Of Burlington and Vermont
in general hardly need reinsurance as
to the ability Of women to WELD the
ballot. Still 1t is reassuring to have our
opinion Of women's facility in handling
the instrument Of suffrage confirmed by
localities where the system has been
tried previously.
Julius Rosenwald. chairman Of the
supplies committee and member Of the
advisory committee Of the Council of
National Defense. has made a strong
appeal for the passage of the federal
woman suffrage amendment.
Mr.. Rosenwald cited results in Chicaxo
in aldermanic elections as an argument
in favor OF votes for women. His state
ment, which was given 20 a represen-
| tative of the National American Woman
Suffrage association, Is as follows:
II hope that the federal woman suffrage
amendment will pass. My experience in
Chicago has been that the women's vote
has been responsible for defeating some
bad aldermen and electing some good
ones who otherwise would have been
defeated. What applies locally would
apply nationally. believe that the net
results of the women's votes can onl,
improve conditions in this country. and
for that reason am strongly in favor OF
the adoption of the federal amendment y
The Brooklyn Eagle. which has no,
been a strenuous advocate Of political
| Justice for vomeu In comn,entinU unor