Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-15
THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT
BY Ralph Smith

wy ASHINGTON, Jan. 14--The passage OF the
w Susan B. Anthony amendment through
w the House of Representatives. last tnurs.
day by the margin of Jim Manns whiskers, was
an historic occasion, and regarded by the thous-
ands of women who crowded the galleries ana con-
gested the corridors. They made big noise Wnen
the speaker announced the result.
The women and the friends of suffrage had
expected a more decisive victory, but If they were
disappointed they forgot it in the enthusiasm me!
felt the passage OF the amendment Aney
feel that they are safely over the "hrst Jump,
and already have directed their on the senate
which is fast becoming more responsive to the pop
uIar will than the lower house of congress.
No one questions that President Wilson saved
the day for the suffrage in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Except for his advice to democrats 10
vote for the amendment 1t would nave been again
defeated, and the would have suffered
severe setback. Many southern democrats voted
for the proposition simply because the president
suggested the fairness and wisdom of such course
Otherwise they would have voted against the
amendment
The Georgia delegation stuck to its guns, how
ever, and voted one against the amendment.
The same was true of the Alabama contingent
But many southern delegations divided. The Geor-
gians took no active hand in the debate, and none
has attempted to explain or justify his vote, al
though many congressman who voted for the nat
ionsl prohibition amendment felt that they should
reconcile by words their opposition to the suffrage
amendment.
one of the principal arguments against
an suffrage by amendment to the federal consti-
tuition is that it is invasion of the rights of the
men, especially are jealous of the rights of the
several statesto regulate suffrage. They fear that
if the federal government undertakes to regulate
suffrage in the states the time may come when
the federal government will enact some legislation
to re-enfrancise the ignorant and venal negro as
a voter. :
The chief argument against the national pro-
hibition amendment invasion of the rights
of the several states. Many southern congress
men, admitting this privately, voted for the pro-
hibition amendment, that in voting against the
Op1aO sniff nj hpn felt
they should justify their positions.
The Georgians entertained no such feelings
Those of them who discussed the matter privately
said frankly they had voted for prohibition be-
they felt they giving expression to the
wishes of their constituents They felt that their
people who sent them to congress favored nation
wide prohibition and their representatives they
believed it their duty to respect the wishes OK
their people.
BY the token, they voted against the
woman suffrage. They do not believe their
stituents favor equal suffrage for the sexes.
The outlook for the suffrage amendment in
the senate is not rosy despite the presidents in
terest in its success The suffrage leaders are
not encouraged over the prospects, but they are
determined to press the issue at this session of
who vote against it, mark them for future ref
erence or slaughter, when the women get the vote
in all the states.
clear majority of the senate favors the
amendment, all right enough, but a two-thirds
majority is required for its success The last poll
of the senate indicated that the sufragsts were
may have accomplished in the meantime is not
known but there is small likelihood of their hav-
ing cOrralled eleven votes
The second section of the amendment is partic-
ularly offensive to the southern congressman and
senators, 1t provides congress shall have power
by appropriate legislation to enforce the provis-
ions of the article"
Many southern congressman believe this Sec
ton was designed specifically to reach the negro
question in the south and reflects the true pur-
pose and disposition of the proponents of the
ciptated and put through the prohibition amend
ment.
BY thus comforting on congress the right to
enforce by appropriate legislation the provisions
OF the woman suffrage amendment, it is argued
hostile congress would not hesitate to nullify all
the southern disfranchisement votes and provide
adequate federal machinery to that both negro
men and negro women permitted to vote in the
south.
The effort to strike this section in the house
failed. 1t will be renewed in the senate, but it
is not likely to succeed, and long as this pro-
vision remains in the amendment southern senators
will oppose woman suffrage.