The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-01-18
SUFFRAGE MEASURE
ADOPTED BY HOUSE
PROVIDES FOR SUBMISSION OF
ANTHONY AMENDMENT
TO STATES.
NOT ONE VOTE TO SPARE
Representatives Come From Sick Beds
With Winning Votes.-Measure
Now Goes to the Senate and
Action is Expected.
NOT ONE VOTE TO SPARE

Action is Expected.
Washington, Jan. 12.-WOman suf
frage by federal constitutional amend
ment won in the house with exactly
the required number of affirmative
votes.
While members in their seats and
throngs in the galleries waited with
eager interest the house adopted by a
vote of 274 to 136 resolution prOvid-
ing for submission to the states of the
so-called Susan B. Anthony amendment
for national enfranchisement of wom-
en-. 1t now goes to the senate.
But for the promise of Speaker
| Clark to cast his vote from the chair
for the resolution if it was needed, the
change of a single vote to the OPP
position would have meant defeat.
Republican Leader Mann, who came
from a Baltimore hospital, where he
has been under treatment ever since
congress convened, and Representa-
tive Sims of Tennessee, just out of a
sickbed and hardly able to walk to
his seat, brought the votes which
settled the issue.
Start Fight in Senate.
The house had hardly adjourned be-
fore the suffrage champions began
their fight for favorable action ON the
senate side of the capitol. Recent
polls there have indicated that the
necessary two-thirds vote could not
be mustered, but encouraged by the
house victory and counting upon the
influence of President Wilson, who
came to their support, the suffragi sts
hope to bring the senate into line so
as to have the amendment before state
legislatures during the coming year.
They feel sure at least of forcing a
vote in the senate before the present
session ends.
Confidence Gets Jolt.
Advocates of the amendment had
been supremacy confident of the re-
suit in the house after President Will.
son advised the members who called |
upon him to support it. They were
so confident that the close vote was |
received with amaZement, and some of |
the opponents were almost as much |
When the first roll call was finish
ed, unofficial counts put the result in
doubt, and before the speaker could
make an announcement there was
e., it,,Io +hn |
name of each member and the way he
was recorded was read.
Wild Applause.
Announcement of the vote, was
greeted with wild applause and cheer
ng. Domen in the galleries literally
ell upon each others necks, kissing
md embracing, and shouting "Glory,
ilory, Hallelujah."
President for Amendment.
On the eve of the vote in the house,H
2 Democratic members called at the
White House with word that many of |
heir colleagues wanted advice from
he head of their party as to the posi-
ion they should take. There was a
difference of 40 minutes, the result
f which was described in this state
lent, dictated by the president him.
elf and made public by the delega-
on:
"The committee found that the pres
lent had not felt at liberty to vol
nteer his advice to members of con-
ress in this important matter, but
hen we sought his advice he very
'ankly and earnestly advised us to
ote for the amendment as an act of {
ght and justice to the women of the
1untry and of the world"
The news of the presidents action
anne as complete surprise to nearly
Terybedy in the capital, though some
{ the suffrage leaders have insisted =
n long time that the presidet was
18th them and would tell anybody who a
sked him. Until now in all public Il
tterances the president has held to
lie view that suffrage was question t
be determined by the individual n
ates and not by federal action. Il
No statement was Forthcoming from t
lie White House to explain his pres
1t stand. Members of congress who s.
in the conference, how
7er, said the president had told them k
. still believed that the proper and f,
derby way of dealing with the ques- Il
On was to permit each state to take D
) own action, but in view of condi- u
,ns now existing in the United States C,
Id the world generally he felt free to N
wise submission of federal amend II
emit to the states. tC