The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-11-01
vote in favor of woman's complete

emancipation.
The senior senator from Florida de
livered a speech in the senate GYMS
his reasons for withholding his vote
for the adoption OF the amen-me't
and inclosed the same 10 me with
personal letter on the subject and my
reply thereto fully expresses my
views on this vital issue. and feel
will do to occupy a place in this col
umn:
Ocala. Fla. October 24th. 1918.
Hon. D. u. Fletcher, l. 5 Senator
Washington. D. c.
My dear Senator:
l am in receipt of your letter u
October 18th inclosing your speech
and a synopsis Of the proceedings n
the senate on the woman SURFACE
amendment, for whicA Please accept
my thanks.
Petmit me To say tnat | am sorry
indeed as a friend ami sincere al
mirer, that you could not have seen
your way clear to have given thar
amendment your support as the Presi-
dent was so solicitous for its passage
aud made such a. earnest Plea At
your hands for its adoption
Permit me also to say that the pre-
ponderance OF the best thought Of the
nation and the world is in is favor
because it is so meritorious ant just.
More than ever it Is Becoming an
axiom Of government that nations
should be controlled by the consent
of the governed" then why be 50 in
consistent and insincere as to elimiD.
ate half of our population who are in
all respects as well qualified 70 cast
! the ballot as the other half?
1t does not occur to me that the
adoption of that amendment depriyes
the states of regulating elections any
more than the 18th amendment and IsI
no more a violation OF the rights re-
served to the states than the prOhi.
biti0n amendment.
The states still prescribe the quail
fcations of electors. They still say
who shall and who shall not vote for 4
snited States senators and mem6ersl
OF the house Of representatives They
still possess the power OF prescribing
educational and property qsalidca
tons, poll tax prerequisites and otA.
er regulations.
The retention of these inherent
rights of the states to regulate elec
tons have thrown around tie ballot
such safeguards a. to avoid all danger
from negro domination and negro wo-
men as voters no more than negro
men would menace or threaten it
Pardon me for the observation bus
il occurs to me that obtruding the
negro into the discussion is done To
brighten the timid and timerous the
same as the "bogie-man" is made to
brighten little children into silence
and obedience.
The adoption of the woman SUI.
frage amendment. the same as the
18th amendment. would increase the
voting strength of the south in presi-
Dental and congress sionai elections
and solely on that ground. if no 9th
er, it seems to me it would have been
good politics for the amendment to
have received the support Of southern
members.
The failure Of its adoption by
democratic congress fear Is going
to prove hurtful to the democratic
party and will be largely instrumental
in putting the republican party n
control of the government.
Despairing of receiving the ballot
at the hands of the democratic party
the women of the country will natu-
ally turn to the republican party
which will add largely to its strength
II the party loses control OF the
government those WAC voted against
that amendment will have thems4l-
yes to blame
The president had clearer vision
than his party and more and more it
is to be regretted that it refused 70
be governed by nis earnest sohcita
ton.
But this is entirely political and
not personal and should not Interfere
with ones friendship.
With high personal regards. am
Very truly yours.
Frank Harris