The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-01-31

1t is very discouragiug. the women
contend, to devote their money, their
time and their strength to 2 state cam
paign for suffrage, have reasons to be
lieve their efforts are successful, and
then hear from male votc-counters that
the amendment has been defeated.
For these reasons the women want
the Federal amendment. They want
its protection. Even il they do win
state for women suffrage, without a
Federal amendment, they point out,
they can never be sure that they can
keep 1t. The state will still have the
right to rescind the privilege.
These are the technical difficulties
that lie in the path of woman suffrage
by the state method. As to the rights
Of the states themselves, the women
dismiss this question as Anticipated.
The passage of the prohibition amend
ment recently has proved that, they
contend, and in answer to your argu
ment that it is a matter for the states
to settle they viii refer you somewhat
maiciously TO the speech Of Mr., Webb
OF North Carolina, ar opponent to wo-
men suffrage but prohibition adyo-
cate. In urging the passage of the
liquor amendment. Mr. Webb said: IF
the states do not want TO adopt it, you
(weD men are not hurt; if they want
to adopt it, it certainly is your duty to
submit il to them, because that is tie
only way in which they can change their
constitutions,
The suffragists clam that this state
ment of the case applies equally to
woman suffrage If the states do not
want to give women The franchise they
do not have to ratify the amendment,
but they should he gwen an opportunity
to DO it if they want to.
Opponents to the suffrage amendment
who allege that if The truth were known
the majority of women do not want the
vote, also urge that the question be
submitted to referendum. The sutf-
ragists refuse to do this Once long
time ago when the suffrage was not as
strong as it is now in this country, the
women, realizing the educational and
advertising value of such a measure.
appealed for a referendum. 1t was op-
posed Now when they do not want it,
when il would mean the expenditure of
great deal of energy to campaign
for q referendum and delay the rati-
fcation of the amendment, say the suf-
fraglsts, their enemies are in favor OF it.
The suffragists base their objection to
a referendum on the Federal amend
ment on legal and constitutional grounds
when you say, Submit the question
to the people, " said Mrs. Gait, lit
cannot be done, for in no state in the
| Union are women people, and it can
only be submitted to men, who are half
! the people. 1t is manifestly unjust to
submit question which concerns one
| half the people to the other half, and
that is the reason why we do not want
a referendum. On the other hand if
you submit it to both men and women,
which would be democratic, it is neither
| legal nor constitutional, except where
women have it and where, consequent
ly, there is not need for submitting it. "
These are the reasons given by the
women why they do not want suffrage
by the state method or by referendum
Their reasons tor wanting the Federal
amendment are equally numerous. They
want it because other nations are grant
ing suffrage to women by Federal ac-
ton, because they want the same Fed
eral protection of franchise that is al
ready extended to male negroes and
foreigners, and because, now that II
states have given women the vote. the
ratification by the legislatures should
not be such difficult matter In other
words, the Federal amendment pro-
| vides the most direct method.