Evening journal., 1918-01-02
gOnEi PREDICT
EARLY BALLOT
)r. Shaw CcniidertSuffrage
Will Get Twc-lhirdS of
Vote in the House
NEW DRIVE WILL
BEGIN THIS WEEK

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2-Advocates o.
woman suffrage OF both rival organ
fzations are now preparing for a drive
on Congress which viii last until the
suffrage resolution is voted upon in the
House on January 10.
Dr. Anna Howard Shaw arrived here
last nlsht confident that the amendment
would command the necessary two
thirds vote. Other leaders from all over
the country are ON their way and Con
gessional delegations VIII be visited
durins the next week by women from
their respective States.
Indications are that the North and
West viii give larger vote to the
amendment than last year II is pre-
dicted that opposition from New York
state VIII disappear, and the hostility
that once existed among anti-proh.bi-
tion members is not apparent. since the
passage of the Prob .btion amendment.
The women plan 20 make their concen-
irated attack upon the Congressmen
from the South, who are almost unitedly
opposed 10 the resolrt.on.
This opposition is founded upon the
race question. Congressmea represent
ing the South say that while it is desir-
able to have dry" States, even il that
comes through national action rather
than through State legislation, the
South's problem would be increased by
giving suffrage TO women because Of
the Negro question.
a canvass made by representatives Of
the National Woman's Party shows that
all OF New York States members In the
House except Representative platt have
declared In favor Of the amendment.
While many Of them have declared
themselves to be opposed 10 the amend
ment. they say that they cannot reg's-
ter their preferece since the State has
enfranchised women.
Indications are that the Republican.
party leaders propose TO play for the
woman vote this year in the Congress
sional election. and this Is worrying the
Democrats in Northern and Western
states. Representative Hillard of Colo
rado. a Democrat in a letter to Mrs
William Kent Of the National Woman's
Party Committee, discussing his phase
Of the situation, said
As a friend Of suffrage, and wishing
only its advancement, ] am naturally
grati1ed that so many Republican mem
bers have announced their purpose 10
vote for the amendment I am hopeful
that my Democratic brethren may not
be blind TO the party psychology of the
situation. Any considerable oppOslt on
from the Democratic members would. II
fea prove harmful TO Democratic candl.
dates In some portions Of the country.
while general support would temper the
political wind just enough, mayhap, TO
make sure Of continued control in the
House Of Representatives"
The canvass made by the National
Womans Party shows that thirty mem
bers have been won over to suffrage.
Twenty-one Democrats and nine Re-
publcans who voted against the suf-
lrage resolution in 1915 have declared
that they Will now support IL. Some
have been influenced by The wal, and
hold that an quest ons causing unrest
and friction must be settled Another
argument which has won over many Is
that suffrage Is sure TO COME as evil /
denced in the election in New York. I
Men who hold these views and are Op-
posed to woman suffrage by const'tu- /
tional amendment have changed Their I
views since they saw the adoption Of I
the Prohibition amendment Represen- /
tatives Of the North are anxious 10 have /
the amendment passed so that the .
South. which wanted prohibition inn
posed upon unwilling States through
national amendment. mey, perhaps. nnd
itself IN the same position in regard to
woman suffrage.
While independent canvasses made be-
fore Congress went away on the holi-
day recess show that suffrage was not
then strong enough TO command the
required two-thlrds vote, suffrage lead
ars say that sentiment will have been
changed by the activities Of the women
In the respective states during the holl-
DAYS.