The Butler weekly times., 1918-01-17
WOMANS SUFFRAGE WINS IN
HOUSE
Resolution Providing for Constitu-
= tional Woman Suffrage Passes
by Small Margin.

Washington, Jan. 1o.-Woman suf-
frage by federal constitutions
amendment won in the house to-
night with exactly the required num-
Der of affirmative votes.
While members in their seats and
throngs in the galleries waited with
eager interest, the house adopted by
vote Of 274 to 1856 a resolution pro-
viding for submission to the states OF
the so-called Susan B. Anthony
amendment for national enfranchise-
ment of women.
But for the promise of Speaker
Clark to cast his vote from the chair
for the resolution if it was needed,
the change of single vote to the
oppositicN meant defeat. Republi-
can Leader Mann, who came from 4
Baltimore hospital where he has been
under treatment ever since congress
convened, and Representative Sims
of Tennessee, just out of sick bed
and hardly able to walk to his seat,
brought the votes which settled the
issue. The house hardly had ad-
journed before the suffrage cham
pions began their fight for favor
able action on the senate side of the
capitol. Recent polls there have in
dicated 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 last night, the suffragists
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 fore
ing a vote i'll the senate before the
present session ends.
Advocates of the amendment had
been supremely confident of the re-
suit in the house after President Will
son advised the members who called
upon him last night to support it.
They were so confident that the close
vote was received with amazemcnt,
and some of the opponents were al
most as much surprised.
When the first roll call was fin
ished unofficial counts put the result
in doubt, and before the speaker
could make an announcement there
was demand for recapitulation.
Then the name of each member and
the way he was recorded was read.
Announcement of the vote was
greeted with wild applause and cheer
ing. Women in the galleries literally
iell upon each others necks, kissing
and embracing, and shouting "glory!
glory! hallelujah!'
The resolution as adopted was as
follows:
Joint resolution proposing an
tor the constitution OF the
United States extending the right of
suffrage to women.
Resolved by the senate and house,
ETC., two-thirds OF each house con-
curing therein, that the following
article be proposed to the legisla-
ures of the several states as an
to the constitution of the
United States, which when ratified by
hrce -fourths OF said legislatures,
shall be valid as part of said constitu-
ion, namely:
'Article-Section l. The right of
,itizens of the United States to vote
;hall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by amy state on ac-
cunt Of sex.
Section 2. Congress shall have
'ower by appropriate legislation to
nforce the provisions of this article.
OF the total membership of ABS,
here were 40 members who voted.
Their lineup follows:
For the resolution: Democrats,
OF; Republicans, los; miscellaneous,
/. Total, 274.
Against the resolution: Democrats
OF; Republicans, 80; progressive, I.
Total, 1856