New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-14
Mrs. Gait Predicts
atif'icatiOn of
Suffrage by Feb. l
Attributes Delay in the West
to Fear Of Governors That
Calling Extra Sessions
Will Bring Up New Issues

Sixteen states have approved the
suffrage amendment to the Federal
Constitution and Mrs Carrie Chap
man, president Of the National Woman
Suffrage Association, predicted yestcr-
day ratification would be complete
February l. Utah will be the seven
tecnth state to ratity. A special lcgis-
iatiVe session has been called to meet
Sstep'ember 70 for that purpose and
Mrs Gait said she expected New Jer-
sey. despite strong opposition Of the
ahu-sui4 raglsts, to fail in line some
time IN January. The association for
weeks has been working for special
rathlhcatlon sessions of the Legisla-
lures in the Northeast, Northwest and
Middle West.
The association Claims" says q
statement by Mrs. Gait, that it never
mas made a prediction which did not
come true"
states would ratify before January.
These are. Colorado, California and
Washington. Two states, she added.
Rhode Island and Kentucky. have
pledged ratification during the Arst
week in January.
Reviewing the campaign now CLOSING.
Mrs. Gait continued:
Two states, Tennessee and Florida
cannot call special sessions on federal
amendments owing to prohibitive pro
VISIONS in their constitutions, and
there are eight states which may not
take action until after ratification is
completed by the necessary thirty-six
states. The other thirty-eight arc
counted on absolutely.
Immediately after the passing of
the Federal Suffrage Amendment the
campaign fer ratification began. TIE
auXlIlares of the Association in the
lorty-elght states sent deputations tc
sec their Governors. As I. result OF
passed resolutions calling upon the
Senate to submit the Amendment and
seven granted presidential suffrage
in 1919. Nevertheless, thea Legisla-
lures were polled again with refer
elce to the question OF ratification
The campaign was moving forward
swlmmingly when a mysterious snal
appeared.
1T was fact which at first rather
amazed the suffragists of the country
to discover that such states as Massa-
chusctts, PENNSYLVANIA and Ohio had
ratified while the great West in eacf
Of which the women already have ful
suffrage, were hositating to call them
special sessions. a very superficial
examination revealed the explanation
The West is the pivotal political sec
ton Of the country. The West is
fairly evenly divided. and each state
party which wins does so after Sc
we're contest with its rival. The en-
franchiscment Of women is no vcxa-
tien Of the country and no Governor
hesitatcd to call his special session
because Of any fancied criticism OF
opposition arising from opponents OF
suffrage, but what every Governor il
i the great West did see was innumera-
Bile political hobgoblins rising in the
background and threatening confu-
sion.
lone mikht suppose that the contest
over the League of Nations would be
reflected among the states not SO!
What vially concerns them is the high
cost Of living and how to reduce the
prices ofbrcadand meat. The labor
unrest, the continual succession OF
strikes, the railroads, telephones anC
telcgraphs, the impossihlity to figure
upon future developments with ac-
curacy-thesc were some Of the influ-
cnces that stayed the Governors lest
they open a Pandora's box of legis-
latlon. But the end Of he century
long campaign for political equality
for women is within sight"