The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-06-11
Four Legislatures to Take Up
Measures at Once, With
Favorable Vote Forecast;
Work For 1920 Ballot

WASHINGTON. June 10Th" l"Sts-
laturcs Of four statrs--lllinoIS' M'h-
gan, Massachusetts and kansas--"II!
act on the federal woman suffrage
amendment this week.
The race for the honor to be the FIRST
10 ratify lies among Illinois, Massa-
chuSctts and Michigan.
The governors Of twenty states nav"
Indicated. IN signed statements secured
IN 4 canvass by tn" Tribune. that thclr
states will take UP the question ana
ratify II promptly at the first 1ncct'nH
Of the legislature. Only two state en-
ccuilvcs said thor states would prop
ably refuse to raufy.
Only ono observation-disclosures far
rs has definitely determined 10 meet in
spcrial session solely to ratfy the
amendments The Kansas legislators
have SGT an example OF Gallanlry t" tho
yCman'S cause by accepting III" suegcs-
ticn OF Governor Henry J. Allen TO mo"t
for a singl" days session on Saturday.
for ratifying the amendment. They
will waive salary and mileage. IN token
of their devotion to tho cause.
sessions Within year.
The following regular and special
sessions arc already scheduled for this
year or early next:
Ohio-Has convened for an indefinite
period Mathematician session con-
vcncs Tuesday. Texas-Extra session
convenes Juno %. Gc"rgia-Convcncs
juno %. Alabama-Mects in July.
Louisiana-Possibility Of session be-
fore September New Jcrscy-Rumor
there will be extra session soon. Maine
Special session in January. Kentucky
Meets in January. South Carolina
Meets in January. Mississippi-Mccts
in January. Nirginia-Meets in Feb
ruary. Observation-Disclosures some time in
1920.
An appeal to the governors Of tho
twcnty-cight states where women have
full or presidential suffrage 10 call sp"-
cal sessions of their legislatures TO rat
ry the amendment was sent by Miss
Maud Younger. lobby chairman OF the
National Womcn's party. today.
A gold star will be placed in the white
bar of the National Wom"ns party tri-
color banner when the first state rat
itics. A purple star will represent the
second state. Gold and purple stars will
alternate thereafter until thirty-slN
state legislatures have ratified.
Count on Michigan First.
Mrs Carrie Chapman Gait. president
Ioc the National American Woman Suf-
fraGc association. apparently is count
ing on Michigan to be first to ratify for
she has sent the following telegram TO
Governor Sleeper:
"Hurrah for Michigan, It will be tho
first state to ratiry the federal woman
suffrage amendment unless Illinois
gets ahead"
Michigans legislature does not con-
vcne until Tuesday, however. while that
of Illinois is already IN session. and
that Of Massachusetts, meets tomorrow.
Although Massachusetts Is not a sur-
frnEe state. II probably will ratify the
amendment according to telegram
from Governor Calvin Coolidge to the
Tribune, almost at once and with very
LITTLE opposition"
Responses from other states show
that the amendment will undou btcdly bc
ratified in 1921. although some chow no
present inclination to call special ses-
sons. so that thirty-six. the necessary
thrco-fourths Of the states, may have
ratified before the presidential elections
Of 1920. 1t is toward these states that
the energies Of the suffrage ratification
committees will be directed. With he
example Of Kansas in holding a special
session without expense to tho state.
the suffrage states like Wyoming and
Nevada, which are hesitatinG. are OK
pectcd to revise their plans.
what States VIII DO.
Following are the replies received
from the governors Of tho states asking
for statement in regard to tho pros