Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-10-08
Fifteen States Have Already Ratified
the Proposed Amendment to the
Constitution of the United
States
TWENTY MORE So CES
EXPECT FAVORABLE At "
I'm the Old South Opposition to the
Measure is Found on the Old
Doctrine of State Rights

Fifteen states have ratified the
proposed amendment to the consti-
tuition of the United States giving
women the right of suffrage. Thirty
six must ratify it before it becomes
effective. There are twenty-tbree
states which are expected to take
favorable action, but which have not
yet done so. In only three of them,
Rhode Island, Maryland and New
Jersey, will the legislatures be i'll
regular session before January,
1921. The legislature of New Hamp-
shire, one of the twentythree states.
is in special session at this time.
OF the fifteen states which have
ratified the amendment, eleven
have acted at special sessions Of the
legislative bodies. In ten states the
special session was convoked for the
specific purpose of ratifying the "a
mendment. This summarizes :he re-
suits of the campaign sirce the a
states June 4, last.
There has been a desire on the
Part of the leaders IN the fight for
woman suffrage to have the amend
ment become a law SO that women
may vote at the presidential election.
Whether this will BE accomplished
remains TO be seen The legislatures
may be called in spea!al session dh.-
ing the winter when the pressure OF
business and industry becomes less
acute. If they are. there is no doubt
but what the right of Suffrage W.T.;
be realized fac. before the next
election.
The sentiment in favor of the
amendment, as expressed in the votes
of the legislatures which nave acted
is overwhelming Both branches OF
the legislatures of Michigan, Kansas
New York, Nebraska and Illinois vot
ed unanimously in favor of ratifica.
tion. The senates of Texas aud Iowa
and the house of Montana voted the
same way. Outside of these states
the divided votes of the senates show
a total of 205 votes for and p
against. In the houses which did n y
vote unanimously, the total votes
stand 722 for and 142 against.
only two southern states, Texa'
and Arkansas, have ratified tlf
amendment. Missouri, which ha'
taken favorable action, is hardl,
classed as a southern state. In the
old south the opposition to the meas
ure is founded on the old doctrine
of state rights, under which these
states claim suffrage is a domestic
question which belongs to the indi
vidual states and that it cannot b.
uspured by the national govern
ment. 1t is a modification of th'
doctrine of the rights of the state
to secede. None Of these old tim
hide bound commonwealth are count
ed on as supporters of the enfran
chisement amendment THE othe
reason the southern states have thei
opposition to the proposition is tn
right to vote which it will confe
upon the negro women. 1t is as
serted that these women are no
capable of exercising the franchis
intelligently, and that placing it 1
their hands will be repeating tn
mistake of giving the unprepare
negro the franchise after the clos
of the war. II is not likely tn
negro women of the south will hay
much chance to vote, even if t.
amen dment is ratified by sufficien
states to make it effective in the er
tire nation. The south has been sue
cessful in keeping the franchise OF
of the hands of the negro men, an
it may be expected to do the sam
with the women"