The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-19
STATE WILL
RAT|FY SUFFRAGE

Upon being asked what she thought
would be the attitude Of the Vir-
ginia general assembly on ratification
OF the federal suffrage amendment,
Mrs. John II. Lewis. first vice-presi-
dent of the Equal Suffrage League OF
Virginia said:
III you had asked me that question
three years ago. knowing as ! do the
tenacity of Virginians for state rights,
;hould have said that the legislature
would refuse to ratify. But I cannot
return such an answer now. Virgin
ians, although conservative, are not
asleep. They have broader ideas of
states rights now than they had then.
Events have broadened them. They
have a juster sense OF surrendered
privilege for the common good than
they once possessed. and I think the
minority of our legislators and the
thinking people behind them realize
that in ratifying an amendment which
is really only confrmatory of those
articles OF the federal constitution to
w. ici, she subscribed in 1887. she Is
fringing no state rights. but sustain
ing the guarantee by the constitution
of republican form of government
in each state. The proposed amend
n.ent doesn't touch existing i.iodifca-
ton of the> franchise in any state: 1t
simply removes the barrier of sex.
The tests of voters will be Identical
with those which now hold in the in
dividual states-only the guarantee of
popular government will be made
good"
When asked what she thought OF
ratification of the federal prohibition
amendment. she replied:
Il am heartily in favor OF national
-worldwide-proh II is n ro-
lice power of the state. which has
every sanction of right and also of
expediency. But I must confess to
amazcmcnt-and amusement that
the Southern representatives, who
exhibited such gratifying haste In
ratifying the prohibition amendment
which SO intimately touches even the
domestic life OF It's citizens. should
balt at a suffrage amendment which
imposes no restriction on existing
franchise conditions, but simply OBJ
literltes sex as a barrier to political
freedom. The swelling testimony OF
4 civilized world has been given to the
enfranchisenent OF women. That Is
a necessary part of the great scheme
OF world democracy. and OF the inter-
NATURALIZATION to which we all look
with eager hope.
"How 4 human right can be In
frtnged by national extension OF the
franchise 10 the women Of this nation
is uncomfortable. And. after all. no
state right can be valid as against a
human right. The human right Is
the only solid and justifable founda-
ton for any state right.
Then. too, the expediency OF right
dealing is here Immediately apparent
and will appeal to those Virginians
who. as I said. are not asleep. I'm
questionably thirty-six states will rat
ify the federal amendment. II all the
Republican states ratfy and the
Southern Democratic states refuse,
what will he the Democratic states in
1920? or in n. moro extended future :?
II IA Democratic party Is necessary to
the good OF this nation. how will that
party appeal to voters II II discredits
its own fundamental assertions OF pop
ular overeignty. discards the counsel
OF its leaders and rejects the advice
of its own executive? The President
of these United States. the acknowl-
edged leader OF democracy. urges this
ratification. the national Democratic
executive committee urges each state
to ratify: the existence Of democratic
principle itself Is involved-not only
for our own nation. but for that
greater commonwealth Of nations in
whose establishment our republic is
privileged to lead Virginia will not
obstruct."