Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-30
The Assembly Will Keep the Faith


THE Susan b. Anthony amendment to the
1 Federal Constitution extending the right
of suffrage to women being before the Vir-
gnia General Assembly and a joint rcso-
tuition for its ratification having been sub
mittcd by its proponents. action OH the reSo-
luton should be prompt and decisive There
exists no doubt that the sentiment of the
people OF Virginia is Overwhelmingly against
ratification. Representative expressions OF
public opinion from every section Of the
State, as voiced in letters published i'll The
Timcs-6 Dispatch, alone afford convincing proof.
il other evidence were lacking, Of the public
attitude of irreconciabe opposition to the
amendment. Hence it is TO he inferred that
when the resolution comes TO vote the two
houses will vie with each other in seeing
which can record the largest proportionate
majority against it.
The Old Dominion has not. as President
Wilson seems TO have assumed in urging
the Legislature to ratfy the amendment,
reached that degenerate state OF mind which
would cause it 10 yield to tho pernicious
counses OF party eXpediency and abandon
its sole 'remaining inheritance OF fundamental
safeguards for the protection: of its rights as
self-governing State OF the Unon--the right
to protect its inherent sovereignty in its
potency b. determining for itself, without
outside dictation. the voting qualifications of
its citizens. The people of Virginia are too
deeply sChooled in the political teachings OF
lnOmaS Jefferson and others OF the Com
monwealth's illustrious sons of the past, and
welded TO them not to be forcwarned thai
II the destructive principle embodied in this
amendment once be Incorporated in the Fed
eral Constitution. the States would find them
selves helpless to resist any species OF legis-
lation, however obnoxious to them and menaC-
ing to their welfare. which a majority OF
Congress might see mt 10 impose, and they
have no fear that their representatives in
the General Assembly, either now in the
future. will not truly voice their will when
they vote on the pending resolution, or some
other like one at subsequent sessions.
Nor do Nirginians fail to recognize that
in urging ratification of the amendment. the
President abused his position of PARTY leader
ship, If no more. by advising course of &C,
ton in direct ContraventiOn OF the plank in
the national Democratic PLATFORM which
recommends that the question of the extern
sion OF the franchise to the women of the
country he determined by State not Federal,
action. To do otherwise, would be to sur
render Internationally to force from without
call it influence" if you like--and that is
unthinkable for Virginia
Though the State may have erred from
the true faith in its support of a previous
amendment which undermines the integrity
Of State rights, it now realizes that the time
has come to call halt to further invasions
OF its sovereignty. L plants itself squarey
! upon its reserved rights under the compact
of Federal Union, and will give its consent
10 no further impairment of its strength as a
free and independent sovereignty capable OF
attending 10 its own domestic affairs