Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-07-04
Frick Answers Suffs.
He DECLINES To AID In SECURING EXTRA
SESSION Or LEGISLATURE.

From the Baltimore Sun of Saturday last.
State Senator George Arnold Prick yes
terday gave out copy of letter he had
received from the just Government League,
asking his support in the effort to call
special session Of the Legislature to
ratify the Suffrage amendment, and his
reply.
The letter to Senator Frick follows
Dear ir:-Since the Federal Suffrage
Amendment passed Congress on June 4
we have been canvassing the various
States to determine precisely what were
the prospects for immediate ratification.
We felt that it would be unjustifable to
urge a special session in Maryland unless
it were assured that ratification by this
State be practically conclusive. To date
SO States have indicated their willingness
to ratify within the next two or three
weeks at regular special sessions, so we
now need only three more States in order
to insure the enfranchisement of Maryland
women in ample time to permit their par
ticipation in the fall election.
Illinois, Wisconsin. Michigan, Kansas,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and
New York have already ratified the amend
ment. and there is no doubt but that the
complete victory will be won within the
next two months if Maryland will take her
place beside the other progressive States
and vote for ratification.
We are writing to ask If you will help
US to secure special session in Maryland,
and to make sure that we can count upon
your support Of ratification when the spe-
cial session is called. and hoping for an
early reply.
With all good wishes. believe me. faith
fully yours,
(Signed) DORA 0GLE.
Mr.. Tricks reply was as follows
Baltimore, June 81. 1919.
Mrs. Charles J. Oele, 817 North Charles
Street, Baltimore, Md.
Dear Madam have just received your
undated circular letter. but cannot help
you to secure special session of the Gen
eral Assembly of Maryland. The people
of this State are now under heavy bur-
den of Federal and State taxation and
those of them who live In cities and towns
bear another similar burden. believe
that it would be doing grievous wrong to
our people to put upon them the cost of a
special session Of the General Assembly.
especially II that session should add largely
to the cost Of elections.
If special session were held. should
vote against the ratification of the Federal
suffrage amendment. cannot see how
any one who believes in the traditional
principles Of the Democratic party can
tolerate the idea of forcing woman suffrage
upon the States that do not want it. Fur
ther, from a broad democratic point of view
| cannot conceive how any member OF the
General Assembly could justify himself
before his constituents, il he should vote
for the suffrage amendment without clear
mandate from the people. In my judy
has voted to ratify this amendment with
out such mandate has betrayed his trust.
do not believe that this amendment
will be adopted but, in determining my
own conduct. it is matter of no concern
to me what other States have done or
what they may do. Maryland should be
true to her ancient traditions and to her
manhood and womanhood. shall not
betray them. Very truly yours.
GEORGE ARNOLD FRIcK.