Putnam patriot., 1919-09-26
GOV. HOLCOMB
GRANTS HEARING
Delegates Favor Special SEES
sion to Vote on Equal Suf-
frage Amendment
Members From Windham County
Sign Petition

tation, at the hearing Tuesday morn.
ing in favor of a special session, why
the matter was not taken up previous
to the adjournment in June. Aside
from this query, the governor made
no remark before the gathering of
men from the senate and house of
Representatives
The hearing given by the governor
in the executive Office to the legisla-
tors was private. All he said, accord
ing to several of the delegation fol
lowing the hearing, was the query as
to why the question of ratification
had not been brought up at the regu-
lar 1919 session.
Since Governor Holcomb had grant
ed only half hours time for the
hearing, the delegation from the Con-
nectient Woman's Suffrage associa-
ton postponed its efforts until some
time in the future The legislative
deputation and a group of prominent
republicans from all parts of the state
had asked for hearings and as the wo-
men did. not ask for a hearing until
Monday, they withdrew in favor of
the men. 1--WE consider the influence
of the men of much more Importance
than anything the women can do"
said Miss Katherine Ludington, pres
ident of the Connecticut Woman's
Suffrage Association, ''and what is
most significant is that these men
have volunteered to do this and have
been trying all summer to make a
move in this direction"
Miss Ludington said that during
the past few months, she had been
continually beseiged with requests for
an opportunity, such as was offered
Monday. and expressed her delight at
the large number of politically prom
inent men present, as well as the
many letters from absentees.
Although Colonel Isaac NJ Ullman
of New Haven had not taken any &C
ton for suffrage, since declaring him.
self in its favor year and half ago
he made a distinct move favorine
Connecticut's ratification in the fol
lowing letter which he sent to Gov.
ernor Holcomb Monday:
Il understand that deputation Of
the republicans will visit you to put
before you the Importance of spe
Fetal session to consider ratification OF
the federal suffrage amendment.
believe the time is ripe for this, anC
/ believe that the citizens of Connec
ticut will back you in calling a specia
session, and earnestly request tina
this be done Am sorry l cannot b,
present as a member of the deputa
ton"
Senator Arthur E. Bowers, chair
man Of the deputation, opened thu
hearing by outlining the reasons VIII!
Connecticut should not be the onl,
state not to ratify the suffrage amend
ment and emphasizing that it was tn,
only state in New England that hat
not as yet done anything beyond
granting the school vote to women
He also quoted statistics, as to thu
vote in the general assembly, and pro
phesied the early ratification by prac
tically all states but Connecticut
Other senators who made strong ap
peals for special session of the leg
islature were Senators John B. Dill
Ion, William c. Fox, Dennis NJ. Clyne
Charles E. Williamson and c. c. Hem
enway. The representatives whit
made similar appeals We're Henry L
Welles of Wethersield, John H. FISH
of Newington, William Bradford
Green of Hartford, Howard A. Hen
shaw of Suffield, John H. Hill o
Huntington, Samuel C. Shaw of Red
ding and Theodore Phillips of Cole
brook.
The petition which was presented
read.
| W ltiNoo, III VI SHt oN0'N'
where the legislatures are not regu
larly meeting this year, special SEES
sions are being called to ratify the
federal suffrage amendment; and
Whereas, Connecticut has Away:
held an honorable place in the front
rank of every movement for the liber-
ty of the citizens of our great repub.
lie;
Therefore, We, the undersigned
members of the legislature of the
state of Connecticut, most respectful
ly do petition Marcus H. Holcomb
governor of the state of Connecticut,
to call US in special session for the
purpose of ratifying the federal suf-
frage amendment"
| The suffrage association, in state
ment, said that the petition for spe-
cial session was signed by the presi-
dent of the senate, fifteen republican
| senators and nine democratic senators
signed.
Sixty-three per cent of the repub-
lican senators signed, as did SO per
| cant If tho dapoocrafc in tho eana+a