The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-11
N.Y.TOACT0N
SUFF ISSUE AT
EXTRA SESSION
Governor Calls Legislature
to Meet Monday to Ratify
Amendment.
EXPECTS SPEEDY ACTION
Speaker Sees No Need for
Haste-Other Reasons Hinted
for Gathering.
EXPECTS SPEEDY ACTION
Special pespatcA TO TIE sus.


ALsANY, June 1o.--Gov. Alfred f
Smith issued a call to-day for a spe-
ciai session Of the State Legislature,
to meet next Monday night, to ratify
the woman suffrage amendment TO the
Constitution. which recently passed the
national Congress and was submitted
to the States. The Governor an
nounced also that he does not propose
to submit any other questions to the
session, although the opinion was ex-
pressed in political circles that there
might be other reasons for the special
session.
Thaddeus C. Sweet. Speaker of the
Assembly. said tonight that II Gov
Smith would send an emergency mess
ago to the Legislature to permit the
passage Of the ratification resolution
without waiting for It to be printed
three days 1t would not be necessary
for the session to last longer than
twenty -four hours. At the same time
Speaker Sweet criticised the action of
the Governor. declaring that the call
was most unusual" inasmuch as
women in New York State already had
the vote. and both political parties are
committed to. Syomar suffrage. and
nothing would be lost by not bringing
the amendment before the Legislature
until next winter.
Nothing would be lost from a ma
tional standpoint" Mr.. Sweet said, be
cause no primaries are likely to be held
next spring before we could have an op-
portunity to ratify suffrage in the regu-
lar session"
Wants New York to Act.
Gov Smith said that while 1t was true
the Legislature would be able to act on
the amendment next winter in plenty of
time. he thought New York should take
prompt action for the sake of the i'm
petus 1t would give the suffrage move
ment in other States. and that for Sow
eral reasons It is important action
should be taken upon the measure be-
fore the next regular session Of the Leg
islature.
New York should be in the forefront
in the advocacy and adoption of all
measures of a beneficial. progressive
character. in the support of which 1t has
too often Jagged" the Governor said,
adding: III the privilege is to be ex-
tended to women In such form as entities
them to full participation in the next
Presidential election early action is nee
essary.
1T would not be sufficient to permit
them only to choose as between candi-
dates selected and principles approved
by others, but they should be enfran-
chised at a date 80 early that they may
take part in the primaries which will be
held next spring to select delegates to
the national party conventions, and thus
be coworkers from the very start in the
selection OF candidates and the declara-
ton Of party principles.
In order to secure this action early
by at least thirty-stx States. 1t will be
necessary to call special sessions of the
Legislatures of many Of them. where
regular sessions will not, under their
constitutions. be convened until 1921.
Effect on Other States.
Il know of no greater stimulus to
prompt and energetic action throughout
the nation than would follow the imme-
diate and decisive approval Of the pro-
posed amendment by this. the most pop
ulous OF the commonwealths.
III 1t receives the approval of New
York at an early date believe the good
example would be far reaching and
forceful. and be followed by a sufficient
number OF her sister States at a date so
near that full association in the steps
leading up to selection of our next Pres
ident would be enjoyed by the newly en-
franchised voters"