Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-02
GOVERNOR IN MESSAGE TO LEG
IsLArU,RE ADVOCATES AM.
ENpMENT RATIFICATION.
SAYS NOW 10 TIME TO
CHANGE CONSTITUTION
sinpls Justice 70 ons-Hsf the c't'
xens Of United Decentralization
Advocated in limo to Enable Women
to Participate In Next General e'ee'
tion-Tsxt Of Message TO Legislature.
special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, July 2.-Governor HARD
ing submitted a brief message to the
members of the Thirty eighth general
assembly today, called together in eN-
ira session to pass on the question Oh
ratification of the woman sulii~ee
amendment. He declared that THIS IS
a vitality important question Tor tne
whole country and one that should NC
settled at an early date. 49,
The governor declared that IN Ms
Judgment now Is the time to ameno
the federal constitution on this 'i'a'
question. lie said that Iowa, because
of the place she occupied among 'ho
sisterhood of states, should act among
the very first in approving the ameho-
ment. His message in full follows:
THE Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives of the Thirty Eighth Genera
Assembly: Section II, article =, OIL
the constitution of Iowa provides mat
he (the governor). may ON extraor.
binary occasions convene the general
assembly by proclamation, and snail
state to- both houses. when assemoieu
the purpose for which they have oeeh
convened Z
Pursuant to such authority grant,
ed, I have deemed it wise to convene
YOU as q legislature in extra speclai
session for the purpose OF submitting
to you for your consideration and &C
ton, the proposed amendment to the
federal constitution extending 10
women the right of suffrage thruout
the whole United States on an equal
ity with men.
THE Sixty-sixth congress Of the
United States, at its first session, COM
plying with the provisions both OF the
federal constitution and statutes. mas
proposed an amendment to the consti-
tuition concerning the right OF women
to vote.
This is vitality important question
for the whole country. and one that
ought to be settled one way or an
other at an early date. It is important
to the country for If the franchise Is
to be given to women, 1t should pc
known at an early date. In a repre-
sentative form Of government like Gus.
where officers are chosen because OF
their position on great public ques-
lions, to increase the vote of.the coun-
try by practically 100 per cent Is
step so vital that it is but fair that
all know Of the change in sufficient
time before the next election. ..
1T Is important to the women 10
know whether they are to have the
ballot for they are entitled to time In
which to adjust themselves to the ex-
ercise of the franchise right.
THE submission Of this proposed
amendment at this time to this gen.
eral assembly in extra and special see-
sion is within the constitutional provi-
sions Of an. extraordinary occasion
Just as q matter of simple justice to
one half of the citizens Of this coun-
try. Congress having acted upon this
important subject and submitted it to
the state, the constitutional authority
within the state should pass upon 1t
at once. ..a.-..- ....-..
1T will not be my purpose, nor do
think it necessary. to enter into a
lengthy discussion on this occasion OF
the importance of immediate favora BILE
action on this proposed amendment to
the federal constitution by the legally
constituted authority Of the state OF
Iowa. <'tNf
"The principle involved in the pro-
posed amendment IL not new. For the
past twenty five years it has been de-
bated both from the platform and in
the press until there are not now very
many left who have not formed a de-
finite opinion as to the right or wrong
~ toll 80 fHo
stitution so that sex will no longer be
a test Of the right to vote.
1.-The question to be decided and
settled is whether or not this country
is longer to have as q part Of the fund
amental law as a test for voting tho
sex Of the citizen. The proposed
amendment removes the sex test for
voting and congress is given authors
ty to enforce, the provision with pro-
per legislation.
Once already, the federal constitu-
ton has been amended affecting the
vote Of the citizen by providing that
the right Of the citizens Of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged on account of race, color, or
previous condition OF servitude."
THE thought of the fifteenth amend
ment just referred to was to so fix
the fundamental law Of the country
that a condition such as race. color
or previous condition OF servitude,
over which the citizen had no control,
should not be a barrier to the right to
vote.
THE fifteenth amendment to the
constitution was made after the great
civil war. 1t was the result Of deep
conviction on the part of the people
after great sacrifice had been made
e. A C6e.aSe,p