South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-04
WOULD S|DETRACK
WOMAN STUFF RACE
G. O. P. Lawyer Thinks That
Amendment Before State
Assembly Would Dis
franchise Men.
BY United Press

BY United Press
INDIANAPOLIS Jan. Warming
that the Beardsley amendment to
the state constitution granting equal
suffrage might lead to endless legal
complications. and might even be in
terpreted as depriving all men of the
state OF the privilege Of voting, was
given today by w. ID. Bynum OF In
dianapolis. In a statement urging
abandonment of the Beardsley
amendment. Mr. Bynum, who repre-
scented the indianapolis district for
ten years in congress and is widely
known as a lawyer and constitu-
tional authority. says:
The adoption Of the amendment
as proposed would place in the con-
the qualifications of voters in direct
conflict; one that only males shall
have the right of suffrage and one
that only females shall have that
right This, in all probability. il the
latter amendment is approved would
result in a controversy that would
have TO be decided by the supreme
court
The question whether both pro-
visions remained in full force or
whether the latter would have the
effect OF repeating the former would
unquestionably arise. If the court
should hold that there was a conflict
between the two sections-that the
latter repealed the earlier-then
none but women would be entitled
TO vote"
Center of Debate.
The Beardsley amendment adopt
ed by the 1917 legislature has been
the center of lively debate among
women suffra gists because Of a plan
said to be discussed in republican
party circles to abandon II in the
coming legislature and initiate II
again with other amendments which
party leaders desire to see adopted.
The supreme court has held that but
one amendment could be up at a
time.
Mrs. Richard Edwards OF Peru.
president OF the women's franchise
league in Indiana, declared in a
statement issued Wednesday that
sent 10 abandoning Of the Beardsley
amendment unless they are assured
that such a course Is for the best
interests of the state. because it
--ould set suffrage back two years.
While the republicans are plan
ming TO withdraw this amendment.
giving full suffrage to the women Of
Indiana so that they may pass a
large number of amendments neces-
sary To fulfil their party pledges"
said Mrs. Edwards, 81 feel con-
fident that they will not do so with
out considering the women OF the
state. To do SO without reference
20 our needs or wishes would put
suffrage back two years and bring
down on the party the antagonism
OF women in all parts OF the state
There are many members OF the re-
publican party in both houses OF
the legislature who are sincerely
friendly 10 the cause Of suffrage and
I feel confident they would not agree
20 any program OF wholesale de-
struetion Of the suffrage amendment
without some consultation with the
suffrage forces of the state as 10 the
best and wlsest course 10 pursue this
year.
The suffrage forces have no de-
sire 10 impede real progress in the
state and IL they can be shown that
IL is 10 the real advantage OF the
state 20 withdraw the Beardsley
amendment and IL at the same time
il is clearly evidenced that suffrage
will gain and not lose by 70 ] am
sure they would be OF one mind
about Il"