El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-28

7 " Women are very likely to vote
for president OF the United states IN
ian states OF the union in 1890. Con-
gress this week viii put through the
constitutional amendment which must
be ratified by three-fourths Of the
state legislatures. Regular or spe-
eial sessions are to be convened dur
ing the next u months in enough
states to assure ratification. The Re
publican party which 5emmed the
measure through the house last week
plans to take full credit for putting
the amendment across in the senate
and VIII be a potential factor IN ev-
cry state in securing prompt action
so that the women may show their
gratitude in the congressional as well
as presidential elections in November.
1890
That is the reason for the speed Of
the Republican majority in both
houses Of congress IN getting women
suffrage before the state legislatures.
Even senator Lodge. Of Massachu-
sets. Republican leader and oppo-
nent Of suffrage for women. viii not
vote for the measure. but at the same
time he is doing everything he can to
bring about prompt action so that his
party may derive what credit il can
out Of the contrast between obstruc-
ton and Indifference on the part of
the Democratic and quick approval by
the republican party OF reform de-
manded for more than a half century
by women OF the country.
The President FOresaW Conditions.
President Wilson saw ahead the in
Fincible part women suffrage would
play in party politics and endeaVOred
to. get the Democrats TO pass woman
rrffr-n VII
gress.
But Democracy was the OBJ
Etacle. Western Democrats
worked hard TO convert their
southern colleagues. told them
that Il meant defeat for many Of
them in 1918 elections and that
the Republicans were mnneuTer-
ing TO put il through themselves.
But all Of no avail. Indeed,
Democrats were today recalling
the speech OF senator Pitfmun OF
Nevada. who charged that the Re
publieans had enough votes In
the last session OF congress to
form a coalition with the SUI
fraGe Democrats and pass the
measure through the senate n "a
already had won in the house
Mr. Pittman claimed that the Re
publicans watched the poll OF the
Democrats and subtracted enough
votes at all times, so as 70 prevent
victory
This. senator Smoot. the Republi-
can manager OF the polls. vehemently
denied anyway. the women who were
agitating suffrage kept putting the
responsibility on the Democrats be-
cause they controlled both houses Of
congress and there It has remained.
for the Republican party contributed
81 percent Of its strength for suffrage
in the house last October as against
81 percent Of the Democrats voted,
while in the house last week only -
Republicans voted against suffrage. .
while 20 Democrats opposed IT. Two
hundred Republicans and only l01
Demo Gratis voted yea
Conditions Not Much Changed.
Things have not changed much in
the senate except that on account OF
losses in the last election. Republic
cans have taken the place OF certain
suffrage Democrats like Shaffroth. of
Colorado, While senators Harrison and
Dial OF Mississippi and South Caro-
lima, replace Messrs- Fardeman and
Pollock, who were favorable to SUI
fraEe-
Il is not known senators Harrison
and Dial viii vote. but even II they
favor suffrage in the final tally. the
Democrats viii only muster IS votes
the last session So the Republicans
again will not only have more votes
than the Democrats. but they viii
contribute this time TO get more than
the necessary tW0-thirds
As politicians the Democrats
reveal themselves today a. out
elassed by their skiilful Repub-
lican opponents The comparison
must he made. however, between
the suffrage Democrats and the
anti-suffraEe Republicans, for
the proponents OF II in both par
dies worked very hard for sue
cess.
senatot A. A. Jones. Of New Mexico.
Democrat. has ceased his cooperation.
for instance, even though he IS as
sisting the Republicans in getting
prompt action The advocates gener-
ally have omitted no opportunity TO
get action but the anri-suffrage
Democrats played poor politics.
Democrats Oppose Suffrage.
They fell in with the plans OF the
anti-suffraEe Republicans and the
measure was repeatedly delayed They
even worked against the amendment
among their colleagues who were
doubtful. They seemed to take par
ticular JOY in turning down the APP
peal Of the leader OF the party, presi-
dent Wilson, who made an especial
address to the senate in the hope that
be might bring his party in line
But the Democrats failed him.
and from that moment forward MS
power 10 move his own party
began TO decline with the result
that Mr. Wilson's petition esr
Democratic congress last autumn
fell on empty ears.
u is interesting TO note that on the
Republican side solid delegations
against suffrage come from Pennsyl-
vania and Massachusetts IN the house
and Pennsylvania and Connecticut in
the senate.
on the Democratic side, solid dele
cations from South Carolina and Mis-
sissipDi lined up against the measure.
II senators Harrison and Dial vote
against suffrage IL will mean that
South Carolina and Mississippi re-