The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-18
.ANTI-SUFFS LAUNCH
RATIFICATION FIGHT
Miss Kilbreth, New President,
Says Party Leaders Have
Been Blackmailed.
BATTLE ON IN 10 STATES
Opponents Of Votes for Women
Will,Aid Nugent Race in
New Jersey.

Anybody who supposes that the fight
for national woman suffrage is now
won and that the issue is practically
closed one--as Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait announced In a recent statement
Ii very much mistaken. II anti-suffrage
IL dead It is a lively corps The resur-
rection occurred yesterday at the new
headquarters Of the ants az 26s Madison
avenue, where amid surround ngs OF
pale pink wall paper and instructive
anti-posters. national and local leaders
drank tea, ate sandwiches and cake, and
listened to the programme Of the organic
nation as outlined by Miss Mary q.
Kilbreth OF Southampton, N. Y, the new
national pres dent.
The great thing the ants have to ac-
complish is 70 secure rejection OF the
Federal suffrage amendment by thirteen
states. Miss kilbreth said she had been
assured by prominent political men In
the South, BY lawyers and by adv isors
In Congress. that II the amendment Is
defeated In both houses OF thirteen
Legislatures the Supreme Court will then
declare It null and void.
One of the local jobs the ants have
on hand 10 to push the nomination and
election of James r. Nugent for Gov
ernor of New Jersey. Miss Clara vexin,
an anti leader Of Elizabeth, passed
around a leafet bearing a large picture
Of Mr.. Nugent with the following in
scription;
defend your personal liberties. Vote
for James r. Nugent Blot oft prohibit
ton In New Jersey. Primaries Septem-
Der g."
AS women do not vote in New Jersey
the anti-women will be able to work
with what they consider q far stronger
weapon--indirect influence. Miss Vein
made q speech extoilins Mr.. Nugent for
his sincerity and directness in his fight
against woman suffrage.
Miss Kilbreth made the chief speech
standing against a background of pale
pink Wallpaper, to which, II was regret.
fully admitted, she objects strongly be.
cause she feels It does not 70 we'll with
her complexion. But Il was already on
the walls when the antis took the rooms
1t Is pretty well hidden. anyhow, by anti
posters.
Miss Kilbreth declared that woman
| suffrage had ''prostituted the machine,
OF both the great political parties.
whose leaders, she said, were ethel
''blackmailed or controlled" by the vote.
| for women interests.
president Wilson has split the Dem
ocratic party by his advocacy of suf
frage." she said. both VIII H. Hay!
| and Homer Cummings. the two nationa
chairmen. have endeavored to stamped,
| their respective parties for suffrage. and
while absolutely unrcpresentative OF tn,
rank and file they have pretty nearl,
| succeeded"
Then Miss KiIbreth turned to tn
ratification situation.
| Il believe the first protest will com
| from Texas" she said. There Is
strong mans organization there, whicl
holds that the State was betrayed by Il
so-caiied representatives when the Legis
lature ratified the suffrage amendment.
| "Judge Evans of Alabama tells US tina
representatives whose vote on the amend
ment did not express the suffrage senti
ment of their State can be impeachec
and other Southerners think the same.
Georgia, Alabama and Virginia ar
absolutely firm against the amendmen
and we are sure that we can get sew
erai Western States to reject It. Ney
York Of course is hopeless-we shall no
attempt to do anything In this STATE
but Massachusetts, is In perfect turmoil
OF anger against the Legislature tina
dared TO ratify. The same in New Hamp
shire.
Miss Kilbreth ended by asserting tina
every one Of the men mentioned now a
possibilities for Presidential nomination
was an -suffragist. with the ex
ception of Senator Pomerene Of Ohio,
she added.
"As a final word want to tell W
are going to get the amendment re
jected," she said. understand clearl
The difference between q refusal to ratif
and rejection. One branch of a Les
islature can cause a State TO refuse rat
fication, but for rejection the tw
branches must vote It down, and the re
suit must be registered with the Secrs
tary of State in Washington.
| 'FWa are roinR 70 do 1t"