The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-10

block it. His amendment was de-
feated, 62 to 19.
During debate, Senators Wads.
worth of New York, who has been an
uncompromising opponent of wo.
man suffrage, explained his attitude
as being actuated by the motive OF
preserving to the states the right to
determine the question, each state
for itself.
mo vote of mine cast upon this
amendment would deprive any of the
electors of my state of any privilege
they now enjoy" said the senator.
Il feel so strongly that the people
Of the several states should be per-
mitted to decide for themselves, that
amendment, instead of being drafted
to extend woman suffrage all over
the country, were drafted to forbid
the extension of the franchise to wo-
against it. Even though one might
be opposed on general principles to
the extension OF the franchise to
women, one cannot logically object
to the people of a state settling that
question for themselves.
1T seems to me that Il is incum-
bent upon senator in considering 9
his attitude on this matter to regard
the nation as a whole and to give
consideration to the wishes Of the
people of the various states which
have expressed themselves from time
to time"
Overriding State Votes.
Senator Wadsworth spoke of the
results in Massachusetts. New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
Ohio, Louisiana, Texas. Wisconsin.
and other states where woman suf-
frage was defeated at the polls.
Now the question is" he resum-
ed, whether the people Of these
states are competent to settle the
question for themselves. There is
no tremendous emergency facing the
country, no revolution or rebellion
threatened, which would seem to
make it necessary to impose on the
people of these states a thing they
have said as free citizens they do not
require or desire. Is it contrary to
the spirit of American institutions
that they shall be left free 10 decide
these things for themselves"
My contention has been with re-
spect to an amendment to the consti-
tuition. that, if it be placed there. it
should command the reverence and
devotion of all the people OF the
country. The discussion here makes
IL perfectly apparent that. in part at
least in certain section OF this
country, this proposed amendment
will be dead letter. No pretcuse is
made that it will he lived up to i'm
spirit as well as in letter That same
attitude has been manifest in the
discussion OF the last amendment TO
the constitution, ratified last winter.
Today there are thousands Of people
all over the United States who are
attempting to contrive ways by
which the prohibition amendment
can be evaded This attitude. shows
an utter lack of appreciation OF the
constitution as sacred instrument.
lack of realization Of the spirit OF
lf-gOvernment"
Senator Smith OF South Carolina
opposed giving women the right to
vote. he said. because TO allow il
would induce sectional anarchy"
Signing of the Resolution.
Immediately after its passage by
the senate the suffrage amendment
was signed. In appreciation OF the
hity-year campaign of the National
American Woman Suffrage associa-
tior, the guests were limited to re-
of that association and
members OF congress. and the gold
pen used was presented to the ma
tional association. The women
chosen TO represent the national as
sociation were Mrs. Wood Park Of
Massachusetts,, who for two years
has been in charge of the associa
TONS congressional work; Mrs
Helen Gardener of Washington. ID.
e.; Mrs. Ida Hustled Harper of New
york, Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton of
ohio, Miss Mary G. Hay. and Miss
HajoTio ShG!er Of New York.
BESIDES Speaker Gillett. who
signed the bill. the members OF the
nOuSe present We're Frank w Man