South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-09
SUFFRAGE URGED
BY MANY STATES
Legislatures Urging Congress
to Pass Federal Amend
ment For Vote.
BY Marie Elliot Gillian.

The Johnson bill. giving TO women
citizens Of the state the privilege Of
voting for presidential electors. pass
ea the Indiana house OF representa-
tives Friday. Jan. "a. The vote was
30 70 .. Members voting in the
negative were Chas. II. Bidaman and
John T. O'NeH. OF Terre Haute. and
ANDREW II. Sambor, Of East Chica-
go, with seven members absent when
the vote was taken. The absentees
We're not opposed.
In advocating the passage OF this
Dill, said Rep. Johnson. of Gas
city, who introduced the bill II do
not contend that the granting Of
suffrage will relieve many Of our
present political wrongs nor turn all
our Jails into chapels Further. l
do not argue that ali women want
the ballot. But II only one woman
wanted 10 vote. and il il did not
relieve a single wrong, ! believe she
should be entitled TO the right Of
vote"
Mr.. Johnson then discussed the
limitations OF the suffrage TO woman
citizens, saying that the time has
passed In Indiana for any fifty-fitfy
basis or citizenship. lie also said
that his bill was not anticipating ac-
ton by the assembly TO limit the
right OF male suffrage to citizens,
but he hoped such action would be
taken.
Mr.. Sambor, who voted against the
bill. protested against the limita-
ton OF woman suffrage to women
citizens. declaring that the consti-
trtion gave the men who had their
first papers the right to vote and
until that was changed the same
right should be given to women.
Mrs Richard Edwards. president
OF the WOman's Franchise league Of
Indiana. in expressing her pleasure
in the vote, said: "Suffrag ists al
ways try for the impossible. For
many years suffrage itself was the
impossible. Today sentiment is so
strong for it that our vote stood 80
to 3. Ny hope had been a unani-
nous vote in favor. but our poll of
the house and the reports from our
leagues on their replies showed us
some days in advance that we would
have three negative votes. This over
|, whelming vote in favor OF the bill
is not a victory for the few OF US
I'm the state house: 1t IL a victory
for our tireless workers out over
the state; IL is a victory for every
woman who carried petition
through the hot and busy summer
days-a victory for operation
most OF all, a victory for women
doing womens work and interested
in wOmen's welfare"
Preparing for Conventions
With the public realizing that suf-
rage is one OF the most general and
vital questions of the day, unusual
interest is being displayed in the
county and district conventions of
the branch organizations Of the
WOman's Franchise league of In
diana. which will be held in Febru-
airy and early in March. Requests
are already coming in 10 state head
quarters for speakers who are thor
oughly familiar with the suffrage
situation. particularly in this state.
but also in the nation and interna-
tionally. County chairmen are ar
ranging to hold these conventions
i'm connection with a regular meeting
OF all the leagues in the country.
Fifteen Follow Indiana.
Eighteen state legislatures have
taken action during January TO urge
that the United States senate pass
on the amendment for state ratifi-
carfou Idaho the state which Sen
atOr BOrah represents, is one of the
states most recently 70 commit itself
overwhelmingly in favor Of the fed
eral suffrage amendment. by pas
sing a memorial urging the United
states senate 10 submit the amend
ment To the states. The National
American Woman Suffrage associa-
lion points out that Senator Borah.
who comes from a full suffrage
state. the representatives OF which
have now formally called on him
20 vote YES on the amendment, has
the opportunity 20 seize again for
the national republican party the
credit OF the acknowledgement OF the
women OF the country. Senator
Rorah has voiced objections not 20
suffrage but 10 the federal amend
ment as the method Of enfranchis-
ing women. hut Il is now believed
that ne will overcome these preJu-
Gices and yield 20 the evidence of
sentiment I'm his own state favorable
20 the amendment"
The full list Of states which have