Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-05

Message from the Hous6
A message was received from the
| House conveyed by the clerk, inform
| ing the Senate that quorum Of that
body was present and ready to trans
act business.
And a further message informing
the Senate that the House concurred
with the Senate in the proposition
for a joint convention.
The Senate then proceeded to the
Hall of the House for the purpose OF
holding a joint convention.
IN CONVENTION.
| (The President Of the Senate in
the Chair)
Mr.. GURNEY of Cumberland: Mr..
Chairman, I move that at committee
| be appointed to wait upon the Gov
ernor and inform him that the two
branches Of the Legislature are In
convention assembled to receive such
message as it may please him to pre-
sent to US.
The motion was agreed to and the
Chair appointed as such committee,
the senator from Cumberland, Sena-
tor Quincy, the senator from Aroos-
took, Senator Emerson, the senator
from Hancock, Senator Kicker. the
representative from Brewer, Repre-
sentative Small, the representative
from Ellsworth, Representative Ma
son, the representative from East
port, Judge Pike, the representative
from Searsport, Captain Colcord, the
representative from Bangor. Mr..
O'Leary.
Subsequently. Senator Quincy Of
the committee reported that the
committee reported that the commit
tee had performed the duties with
which it was charged and that the
Governor will Immediately present
himself before the convention.
The report was accepted.
The CHAIRMAN: The chair de-
sires to say that there seems to be
quite a complaint on the part OF the
members Of the House especially and
some on the part Of the Senate that
the usual weather conditions did not
obtain at our visit to this special
session The Chair desires to call at,
tention to the fact that we are now
having the snowstorm that we usu-
ally have when we assemble on the
first Wednesday in January.
The Governor and suite then enter
ed the hall of the House Of Repre-
sentatives and the Governor commu-
nicated with the joint convention by
address as follows:
Gentlemen of the Seventy ninth
Legislature:
l You have been summoned to con-
slider various important public ques-
tions which seem to require legisla-
tive action. These subjects are SUBJ
mitted without prejudice to any 9TH
err matters which may appear to you
to merit your attention at this spe-
cial session.
Vacancy in the 9th Councillor District
1t is my sad duty to announce to
you the death of Hon. Norman H.
Fay, member of the Executive Coun-
Gil from the 9Th Councillor district.
His genuine worth and many 1oVable
qualities won the respect and affec-
ton Of all whose privilege it was to
be associated with him. His ripe
business judgment and conscientious
devotion to the interests of the peo-
; pie made him an exceptionally val
; liable public servant. 1t is your duty
to elect a successor for the balance
; Of the term.
; Federal Equal Suffrage Amendment
The secretary of State will trans
init to you the official notification
that Congress of the United States
has proposed for ratification by the
legislatures Of the several states an
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton granting equal suffrage to wo-
men.
The Supreme Judicial court OF
Maine in recent advisory opinion
, relative to a referendum on the So
J called prohibitory amendment stated
with admirable clearness and force
that Federal Constitutional amend
ment proposed by Congress for rati-
fication by the State Legislature can
not be submitted to referendum vote
of the people of the State.
) Nor is there any serious reason for
such a vote in the case Of the suf-
: frage amendment. The Referendum
is a very important and valuable
safeguard against possible invasion
of the rights of the people by unwise
acts of Legislature. But it il Diff
ficult to imagine how the granting Of
suffrage to women can be In any
sense an invasion Of anybodys
rights. 1t is true that some conser-
vative women shrink from the re-
sponsibility Of suffrage, but in the
event Of the adoption Of the amend
ment, no compulsion will be- exer.
cised upon them. They will not be
required to vote unless they wish to
do so.
On the other hand, many women
do desire the privilege Of suffrage;
many others are willing to accept
the responsibility. if it is placed upon
them. With equal suffrage fact in
the progressive nations Of the Old
World, and in many states Of the
Union. with special sessions Of State
Legislatures being called for the
ratification of this amendment, with
ratification accomplished in eighteen
of the more progressive and popu-
lous states Of the Union and denied
in only three Of the states that have
thus far voted, every remaining State
Legislature ought promptly to act
upon the proposed Federal amend.
ment so that, II the verdict Of the
requisite thirty-six states be favora.
4 BILE. those women who are willing to
exercise the right Of suffrage may