Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-08
The South md Suffrage

a LTIIOUGH the Southern vote in the
1 House and Senate was far from unit
in its opposition to the Susan g. Anthony
amendment cnfranchising the women of the
country, the South has been charged with
responsibility for the long delay in passing
this amendment along TO the States for rati-
fication. 1t is of no use. now that the amend
ment has been submitted, to fight over the
attitude of those who stood for two genera
lions in the way Of this revolutionary change
in our system of government. 1t is the ac-
ton OF the future, and not that Of the past,
which must engage the attention of the ma
ton.
The most unanswerabe question which the
interests. for and against this amendment.
are facing is the attitude of the South on the
issue Of ratification. If that section remains
solid or approximately solid in its opposition,
two more generations may pass before the
American women, as body, will be given
the privilege of the ballot Only one more
than one-fourth of the forty-eight States or
thirteen in all. is needed to defeat the rath-
cation of this amendment, and this means
that any one section that arrays itself UNI
alterably against such measure as that now
proposed can almost by its own vote defeat
changes in the Federal Constitution.
There is no ground for the assumption that
tho South Will stand as unit on this ques
ton, Tennessee already has broken away
from tho Southern sisterhood 1t has pro-
nounced itself in favor Of equal suffrage.
Arkansas is leaning strongly in the same d.
rection. as is Kentucky. On the other hand,
Texas has just defeated local suffrage
measure. Louisiana has done the same thing.
1t is not possible, therefore. 10 be at all sure
how the South will line up any more than it
is possible TO forecast the attitude OF New
England. a section which for the time. is as
bitterly hostile TO equal suffrage as the South
and perhaps more So
The real question is, however, whether or
not the South would be justified in throwing
itself i'll the way of ratification. and by al
lance with New England make that ratifica-
ton impossible. The reply which this news
paper unhesitatingly makes is that the South
would be absolutely JUSTIFIED. This section
owes il TO itself to keep its politics in the
hanos OIL the white man. 1t has learned this
from bitter experience. The Acknowledgement
OF millions Of negro women in the South
~'ould put the South back where it was in
the dark days Of reconstruction. 1t is the
South's privilege. and should be the South's
determination TO use every resource at its
command TO prevent any other group OF
States from fixing the qualifications of it's
electorate.
If the South. by defeating this amendment
should defeat womans suffrage throughout
the nation. totally different question would
be presented But the South cannot do that
NO Nlrslhlan may nave voice in New Works
decision for against the Acknowledgement
of its women. That State has 1t in its power
10 grant voting privileges 10 its ten-year-old
boys il il chooses. Each individual State
may act on its own convictions in this mat
ter without interference from any outside
source
But the South has the right 10 resist any
dictation from any other section, or all other
sections. OF the country 20 the qualifca-
n
the Anthony amendment is direct challenge
10 IT, and if the South is to preserve it's own
institutions, it should stand uncompromi.-
ingly against ratification OF this measure.