Evening journal., 1919-01-28
SUFFRAGE FLEA BY
MIS-. VICTORDUPONT
Addresses Both Branches
of Legislature in Be-
hall Of Cause
WANT ENDORSING
RESOLUTION PASSED
stan Correspondent.

DOVER, Del. Jan. 2s.-NIrs. Victor du-
Pont OF Wilmington, yesterday after
noon addressed the members Of the Sem
ate and House In advocacy OF equal
suffrage for women and urging that the
Legislature adopt a resolution calling
on Senators Salisbury and Wolcott to
vote for the Susan B. Anthony suffrage
amendment to the Federal Constitution.
In the course Of her address, Mrs. du-
pont said
women Suffrage has so far passed
the stage Of being a question OF wheth-
eT some women want TO yOte-and s0m9
do not--that 10 is merely a waste Of
time TO consider il from that point Of
view. Rather Il Is a question OF prin-
ciple and democracy--one OF enlightened
development, which has created an at
titude Of political expediency, which
today is receiving the thoughtful con-
sideration OF men OF all parties.
THE majority Of men Of today act
lively prominent In the conduct Of az
fairs, are in favor Of woman suffrage; !;
not only has It the support Of the ex-
ecutive and his cabinet, but 10 has an
immense majority back Of II In Con-
gress-lacking but one vote Of the nee
essary tvo-thirds OF both houses OF
Congress % pass an amendment en-
frsnchislng women.
1T Is characteristic OF all great men
that they hold their minds open TO con-
viction and change. President Wilson
himself changes his mind occasionally.
A man who is obstinate 10 the verge
of pig-headedness doesn't get anywhere
lit is always the receptive and adapt
I've man who arrives In the last few
years many representative men have
changed their attitude toward woman
suffrage Some who have been for
years opposing IL have come round 10
its support. There must be a reason
for this change, and II Is one that Is
not diflcult to ind-they realize they
are against a change Of public senti-
ment and opinion which. as Abraham
Lincoln said, can change government
just so much,' and Il may be assumed
that some Of them are voting for IT, |
not because they love woman suffrage |
MORE. but because they love loss Of |
reelection LESS.
ABOUT two years ago a member OF /
the Delaware Legislature acknowledged |
TO me that the principle OF woman suf- /
frage was one OF reason and Justice, but |
that he himself could not vote for It /
because he was a Democrat-he said |
that II he were a Republican he would !
do so. HIS explanation was that II 7
the colored women Of Delaware were /
given the vote il would throw Della |
ware into the Republican ranks and he
considered that he was Justified In
sacrificing principle TO party cOnsldera-
fions. The colored women's vote In
Delaware Is a 'boogie' that has been
worked for all Il is worth and a good
deal more.
''The colored women number but one
seventh OF the women OF Delaware, the
remaining slx-sevenths OF them being |
white. and In view Of the result OF the /
election last November, II would ap-
pear that the colored women's vote
,ould be safely eliminated as a decisive
actor.
"There have been many explanations
Il the result OF the election; some or
hem it Is TO be hoped are not true, (
DIT they reflect very little credit upon 9
lther Democrats or Republicans But I
L least Il cannot be claimed that the I
,olored women's vote was responsible
or the Republican victory. Suffragists !
ire within one vote OF their present \
zoal-the passing OF the Federal amend {
ment granting enfranchisement to won- 7
It behooves them TO leave no y
stone unturned. no appeal untried that .
may hold a possibility Of winning that :
vote. 4
"Schooled In delay and disappont- {
ment as the older women suffragists
are. yet Il Is hard. with such a majority ,
in Congress, TO lose the amendment :
by the vote OF one Senator, when the
chances are 10 to 4 that he Will endorse
woman suffrage before he comes up for
reelection. This statement does not
apply TO any individual Senator but
means any one OF the 80 who are now
opposing the measure.
"Sunragists are hoping that the Del j