The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-16
MAY INDUCE GOVERNOR
 10 CALL SESSION
Overwhelming Desire of People for Special Session May Change Governors Former Decision. WOMEN'S VOTE
 NEEDED NOW Miss Ruutz Rees Urges Suffragists to Write to
 Governor.

In a letter to The Tirnes-Farmer, Miss Caroline Ruutz Rees, chairman of the Fairfield County Suffrage asso- inent state suffrage leaders, sends out appeal to the suffragists of the state urging them to communicate their sentiments to Governor Hol- comb regarding the calling of q special session of the Legislature for the ratification of the amendment She believes the Governor would see the necessity of a special session if he were told so by the people them selves. The letter follows:
 To The Editor of The Bridgeport
 Times:
 Tue Governor has expressed his in tention not to call an extra session of the legislature to vote upon the rat ification of the Constitutional Suffrage Amendment. Is 1t probable that any thing can be done to change this de- cision? It is likely that an over whelning desire of the people of the State to have the special session HOO4u AlolGe Ill6 NTUNeThOf 10 CnanSe his mind. On the highest ground the Governors sense of stewardship and many acts have made this sense of stewardship patent-would lead him to follow the wish of the people of the State. Of course we suffragtsts believe that the people of the state as a whole would desire the special session if the matter were thoroughly understood. We know positively that at least 100000 Con- necticut women desire the suffrage and therefore presumably would be in favor of the special session. The only reason the Governor does not believe this is that he has not been told so by the people themselves. Too many suffragists are not awake to the sttuatLon-they should feel sure that every opinion is of moment and they should take the trouble to cornmunf- cate that opinion to Governor Hcl- comb.
 On a lower ground. if the Governor were persuaded that his Republican constituents felt that the act of a Republican Governor in refusing to call a special session would. in the coming campaign, damage his party or at least give a convenient weapon to its adversaries, he would no doubt reel opI3ged to call the special SeS- sion. Suffra gists who are also Re publicans have therefore Q positive duty to inform the Governor of their sentiments. It is true that there is in our State small group of Republi- cans who feel that the Suffrage, ques- ton can be safely neglected without damage at least to State politics, but this is not the opinion of the ma jority of Republicans in the State. Even if it were true of State politics, there can be no doubt whatever that the question of women's vote must be a large factor in national politics Republican suffragists may feel suggestions of this sort out of place coming from one who Is not of their number and may fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts" but an un- enfranchised suffra gist is a suffragist first and a party woman second, if only on the principle of First catch your hare, then cook him.
 All suffragists then, and in particu- Jar all voters who are suffragists should hasten to write and express their views to the Governor, the soon- CT thef better.
 CAROLINE RUUTz REFS.