The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-05
Women Get Ballot too Late to Vote for
Next President; States Must Ratify Act
Would Take Twenty-Five
Special Sessions to
Ratify in Time
by MARGUERITE EDWARDS


June. 1919. seems destined to put
the vote into the hands of American
women-just too late to make IL of
much effect in the national elections
of November. 1920.
WHY?
Because. TO become effective, tho
suffrage amendment 10 the constitu.
ton must be ratified by. 80 state
legislatures.
The last biennial session OF the
majority of state legislatures con-
vened In January, 1919, and adjourn
ed n few weeks later--to meet no
more until January. 1o2i--one month
too late TO let the ladies in on choos-
ing the next president.
In order TO ratify the amendment
in time for the 1920 elections. at
least 25 state governors would have
70 summon the legislatures In special
session.
The chances are that that will
NOT be done
As n result. the women in the
20 states already enjoying full or
presidential suffrage as n result of
state action, will be tho only ones to
participate in the next national cleo
lions. while their sisters who have
Just attained the vote by federal
amendment-keep on waiting pa.
tiently.
Five states, Louisiana. Kentucky,
Maryland. Mississippi and Virginia,
hold legislative sessions in 1920. and
might be expected 10 give five ratify-
ing votes--except that they are all
part OF the solid South" the strong.
hold OF anti.suffrage northumberland
cannot reasonably be counted on to
indorse the amendment.
Six other states, Georgia, Massa-
chusetts. New Jersey. New York,
Rhode Island and South Carolina.
hold annual instead of biennial iegis-
lative sessions and so might possibly
add six votes OF ratification. But.
even should the five Southern states
all ratify the suffrage amendment,
their total OF IL votes would still
leave rs state Publications needed TO
complete the &c required.
And all OF the 20 would have TO be
summoned In special session TO votel
Therefore the old.time politicians
who count on Influence" and con.
troll" and "tied.up" votes will not
have 10 lie awake nights worrying
over the unknown quantity OF the
women's vote THIS election.
At the same time. while suffra-
gists will be unable 10 take fun ad.
vantage OF their new franchise priv
ilege In November, 1920. the vote OF
women will be OF considerable i'm.
portancc in that election.
Fifteen states grant their women
fun suffrage. their total population
1908. 2ss, with total OF 1877 electoral
votes.
Eight other states grant women
presidential suffrage. with approx
mateiy 1000 900 women voters and
% electoral votes. Two more states
give women the vote at presiden-
tisl primaries.
Tho grand total of women who
may freely approach the 1920 ballot
boxes. independent OF the federal
amendment--arc I'm number, 10000.
900. controlling 263 electoral votes
and representing IS states OF the
union.
The suffrage amendment which
win be finally accepted by congress
and the senate in 1919 was drafted
by Susan Il. Anthony in 1875. and
is known as the Anthony amend
mcnt.
1t was first introduced in the sen.
ate in 1873 by Sargent. of California.
Thirty times since IL has been intro
duced. and defeated or tabled
The United States senate has pass.
ed on, suffrage four times. In 1887
sus4rak received l6 ayes and "a
a.oes; in To- ~ received 80 ayes and
30 noes: in october. 1918. the vote
was 81 ayes. 80 noes; and February
IL. 1919. the vote was 55 for and 2s
Misunderstanding but one vote OF
passage.