Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-08-08
The Suffrage Amendment.

Congress presents to the States an issue
of the first importance. Its adoption would
change the relations between the States
and the Federal government more pro-
foundly than any Of the changes that have
crept into those relations since the Civil
War; and, as justly said by Judge Peter
in his late address to the Bar Association,
no State in the Union has a larger interest
in the result or would be more injuriously
affected by its adoption than Maryland.
One phase of the subject has not re-
ceived the attention it deserves Those
States which adopted female suffrage have
been permitted to do so without interfer-
ence from the outside. After study of their
own political conditions they concluded
that those conditions would be improved
by giving the ballot to women, and no one
arose to deny their right to determine
the matter for themselves. The move
ment having been successful in majority
Of the States. they Immediately set to
work to force it upon other States whose
political and social conditions differed
more or less radically from their own. re-
CARELESS of public opinion in non-s suffrage
States and Of the effect upon their internal
affairs which its adoption might produce.
Is 1t any more than fair and just that the
non-suffrage States should be permitted
the same degree of self-determination
which the other States have exercised
And what difference can it make to the
suffrage States whether Maryland adopts
it or not 7 They have what they desire. but
continues and the propaganda is wa9ed
from the White House as well as from less
influential sources. Perhaps no stronger
reason to stiffen our opposition can be
found than this effort to force upon us a
change in our suffrage laws which the vast
preponderance Of intelligent opinion in our
State condemns as undesirable and I'M
wise.
1t seems to us quite evident. when the
whole field is surveyed. that the purpose
is to concentrate more and more power in
the Federal government. and by extending
its control over local affairs increase the
dependence Of the States upon the resources
at the command of Congress This process
has been going on for long time. with
doubtful propriety as to both its legality
and its wisdom. 1t would seem to be self
evident that in enlareing the scope and
detail Of the work of Congress, the less
efficient that work is likely to be and the
less satisfactory to those affected by the
local measures. But it is best to leave this
phase Of the subject for future discussion.
We are much more concerned with the
fundamental changes which will result
from the adoption Of the amendment. State
rights. as a political doctrine. is much de-
rided in our day by a certain class of poll
ticians and certain school Of writers upon
political subjects but the student of con-
stitutional government still finds in the
doctrine a substantial barrier to outside
encroachment and defence behind which
to fight for personal rights which the States
alone are competent to protect. In sur
rendering the right to establish the basis
Of suffrage for itself, the State also surren-
ders the guarantee Of republican govern
ment to the States, which the Federal
Constitution contains. In fact, the whole
matter turns upon the question whether it
is ever wise, or even temporarily expedient,
to give up a political right that is embedded
in our system Of government. In our view
it is not. Unless some purpose lay beyond
it, the suggestion Of Federal control of the
suffrage would not have been made. We
know with what purpose the Fifteenth
Amendment was forced upon the country
the hope, namely. of controlling the South
ern States in the interest Of the Republican
party. At this moment irresponsible poll
ticians are urging the ratification of this
nineteenth amendment in the hope OF
securing party success through the support
Of female voters. And time of doubt and
difficulty. when unrest is rampant, and bust
ness Is striving to re-establish stable con-
ditions, is chosen to force upon the people q
fundamental change which requires calm
elaboration and frank. earnest discussion
II is a historical fact that the Federal
Constitution could never have been adopted
except for the common agreement to amend
Il by the first ten amendments. which were
designed to more effectually safeguard the
rights of the States as such. Those pro.
visions have been obscured in the march
of events and in the constant interference
by Congress with matters over which il
had no proper jurisdiction. The adoption
of this amendment would vastly accelerate
the tendency to Congressional usurpGtion
and it is impossible to forecast the conse.
quences of the further concentration Of
political power in Washington.
In this connection il is worthy Of serious
reflection that for years past large interests
that were under the ban Of public criticism
have clamored for exclusive Federal control
Of industries subject to State laws; and the
reason for this demand is the fact that they
would then have but one legislative body
to influence instead Of the separate States
And we have lately seen, in the case Of
the prohibition amendment and the legis-
lation to enforce it. how easy it is to con.
centrate pressure upon the National CAPT.
tol and how readily congressman yield tc
It. The adoption Of the Suffrage Amend.
ment would open another and wider ave.
nue. Of approach to the halls Of Congress
along which faddists and fanatics would
stream to make more COMPOUNDED the con.
fusion that already reigns there.
No political right was ever surrendered
without disaster following sooner or later
1t is not now essential to the progress Of the
nation that such a right should be surren.
dered by those States which prize it and
cherish a reverence for the institutions
established by the fathers Of the Republic