Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-06
Suffrage Battle Transferred to the State, +.


a CTlON Of the Senate in adopting the
1 Susan B. Anthony suffrage resolution
with two votes to spare furnished no sur
prise to the country, as advance information
already had been given that the proponents
OF the resolution had secured the promise
from new Senators OF the two additional
votes needed to pass it, strenuous effort
will now be made to secure ratification OF the
amendment by the Legislatures Of two-thirds
OF the States in time for the newly en-
franchised element to participate in the next
presidential election.
In the submission of the amendment to
the States for ratification, it is uncertain as
to the outcome. Popular sentiment in all OF
the States OF the South and in most of the
New England States is undoubtedly opposed
to ratification but the refusal of Congress
TO authorize submission OF the proposed
article TO popular State conventions instead
OF State Legislatures removes from the people
of the States, respectively, the right to voice
directly their wishes to ratification That
the supporters OF the amendment in Congress
doubted its success before the people was
proven by their action in rejecting the propo-
sition to submit it to popular State conyen-
tons Moreover, the votes OF the two Texas
Senator'S in resisting the wishes of their
state after the people there had by popular
ballot rejected equal suffrage by State action,
shows that so-called Representatives" are not
always responsive to the wishes OF their con-
stituents. preferrng to vote their own con-
Tictions where they clash
Needless 10 say, the Legislatures OF not
few OF the States Of the Union have shown
that they are just as little regardful of the
wishes Of those whom they were elected to
represent as have certain members of Con-
gress Where there has been no weakening
OF popular sentiment in some of the States
in support of State rights, this sentiment
has been VIGOROUSLY Houted by their Legisla-
lures IN numerous concessions they have
made to the tendency to Federal invasion
Of these rights, and it is in the belief that
this policy will be continued that proponents
of the amendment base their hopes OF its
speedy ratification. Already they are citing
the action OF Southern States in ratifving the
Federal prohibition amendment as proof that
there is no more vital principle of State
rights involved in the extension of Fedora!
control over suffrage than was surrendered
on this proposition. There is a distinction
with difference, but that is not to say that
the principle OF State rights was not VIC
lated in the stronghold OF its friends when
control over the police power OF the States
was abandoned to the Federal government.
But because unrepresen tative Legislatures
surrendered this control il by no neane
)ustlhes the further sacrifice Of the sole re-
ma ming vestige OF State rights-control OF
the source whence all power Is derived popu-
lar suffrage. The ballot is the only weapon
py which the State may make its potential
power effective in public affairs. and II the
use OF TINS ballot is dictated by outside force
IL ceases to be self-governing political
entity within the meaning OF the compact
pE winch the Federal Union was established