Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-06
STATE MAY BE FIRST /.
TO RATIFY SUFFRAGE
Mary lingham, Women's Leader,
Says Legislators Are Eager
to Beat Illinois

Pennsylvania stands good chance OF
beating Illinois in the race to ratify the
suffrage amendment.
Miss Mary II. Ingham, chairman of
the Pennsylvania branch of the Ma
tional Womans party, who returned
from Harrisburg today, says the Legis-
lature is eager to give Pennsylvania
the record
Miss Ingham and Mrs. Lawrence
Lewis have been in Harrisburg since
Monday, talking with senators and rep
resentativeS More than 100 have been
interviewed. and most of them ex-
pressed desire to vote Immediately for
ratification.
The ratification resolution will be in
troduced in the Senate early next week,
Miss lngham said. She did not know
who would sponsor it.
The members of the legislature"
said Miss 1ngham, 'do not want to see
any other state ratify the amendment
ahead of the great Republican state of
Pennsylvania. Giving the vote to wom
en- is part of the Republican policy, and
for that reason the Legislature feels
that this state should set the pace.
''The fact that 13,00O, 900 women in
i.other states will vote for president next
year, makes many of the members Of the
Legislature feel that PENNSYLVANIA
should give her women the chance to
take part in that election. One mem
Der of the house told us that the situa-
! tion with women of other states voting
makes him feel as if the other man $
wife is running things
1T is a real responsibility for Penn
sylvania. Illinois is trying to be the
| first to ratify. Pennsylvania will be at
disadvantage at the next Republican
convention. unless something is done for
Pennsylvania women. Illinois with her
| women voters will have larger delega
tion at the convention than Pennsyl-
vania, because the delegates are based
on the number of voters at the last elcc-
ton, and Illinois women voted"
Governor Sproul announced he would
recommend to the Legislature prompt
ratification of the amendment. He will
| do so just as soon as he receives official
notification from Washington that the
equal suffrage amendment has passed the
| Senate.
''1 would be very grateful and proud"
said the Governor. "if PENNSYLVANIA
should prove to be the first state to
ratify the amendment. | believe we
must eventually ratify it if we are to
continue in the forefront of affairs"
Ratification of the amendment is
likely to be a live issue in the closing
weeks of the present legislative session.
Suffrage workers of all persuasions
have been at Harrisburg during the last
few days. Miss Eliza Armstrong, legis-
lative leader of the ants. has been here
attacking the claims of both sides.
Il discussed the matter with Senator
| Penrose and he seems to be against it,
| Also / discussed the matter with Sena
tor Crow yesterday. If the national
leaders of the Republican party are
| interested in having Pennsylvania ratify
the suffrage amendment at this session,
l have not been so informed. Senator
Crow, as state chairman, was asked to
select some Pennsylvania woman to at
tend the national committee Of Repub-
lican women. and he has named Mrs.
Barclay Warburton, of Philadelphia.
'If the rest of the country adopts suf-
frage l will regret if Pennsylvania does
not do so. 1t is the spirit of the times.
1t has splendid opportunity to be the
| first state to act y