New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-20
Eleventh-Hour Amendment
to Constitution Is Being
Considered by Committee
Some to Change Votes
Certain Members Who Were
Against Women Before
Said to Have Seen Light

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-An eleventh
hour amendment to the Constitution
providing for woman suffrage is being
considered by the Senate Committee on
Woman Suffrage. What is believed to
be more satisfactory wording than
that Of the Susan B. Anthony amend
ment' was offered yesterday by Senator
Gay, of Louisiana, and it is expected
that Senator Jones, of New Mexico,
will introduce another version to-mor-
row
Since the woman suffrage amend
mcnt was killed IN the Senate on Feb
ruary 10 something has happened to
make several Senators who then voted
against it try to back water Senator
Jones, Of Washington, insisted upon re-
introducing the amendment in its for
mer wording on February II. 1t was
said at the time that Senator Jones, of
New Mexico, chairman of the Woman
Suffrage Committee. refused to bring
that amendment up again, because
there was not time to consider it, and
none Of the other Democrats on the
committee would carry the matter over
his head. Senator Jones, of Washing
ton, ranking Republican member of the
committee, acted Independently in or
der to keep the measure before the
committee, he said
Yesterday Senator Gay, of Louisiana,
introduced another Joint resolution on
woman suffrage. which was referred to
the committee. Senator Gay has an
nounced that personally he favors
woman suffrage, but that his state
voted the matter down and he could
not favor the measure. He voted mo-
February 10.
Senator Gays resolution and that
previously voted upon differ in that
the new version does away with the
enabling clause and gives the several
states the right to enforce its pro-
visions.
Section 1 of the resolution reads the
same:
The rights of citizens of the United
States TO vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by
any state on account of sex"
Section two of the resolution passed
by the House of Representatives Jan
uary 10, 1918, and reintroduced by
senator Jones, of Washington, last
Monday says
Congress shall have power, by ap-
propriate legislation. to enforce the
provisions of this article"
In the resolution introduced by Sem
ator Gay. it is changed to: That the
several states shall have the exclusive
right to enact appropriate legislation
10 enforce the provisions of this ar
It is understood that if Senator
Jones, OF New Mexico, introduces an
other resolution tomorrow it will con-
tam more comprehensive provision
for the rights of states to enforce the
matter
Many suffragists see compromise
with the states rights" directors in
these new versions Of the suffrage
amendment. Senator Jones. of New
Mexico, said to-day that several of
the Senator's VINO voted against the
measure might vote for it if it were
worded IN such a way that no state
would have to alter its constitution
70 conform to it. The new resolution
would give to women the same voting
.S"lS AAa- men nave IN the several
states. according to the Senator,
whereas the Susan B. Anthony" YER
SION would guarantee them the pro-
lection of the Federal government
against the action of any state. a
guarantee male voters do not have.
Although the resolution introduced
b. Senator GAY insures the vote that
was lacking for the passage of the
amendment February 10. it is not
known whether some of the lukewarm
votes cast for the amendment at that
tine can be held. Suffragists said
to-day that they felt the measure
could be pushed through the House of
Representatives, but were not sure
as to the stand Of some OF the Sena-
,ors who previously supported il.