The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-07-13
SUFFRAGE APPEAL
lOSES|NvERMONT
Governor Refuses TO Gail a
Special Session.
'aVORS REFERENDUM VOTE
9eciares Supreme Courts View of
5aited States Constitution Threat
ems Free Government.

&SECiafeS supreme Courts View of
nited States Constitution Threat
ems Free Government.
Rutland, Vt, July Ex-Governor
Pefeival ". Clement issued procla-
nation refusing to call the legislature
IN special session to make possible
ratification of the federal amendment
for woman suffrage
1he governors proclamation follows
ag0nference he held at Washington
eently with Senator Harding, at
N4s5ch it is understood the RepubIi-
fans nominee for president discussed
nifh him the possibility of having rati-
3saon completed by the Republican
stature of Vermont.
II giving his reasons for refusing
AEn to call a special session Cover
Ra Element said the proposed amend
ssH clearly invadeS the constitution
ermont; that the present legisla-
3yI1 was elected before the question
D1'htifying the federal amendment
it, Arisen, and the people of the state
had no opportunity to expres ss
aselves on the issue. The gov
elIzssr proposed the matter be taken
ay the next legislature, and urged
candidates for election be requir-
ed%fD declare themselves on it.
he proclamation said in part:
THE provisions for changes in the
federal constitution to which we Yer
Hsenters are loyal subscribers, are in
conflict with those laid down in the
constitution of Vermont. The federal
Sossfitution provides proposals for
sallAnge therein shall, If favorable ac-
su is taken thereon by the congress,
he Submitted to the legislatures of the
several states for their action, and the
ssIpreme court of the United States
Iafas IN a recent decision declared:
sgThe referendum provisions of state
cohstitutions and statutes cannot be
applied consistently with the consti-
nfkion of the United States, in the
mfification or rejection of amend
nlents to it.
ssT'his decision leaves the people at
the mercy of any group of men, who
n.ar lobby a proposal for change the
federal constitution through congress
and then through the legislatures of
the states
tIn the face of this situation, | am
: Sked to call the legislature of Yer
naont into extraordinary session, not
for the purpose of debating, consider
ss1g. deIiberaSng on the question at is
sale. but with majority of Its mem
80 pledged beforehand and In pri-
Elfe. as understand II. to ratify the
proposed amendment.
IF the people of Vermont. In ac-
cepting place in the Union OF states,
Inadvertently lost in whole or In pa1
the right of government and con-
ferred It on a legislature, there is all
the more reason why a legislature
should not pass upon a question which
has arisen since their election ana
upon which their constituents nave
had no opportunity to express them
selves
1--WE must now either remodel our
constitution to conform with the man
date or the supreme Coulb VI SAA0 C~
ed States, or the constitution OF the
United States must be amended to
nrovide for a referendum to the free
men of the several states before
amendments to that constitution be-
come effective. AS it stands and is
interpreted by the supreme court, the
federal constitution threatens the
foundation of free popular govern
ment"
The seventeenth amendment TO the
constitution, he said, had been loooled
through congress and state leglsia-
lures by federal agents, and the eigh-
teenth amendment had been. forced
through by powerful and irresponsl-
ble organizations, operating through
paid agents with unlimited funds.
TT is now proposed to force through
the nineteenth amendment for woman
suffrage in ehe same manner ana also
without the sanction of the freemen'
.I have been asked to overlook these
considerations as a matter OF party
expediency, but this is a matter OF
principle, not expediency, and the par
ty that invades a well-establlsheo
principle of popular government VIII
cI1ffar I'm the end.