Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-18
JUDGE GRAY SEES
Continued from page !

ri know how readily the skiIlfuI advo-
Gates of this measure point to the fact
that Negro suffrage WAS established by
such An amendment. but that amendment
grew out Of the Civil War, which for four
years had devastated and convulsed the
whole nation, and WIS the result Of a
political and social crisis that could only
be dealt with in that way. II was under
the compulsion of the circumstances
attending that great cataclysm that the
right of each State to control its own
electorate was for the timo disregarded =
a right which in all our history, both
before and since the tempest of the Civil
War, has been regarded as sacred
Surely the suffrage advocates have no
cause to complain Of this wise conscrva-
tion OF the rights Of the States, touching
this fundamental question. They have
seen one State after another voluntarily
exercising this right in orderly and CON
stitutional manner and conferring the
franchise upon women. Sometimes, it is
true, complaints have been made-as in
the great State Of New York, in its
recent election on that subjcct-that
unfair means had been used to misrepre-
sent the real sentiment of the State. But
that was the States affair, and not the
nations.
PEOPLE MUST DE CONSULTED.
I'VE demand the same right here in
Delaware, that the sentiment Of it's
people should be consulted, and a fnir
expression of their opinion, whether for
or against, will determine the question
Is it Just to deny the people this PRIVILEGE
Those who think with me believe that this
amendment should be rejected by the
Legislature, not because it's individual
members are for or against Woman
Suffrage, but because they are in favor of
upholding the traditional policies Of our
country and the great dual scheme of
government founded by the fathers.
"We have reason TO believe that
majority even of the women Of this
State are opposed TO the ratification of
this amendment. Still more reason have
we TO believe that majority Of the
electorate of the State are so opposed; !;
but whether We are justified, or not,
IN this belief, have we not right To
demand that Legislature that has
received no mandate from the people
on this subject shall not at this cxtranr-
dinary session forestall the peoples
right 10 pass upon SO momcntous
question.
mo member Of the Legislature is
called upon to declare himself either in
favor of or opposed 10 woman suffrage.
He has only TO recall the glorious history
of our self-governed commonwealth, and
renew his faith IN government Of the
people, by the people and for the people.
WOULD BREAK STATES roIIcY IN
HISTORY.
Surely our friends who are so clamor-
-.
at this extraordinary and unlocked for
session can possess their souls in patience
for awhile, in order that the orderly pro-
cess of popular government may have
time 20 assert itself They are asking this
State to assist IN movement to reverse
the policy Of its whole antecedent history;
nay. TO change the natural and social
relations that affect the basis Of political
power, as IL has existed through all re-
corde history. The women of this country
have no wrongs to redress. other than that
asserted by them in the denial OF par
ticipation in political power Their status
is pre-emnently a privileged one, which
would be derogated from, rather than
increased by the accomplishment of their
demand. Why. then, should the demand
be made in their behalf that th,re can
be no delay or postponement of a decision
IN this matter, In order that justice and
fair play NAV be accorded to the people
OF this State In the settlement OF this
great question.
THE next Legislature may be eleetf
with reference to this issue, but, whether
it is or not, let il provide, or let the mem
bers of this Legislature provide. for refer
endum (which they have ample power to
do), and thus exhibit their own indie
pendence. the dignity of their Office and
their devotion TO the autonomy and
traditions of our proud little common
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