Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-06

acts Independently of the other states.
That they act co-ordinately and not
subordinately and together form the
Union. And hence il Is repngnant to
our present form of government To permit
one State to dictate to another State how
it shall decide its local questions.
POWER OF STATES.
"The Supreme Court of the United
| States has likewise decided that III Is
within the power of the State TO withhold
the right of suffrage from women. Ihis
tribunal holds that such law - not n
bill of attainder, does not violate the
constitutional guarantee OF republican
form of government; IS not deprlvinR one
of property, or property rights, without
due process Of law; is not in violation OF
the rights of equal privileges and Inn
munlties, nor Is IT III deprivation oi the
attributes of citizenship.
"The very foundation of our govern
ment, as witnessed by present inter
national struggles, is based upon man s
political duty and military obligation,
coupled with his physical power and
ability to enforce it, at the peril OF hls
life when called upon to do SO. 1T Is
his consent and ability to perform this
duty and obligation which gives HIM the
right to vote. This was intended IN
adopting our form of government NO
such duty or corresponding obligation
is required of women, although citizens
enjoying the same protection, II not
more, than men.
True, they may, in time OF war. be-
come a nurse, and perform other volln-
tary services ordinarily required OF females
as "A class. but they arc only such duties
as naturally fall To their share OF the
responsibilities of life. To say that they
shall be compelled to perform consenp-
| tive service and 20 forward and stand on
the firing line and defend the governments
against their will and at the peril OF their
life. is not supported by intelligent reason
ing. They may, through necessity, be
compelled during strenuous times to
perform extraordinary services and do
work which men have heretofore done,
involving hardships while he is at war,
but il is for their sclf-presorvation during
his absence, involves no political or mill
tarv obligation. and is not compulsory,
, at the risk of their lives, as Is the man
datory and conscrlptive duty be IS per
, forming at the front,
'Savs Hon Ithhu Root. Without
, the right Of local sclf-govemment We
| should lose the letter part Of our liberty
There is nothing more essentially and
vitally local to community than the
Z way in which it shall select the officers
who arc to govern il Any external power
/ which can control that, can control the
! local government Nothing ~ more clear
{ in the Constitution than that i y
! matter Of purely local concern. II you
destroy that free adjustment you will
destroy the whole system and ultimately
Z break up the Union
"Undcr this proposed amendment the
r Legislatures Of States with a small popua-
\ tion have as much power TO say who shall
: vote in the States Of larger population
: as do the legislative bodies Of the larger
1 States For instance. the Legislatures
1 | of Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and
Idaho have just four times much power
to saw who shall vote in New York as the
Icaislature OF New York has, State
larger than all four Of them.
: go these are the suflragist principles
/ | which We arc asked 10 adopt III face Of
1 the decision Of the Supreme Court OF the
: United states, as late as June 8 l9is,
: | (Hammcr vs.. Dagenhart, 24T Z. 3 275l,
| | when held. The powers az the States
: 10 regulate their purely internal affairs
{ bv such laws as may seem wise 70 the
4 local authority is inherent and has never
: been surrendered 70 the national govern
ment.
: The Supreme Court Of the United
! States has held United States " Anthony,
p IL Blatch 2O0l that the granting OF the
: franchise has always hccn regarded In
? the practice of nations rs matter Of
] | expcdicncc and not an inherent right.
That il Is granted by the State on q
consideration az what is most for the
/ interest of tho State. That it cannot be
: regarded as the natural right Of the IN
r diyidt.al. because IL docs not exist for his
! Co. ID or 1f Hp tot
: IF the granting Of suffrage is for the
? | most good to the State, then any STEP
? | which tends to weaken the foundation on
I | security Of the government. that Is, sub
: gtitutiug woman power for man power
{ cannot be for the hest interest of the
2 State. And any departure from this
: present order Of things, which tends tC
b create discord IN the home, and promote
c sex antagonism, generally, cannot well hc
argued 70 lie for the good Of the State
n Then, will : he granting Of suffrage e
S women make the government stronger.
4 Certainly not, because it will undoubtedly
: weaken the very basis OF government
i namely. the male physical force and maf
c power standing back OF IT,
In prescribing the duties of men anC
{ women, under divine law, it fell to th,
b lot of men 10 become protectors and thc
, right was given 10 women To he protected
n bv them Their relative duties imply
e cooperation In government and moi
Il opposition and antagonism to each other
!. So long as women remain m non
> partisan, cooperative and advisory posi-
e tions to men, as contemplated by diyln,
Y Law, they are the greatest force for gOOC
' on the facc-of the earth. and they usually
Ie get what they want. bit make them polit
J. ical partisans and array them agains
re men. and you weaken their position II
n life You weaken that power which,
t? preserved TO them, will best serve th
s. State.
10 ''Woman's suffrage is fundamental.
ID wrong because:
Women owe no political or mIitar
a. duty TO their government, like mon
:: which they can be compelled 70 perform
u ''i3y their enfranchiscment they ar
y being invested with political authorit
il and power inconsistent with their publ
sc duty. and physical ability 70 cnforc
Of and defend, which is illogical, unwisc m
is dangerous.
n. When cnfranchised they can vot
a. and legislatc in favor of law whic
they cannot effectively enforce no
as successfully defend.
Sc "ShaIl we preserve the tenets of on
at American form of government, which "
n love so dearly, and continue to be sten
" patriotic, liberty-lovlng, ehiyalrous, mani
~ men, seeing our duty as God intended i
Al o-.4 rs irtarrxafad and cxta hlisbad Il