The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1920-07-14
WOl11en Look 40
Suffrage Records
HARDING EVASIVE UNTIL 1918;
BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CANDI-
DATES FOR SUFFRAGE NOW.

Varied, evas1ye and noncommlttal
until the fall of 1918, when on Oct /,
he cast his first vote for the 10Th
amendment, . is the summing up of the
suffrage record of Senator w. G.
Harding by the legislative department
of the National Woman's party, in a
statement issued Saturday comparing
the two presidential candidates in their
relation to suffrage history.
Governor j. NJ Cox it is explain
ed, chad left congress when the nation
al woman's party was organized in
1913. Consequently his part in the
passage of the amendment could not
be SO active since. he had no vote to
cast. But his influence is gaining the
senatorial votes of his state and in
legislative measures was sought. Since
then he has shown favorable attitude
and deputations have always been as
sured of his support of the amend
ment.
Both Favorable Since Nomination.
"Since their nomination, both candi-
dates have taken a stand favoring
suffrage
The card index carefully kept at
suffrage headquarters shows that on
June "a, 1915, when the first deputa-
tion from the woman's party, then the
Congressional Union for Woman Suf-
frage, called on Senator Harding, he
said:
believing as / do in political par
ties, had much rather that the party
to which belong should in its confer
ences make a declaration than to as
sumo leadership or take an individu-
al position on the question"
On JAN 20, 1916, he said he did not
see how he "could vote for suffrage
and against prohibition" He thought
then he would vote against the amend
ment.
1915 keynote Speech Silent on It.
In June, 1916, after consideration of
requests to mention suffrage in the
keynote speech delivered by him at the
republican national convention, it is
recorded: "The speech was made with
no mention of suffrage"
Exactly three years before, and af-
ter five deputations had visited the
White House, President Wilson told
the suffragists he was deeply inter
estedp but unable to start anything, y
since he was only "the spokesman of
his party"
By 1917, however Senator Harding's S
views began to change.
Son April 6, it is noted on his card,
she declared himself favorable to the
anne in1ent. But it did not appear to
him as a war measure.
son July 19 of the same year he said
he did not approve of jailing the suf-
fragists, that the president could put
the measure through if he would and
that he might vote for the amendment
"On Aug. q 1917, he said he could
not do anything to support the amend
ment, but he sympathized with those
working for it.
Democracy Seen Too Swift.
February 18, 1918, he said he de
precated too rapid advance of de
mocracy and consequently would hold
back on woman's suffrage
''But on Oct. /, 1918, Senator Hard
ing had emerged from the mist of non
committal atmosphere and voted for
the amendment He also voted for il
in February and in June of the next
year, when it passed congress.
"Since his nomination, he has refus-
ed to take decisive stand to enforce
final ratification when interviewed by
delegation of the woman's party.
dissatisfaction was also the result
of the non-committal statements giver
out following conference between
Senator Harding and Governor Glenn
ent, relative to calling special ses-
sion in Vermont to ratify the amend.
n1put