Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-15
NATIONAL "ANT|S"
HAVE EYES ON della WARE
Mary G. Kilbreth, President, Is
sues a Statement Giving Their
Point Of View.

Every Evening has received the follow
ing from Mary G. kilbreth OF New York,
president of the National Association
Opposed TO Woman Suffrage, under the
caption:
The Vote Of Delaware Cannot Garry
the Suffrage Amendment"
In the most improbable event that Della
ware, as we'll rs Washington ratifies the
Federal Suffrage Amendment; and if
West Virginia lin spite Of the unseating of
State senator upon the fimsiest of
grounds cau he legally counted. the people
OF Ohio cannot be deprived of their right
to vote by referendum upon the amend
ment in November.
Until they have so voted. the State of
Ohio has not cast her vote. Without Ohio,
West Virginia, Washington and Delaware
only make 35-one short of the necessary
number.
We refuse to assume that the Secretary
of State OF the United States will dare 10
issue q proclamation In face of the decision
of the Supreme Court of Ohio upholding
this referendum and directing that the
question be voted on in November.
We decline TO assume in advance that
any such high handed proceeding will be
adopted 1t would be snap Judgment OF
the worst, kind, worse. indeed. than the
unseating of the West Virginia State
senator.
We are conscious of the prevailing
hvsteria, but even hysteria has its limits
We are conscious of the effort to avoid all
sober discussion of the radical constitu-
tional change involved, upon the false
ground that the party which does the
most TO Jam this amendment through
without discussion will corral the women's
vote In November. This was q mighty
poor compliment to the women as voters,
anyhow
But that attempt TO avoid discussion
OF this force bill on its merits has now for
tunately broken down.
Our reports from Delaware are par
ticularly encouraging in this The dis !
cussion there takes the form OF debating: |
% Whether Delaware should cede to |
the Federal government her power over |
suffrage.
% Whether she should indirectly |
amend her State constitution without the |
referendum required therein.
81 Whether she should harken' TO |
dgniffed protest not to en-
force suffrage upon Maryland's people
against their will.
(4) Whether the reserve power OF the
in violation of the home rule clan of the
tenth article of the Bill of Rights.
II looks as # the Legislature Of Della
war; was going TO pass on the merits Of the
1ue4t ion.
E~ery day makes US more confident
hat Delaware will assert her dignity as
state; that she viii refused to cede away
her OWN state power over suffrage or
orce suffrage upon unwilling States by
eiecting the amendment.
National Association Opposed TO Woman
Suffrage,
Mary G. Kilbreth, President.
New York City, March l3, 1920.
EXPECT A FIGHT.
Mrs. Florence Bayard Hilles, state
of the National Woman's
'arty, IN commenting on the statement,
aid: I'VE do not expect TO win in Del
ware without a fight but we nave every
eason TO feel confident that the state will
atify the amendment We do not feel
hat the state is surrendering any Of her
lghts. In voting on the amendment, Del
ware will be doing exactly what she has
one eighteen times before. The proceed
re for amending the Federal Constitution
as been the same from the beginning and
not subject to any change or revision
y any of the states"
This question is not new one, it !
as been before the country for over
.venty years." Mrs. Hilles continued. /,
We are confident that this state will
atify the amendment The platforms of ,
Il the national parties indorsed equal :
lffrage in 1916 and the final adoption !
the amendment is but logical
Mrs. Hilles stated that the program !
, be followed after the convening Of the j
legislature has been practically complete !
he measure that will be introduced has {
cen drawn and will be sponsored Oh the /,
Dor OF the Senate by Senator John Nj q
Talker, Of Hockessin. and in the House by +,
representative Walter II. Hart of Town {
nd I