Milford chronicle., 1920-04-02
STATE OF DELAWARE
TO RATTFY SUFFRAGE
GOVERNOR JOHN C. TOWNSEND OFFERS
TO STEP ASIDE In HIS EFFORT TO
AID THE CAUSE.
VOTE IN HOUSE PROBABLE
AS CHRONICLE is BEING PRINTED INDI-
CATIONS ARE THAT HOUSE WILL
RATIFY, AND SENATE IS SAFE.

That Delaware will be the Beth and
much needed state to ratify the 18th
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, and thereby confer the
franchise of millions of women thru
out this country, seemed certain as the
Chronicle is put on the press. The
leaders of the anti-suffrage fight on
Wednesday night and Thursday NOR
ming conceded that the action of Gov
ernor Townsend in eliminating him
self from the delegate fight Of the Re-
publican party, and thereby assured
the necessary majority of votes for
the amendment. When the vote is
called up in the house this afternoon
Thursday il is certain that the votes
necessary will be given the measure.
The Senate has been reasonably safe
for Suffrage from the start, but the
big stumbling block has been the OBJ
stancy of the Sussex members.
The big move that started the ball
rolling came when Governor Town
send at a conference of the Republican
members of the Senate and House
Wednesday morning offered to with
draw from the fight for delegate to the
Republican National Convention in
Sussex County if the Republican mem
bers of the Legislature would put over
the Suffrage Ratification Amendment.
Both the suffrage supporters and the
anti-suffrage crowd had expected Rep
resentative Hart to call the measure
up for final action on Wednesday, but
shortly before the time set for the
calling of the bill Mr.. Hart left the
House and did not return.
IT,.
a surprise to many persons. 1t is re-
ported that Ruby Vale, of Milford and
Philadelphia had previously made
if he would withdraw from the dele
gate fight he Vale) would deliver
enough votes to put over suffrage.
Governor Townsend appeared before
the Republican members at noon and
made his offer. He stated that he un-
derstoOd that his personality in the
delegate fight stood in the way of
ratification. If that is true. he told the
members, the question was entirely
too big and important a one for him
to stand in the way and therefore he
would be willing to withdraw from
the delegate fight. As stated, the Re-
publican members took no action be-
fore adjourning. Another conference
may be held this afternoon.
Mr.. Vale made an address before
the Conference but just what he stat
ed was not announced. There was a
report that both the proposition that
he made and the reply of Governor
Townsend, in which he agreed to
withdraw from the delegate fight un-
der certain conditions, were to be put
in writing.
Others who attended the conference
in addition to Governor Townsend and
Mr.. Vale were former Senator ].
Frank Alice and Henry P. Scott. The
presence of the latter before the con-
ference caused considerable comment
and it is understood that some Of the
members resented his presence he
cause of the fact that he has been an
active worker against ratification all
during the session.
Just what Mr. Scott's status was be-
fore the conference was not announc-
ed. 1t is understood he made no ad-
dress.
Although General T. Coleman du-
POnt was in the governors Office when
the conference was held, he did not
attend it. 1t is understood that in
view of the fact that he appeared be-
fore the committee yesterday aud
made his plea for ratification, GEN
eral dupont did not care to attend the
conference today.
Previous to this conference there
was another short conference. which
was only attended by the Republican
of the Legislature.
Governor TOwnsend's statement to
he Republican members of the Legis-
ature follows:
Il am informed that one of the OBJ
ections to the ratification of the
nineteenth amendment upon the part
# certain Republican members of the
legislature, particularly those from
sussex County, is the fact that l am
candidate for delegate to the Repub-
ican National Convention. l don't
lnow whether this is true or not. but
that it is true, come before
-ou for the purpose of stating to YOU
hat if sufficient number of Repub-
leans will vote for ratification TODAY
o insure its passage today / will not
e a candidate for delegate to the COM
ne Republican convention, and will
lot accept the position If elected.
onsider this amendment and its i'm
to the Republican party,
luch more important than any one
IAN, and if my personality has enter
d into it my personality must be
minated"
1t is likely that the proposition
lade by Mr.. Vale to Governor Town
end to deliver the necessary votes to
atty if the Governor would with
raw from the delegate fight will be
lade public either today or tomor-
)w. This statement, it is understood,
as been put in writing but would not
e released today.