Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-19
Both Parties Urge
Continued from Pace One)

and we respectfully urge this action
on your part.
REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE.
By Frank J. Ham. Chnirmnn
WOMEN'S REPUBLICAN ADVJS-
DRY COMMITTEE,
BY Anne NJ. Gannett, Chairman.
FREDERICK H. PARkHURST,
Republican Candidate for Cover
nor.
GUY r. GANNETT.
Member Republican National
Committee for Maine.
Democratic Letter
Foilowing the ratification of the
FEDERAL woman suffrage amendment to
the constitution by the Tennessee leg
isiature the following open letter was
sent to Gov. Milliken by the Demo-
cratic State committee:
Maine Democratic State Committee.
Louis J. Brann. Chairman.
Lewiston. Maine
To His Excellency. Carl L. Milliken,
Governor of Maine.
Augusta. Maine.
Dear Sir-Tennessee by ratificat ton
>o~S ~ 8'NC- w NtDl-
en- the right to vote on Sept amber 49,
This right is abridged Only by their
inability to register because of insult
ficient registration laws.
The practical result Of the present
registration laws. unless amended. is
to deprive 90 per cent of the. women
living in cities and so per cent. of the
women living in towns Of over 500
voters of the opportunity to vote. but
here is the inequality, permitting all
the women of towns of less than 500
voters to vote at the State election.
without registration. and simply by
attendance at the polls on election day.
In the city of Portland under spe-
cial act governing the registration Of
voters in that city. the board Of regis
tration closed it's open session on Au-
gust and will not again be in sess ion
for the registration of voters before
the State election. so that all Port
land women are debarred from voting
in September.
IN Lewiston and Bangor the boards
arc in session but nine daye. and in
III" Her cities but four days. too
i'm" to permit but small
- ~ the women to register A
law .i1ould be Immediately enacted
making II pos.ible and easy for all the
women ~ Maine to vote in September
whether living in the cities or rural
communities
Equality of opportunity should be
the aim and desire Of both parties.
The time Is too short to enact a reg
istration law permitting the full and
complete registration of women before
the September election.
But one course. fair to the women
OF Maine. is open, to call forthwith a
special session of the legislature and
to pass a provisional law granting to
the women in cities and the large
towns the same rights As those women
living in smaller towns. that is. the
right to vote at the September cleo
ton by-the simple method of present.
ing thems elves at the polling places on
election day.
The wardens in cities and the select
men in towns to pass upon the rights
Of applicants to vote. We think Of no
other method that will place all the
women Of Maine upon an equality in
their right to vote, all being permit
TED to vote without prior registration
at the Stae election
This method is to apply. Of course,
only to the September election, regis
tration laws having been passed for
the registration of women for the
presidential election in November
We therefore respectfully urge YOU
to call Immediately the legislature of
Maine in special session for the pur.
pose of passing an act giving all the
women OF Maine an equal opportunity
TO vote on Sept. IS. Any other course
would disfranchise thousands Of Maine
women.