The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-17
MRS. NOSI Tells
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wi tGILO
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was equally as vigorous 1T being es.
timated by the Huntington Herald
4 Dispatch, a paper familiar with the
situation. that OF the twelve RepIib-
hcan votes passed against ratificat ion
In the senate six were cast because Of
opposition on principle to suffrage
and six because of manipulation for
desired effect on the state political
situation. -
Long Fight Begins.
In any event il son developed that
while majority of the entire mem
Spership o fthe legislature favored rat
4 incation by a vote of 81 to 81. vet In
the senate the vote was tie, IA to
IA, with Senator Jesse Bloch. an
ayowed suffrage senator, absent IN
California and unable to obtain a
pair. :
Then began a fight to hold the
lines intact until Senator Bloch could
\ reach Charleston. The question has
been frequently asked, why did not
1 Senator Bloch start for Charl/ston
soner? In the first I'll ce he was NOV
ing around and did Itot get notice Of
the call until the legislature was al
ready in session several days; in the
next place, noSone expected the oppo-
sition to be guilty of the discourtesy
i OF refusing hi ma pair on the tele-
tgramhe had at once sent lreuuestelg
one. and lastly until a vote was had
in the senate no one could tell wheth-
er or not his vote would inliue thu
result,
Immediately on the vote bag tax
en- in the senate, Senator Bloch be-
gan his race across the continent On
Senator Bloch's arrival in Chicago
he was provided with special train
by the Republican Natinola Commit
tee and hurried to Cincinnati In a trim
that for speed Is said to have broken
the worlds record for train trip of
that distance.
THE day that Senator Bloch reach.
ed Chicago the opposition resorteI to
It's most desperate expediont in Char
lesion, bringing Senator Montgomery
who about eight months before had
resigned, stating that he was ,leayin.,
8 the State and later moved to llIinnis
4 oac Kto resume his seat in the Sem
ave and vote against ratification. Sen.
ator montgomery on arriving In Char.
leston askG> sy:Nrnor Cornwell to
return his letter OF designation. This
governor Cornwell refused 10 do.
senator Montgomery then appeared q,
me Senate session that afternoon an;
oIlefeu TO vote. President Sinsel
promptly ruled that he was NOT en-.
Titled to vote and on an appeal from
MS ruling ne was sustained by a tie
vote and Montgomery's case wac re-
TERED to the Committee ON Privileges
and Elections. Us
4 Bloch Arrives.
Inc next day Senator Bloch ar
rived, andNafter an intensely interest,".
ing and dramatic session Montgomerv
was refused a seat and West Yir:
giria ratified the nineteenth amenr-
ment. The Hopse of Delegates, In
the meantime had resisted every eE.
iort OF the opposition and increased
It's suffrage majority.
me account. of the final session
OIL the Senate sent out by the press
associations was SO unfair as to force
the conclusion that It. was either a..
lfberately Intended to be so. or elsa
was the result of an inexcusable tg-
norance that could have been en-
lightened by the slightest of efforts.
FThe Charge in this account that
President Sinsel refused 10 rule on
the point of order made by the opuo-
s1tion against consideration of the
House resolution In order to prevent a
tle vote on an appeal from his decision
IS clearly erroneous: first, because In
that case tie vote would not have
resulted; II being a well settled prin-
lclple parliamentary law that a pre-
siding officer who is member OF a
body has the right to vote ON an an
peal from his ruling and the vote
would have been Is to Ia against the
point of order;t and second, because
even If the tie had resulted the point
of order would have been lost, a tie
vote on appeal sustaining the ruling
of the chair.
Yes" concluded Mrs. .Yost, at was
long hard eight, and we feel we have
the right to feel very proud of a vic.
i tory that insures the speedy ratifi-
cation of the amendment. And we
women of the West Virginia Equal
Suffrage Association feel very. crate
full indeed to these members Of the
Legislature whose votes won our fight
land to our numerous other friends.
governor Cornwen a Democrat and
Chairman Baker of the Republican
state Committee, as well as the DEM
ocrattc National Administration ana
| the National Renuhlicar Ha,,...;.tas
all Joined in helping us. AS said IN
my statement on the day of our vic
tory, women advocates of this cause
go forth hoping soon to enAt upon
our duties OF equal citizenship with
no feeling of malice toward anyone,
man or woman, who oppose us as a
question Of principle, our only feeling
being one OF the deepest gratitude to
those who aided u.s.
I ~ i.