The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-01-09
WHY NOT RATIFY
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
AMENDMENT NOW?

The following open letter al
dressed 70 the people of this Stat.
should he read by all our citizens
/ Perhaps the women voters Of thi.
State could hasten ratification q
the National Woman Suffrage
/ Amendment if they would show
sympathetic interest in its favor
Read the letter
Washington newspaper clippings
Irevea, the fact that some mem bers
iof the Legislature are making it
difficult for Governor Louis F. Hart
70 call a special session to ratify the
Federal Woman Suffrage Amend
ment. their argument being that
Washington ought to wait until rat
ification IS publicly assured in
thirty-tive other States.
The facts are these: More than
the required three-tourths Of the
States are pledged to ratify. IT,.
however. each Of these States holds
back to be the thirty-sixth it Will
be long time before the women
of the nation are enfranchised. But
il each State will ratify and ratify
now the Federal Woman Suffrage
Amendment viii be q part Of the
United States Constitution by Feb
ruary first
twenty-five States have already
ratified the amendment, fifteen By
special session. These States, which
comprise more than one-half the
territory and contain more than
one-half the population Of the
United States. are: Illinois. Wis
consin. Michigan. Ohio, Pennsylva-
mia, Massachusetts,, Texas. New
York, Kansas. Missouri. Colorado.
Iowa, South Dakota. Utah, Nebras-
ha, Arkansas, California. Montana.
Minnesota. New Hampshire, Maine.
North Dakota. Four others. Ore
son, Idaho. New Mexico, Indiana.
are calling special sessions purpose
-y TO ratify. Two others. Rhode
Island and Kentucky. are expected
to ratify in regular session this
month. Ratification is thus assur-
ID in twentr-eight states leaving
only eight more required.
In more than eight States over
Thelming majorities of the Legfs-
atures are pledged to ratify as
'oon as sessions are called by the
Governors Five OF these are West
I'm woman suffrage States. Their
ielay in calling special sessions
.lone blocks the immediate enfran-
hisement Of the women Of the en-
ira nation.
The National American Woman
Association. with its two
million members has always con-
eded to the West the leadership in
ne movement for woman suffrage. .
Ne have been proud Of the generos-
ty Western men have shown in Civ
lg woman suffrage within their
wn States. We expected them TO
isplaT equal generosity in helping
o gain woman suffrage for the rest
I the nation and their failure to
o so has been a great disappoint
lent A little characteristic West
I'm courage and speed at this min
te would bring victory for the
ederal amendment.
Washington especially should
F. willing 10, act, since last August
overnor Hart telegraphed to the
overnors Conference his own
ledge TO call a special session for
itification and a request that the
her Governors join him by calling
'ecial sessions in their States. His
edge was depended upon in other
ates where sessions have now been
He'd and where the delay Of Wash
gton is not understood.
Washington, the first of the
,ast States to give suffrage to its
,n women, surely win lead the
ay again this time for the women |
the nation.
Sincerely yours,
CARRIE CHAPMAN GAIT.
President. National American
oman Suffrage Association -