The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-08-20

forum
eve may just as well realize, gen
! tlemen," the governor continued,
"that this country is no longer an
association of states, but nation.
Whatever a majority of the people
of the nation want is going to be the
supreme law of the land.
"Whenever / really want to think
seriously about states rights, l go
and muse for an hour over the grave
of my Confederate grandfather for
| realize now more keenly than ever
before that state rights have passed
away.
'In the famous words of Grover
Cleveland, "A condition and not a
theory confronts u.s. for woman suf-
frage is at hand.'
At the outset, the governor con-
ceded every claim Of opposition to
the amendment adding by way Of
emphasis that he was "in deepest
sympathy" with the sentiment of the
anti-suffragists. But he also en-
phasized anew the argument of po-
litical expediency and the honor of
the party and state which, he said,
was an obligation, payment of which
should be made through moral ap-
proval of the nationwide amendment.
Reiterating his belief that federal
suffrage could not be avoided, Cover
nor Beckett pointedly asked the as
semblymen whether they would re-
ceive the new voters with smile
or with frown." He appealed to
"the chivalry of the South" to give
the women a glad hand.
Big Question Comes.
"But there is another and a far
deeper reason for not delaying the
movement we are powerless to de-
feat" he said. ''The big question
that is going to be settled in the next
six months is whether this nation
shall enter an alliance with 20 of
the most powerful nations on earth
for the purpose of forever deliver
ing humanity from the burdens and
horrors of war. On that question
the women have a sacred right to be
heard, for, when cannon roar, the
women furnish the fodder.
"With the utmost Difference to all
who may hold a contrary opinion, !
am driven by my conscience to say
that judgment and justice, mercy
and humanity all cry out that ,wo-
men have the first right to speak
when the issue is whether or not the
world shall be ruled henceforth by
reason and righteousness or by blood
and iron"
Local conditions were dismissed
with the statement that the COVER
nor was not impressed with "the
wisdom of or the necessity for' wo-
men suffrage in North Carolina. He
feared, he said, that these women of
the state who did desire to vote were
"unconsciously offering to barter a
very precious birthright for very
sorry mess of pottage."
Discussing the effect Of equal suf-
frage on the race relations in this
and other parts Of the South, Gov
ernor Beckett said:
"For 35 years after the Civil war
all political energies of our people
were absorbed in the struggle to
maintain in our borders white gov
ernment. For this we fought with
our. backs to the wall because we be-
lieved such a government to be es-
sential to the integrity of the white
race and the survival of white civ
Iilization. The result was that dur
ing this long struggle, the line of
demarcation between the two politi-
cal parties. was largely one of color.
Such situation tended to draw the
political development of our people.
"For 20 years we have been freed
from this handicap and under the
new order, both races have prospered
as never before. While there is still
much room for improvement, l be-
ieve that today the races are more
sympathetic than in any other state
! in the union. I greatly fear that
woman suffrage would reopen these
old questions and force US to fight
again the battle for a white govern
meht.'