Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-07
eVenine e,reuras'0s satnfdsy Gnsis 1864
Why Equal Suffrage Los at Dover.

In the course of an editorial expression
of sincere regret at the summary defeat
of the cause of Equal Suffrage IN the
Delaware Legislature the Dover Index
saws stripped of all pretense. the cause
was the rather large Negro population and
the disfavor in which il Is held IN ITS
exercise OF citizenship. Unfortunately,
the Negro rs class has not been desirable
* a voter. Such voters have been val
liable asset to the Republican party but
in manv districts il has been trouble
some and expensive vote. II seems that
many Republicans do not welcome the
Negro women as voters
70 manv observers Of the recent ex-
citing campaign for EQUAL Suffrage at
the state capital it was mystery that
there should have been any Republican
opposition 10 tho inclusion Of Delaware
women in the states electorate. much
less Republican opposition 50 formidable
Is to dcfv the most extraordinary efforts
and the full official authority q the he
publican party. state and nation 70
break it down. Democratic opposition N
the conditions that prevail here, was easily
understood, as Equal Suffrage would add
to the Republican party the solid support
of all the Negro women Of the state. At
least this was the prevailing Democratic
impression. based upon the fact that the
Negro men OF Delaware have Tor years
known but one political party-the he-
publican party Only stern devotion TO
a righteous principle-the right Of women
to share equally with men in the exercise
Of the elective franchise-could induce
Delaware Democrat to support the cause
1t is true that Republican opponents IN
the House Of Representatives Iustihed
their stand on the contention that they
were respecting the sentiment OF large
majority Of their constituents. when un-
ioubtedlv was true. But il ls easy 70
conceive that in other situations especial
~ where partisan considerations were
most appealing. the wishes Of Their con-
stituents would have counted very llttle
with them where party interests were m
vplved. And vet party interests apparent
" were such IS to impel al Republican
members of the Legislature 70 support
cause which would have resulted IN 50
Immeasurably strengthening their party a
future elections OF the twenty-four ad-
verse votes that killed Equal Suffrage IN
the House last Wednesday afternoon,
thirteen were cast by Republican mem
bers
The only explanation that seems reason
able-and one that was advanced early
in the campaign and found many be-
levers that many Republican leaders
and workers feared evil results to their
party should the Negro women of the
state be clothed with the privilege Of
franchise. More than once was heard the
.low-voiced protest from these sources:
We have trouble enough now with the
.nigger' men. we would have much more
the niger women voted And here
was the influence that melted and main
tanned TO the end the implacable and I'M
m ovable Republican opposition to en-
bracing the Negro women Of Delaware IN
the voting strength Of the Republican
party. And why they 50 believe d Is no
secret.
Possibly there is material for the sober
consideration Of Negro voters in this ex-
PLANTATION They are the backbone OF the
K epubican party in this state, valuable
and unwavering asset, and have been
such for half a century. For this great
service they have received no recognition
worthy Of the name, yet they have re-
manned amazingly faithful under con-
tumely and neglect Their enfranchise-
ment has been nothing to them but an eie-
ment Of profit to selfish politicians.
What the Negroes should do, however,
is another matter. but one they should be
able to determine. They cannot resort to
the Democratic party with any assurance
Of warm welcome, notwithstanding the
value Of their votes, at least not in Della
ware. But they might endeavor to try
the benefit of holding their valuable suf-
frages as their own possession, as high
privilege to be exercised for what they
may conceive to be for the best interests
of the public. and of the Negro people.
To many Delaware Negroes the franchise is
an asset which may bring them money,
but that is debasing and disgraceful. 1t
is for the Negroes themselves to deter
mine this matter.