Evening journal., 1920-03-29
M'NABB WOULD PUT
REPUBS in HOLE

tional Committee. Mrs. Bass SAYS:
While the Democrats Of Della
ware want to defeat suffrage
ratification, they greatly prefer
to have it defeated by Ropubli-
can votes, as viii be the case in
Delaware, if it is defeated. The
Republicans have a fwo-thirds
majority in either house. The
measure is their measure and if IL
doesn't go through it will be their
failure alone. am preparing to
take the stump in Western States
and show the women how insin-
cere the Republican party is.D
A prominent Democrat, represent
ing the Democratic National Com
mittee, who was sent TO Delaware to
Keep an eye on the suffrage fight,
says; "McNabb is easily the smooth
est politician on the ground. He is
going TO get the Republican State
chairman to deliver him enough Re-
publican votes Of an overwhelmingly
Republican Legislature to defeat rati-
tcation Of the suffrage amendment in
special session of the Legislature
called by a Republican governor IL
rs this Republican States ratification
which is necessary to make equal suf-
frage a part Of the Federal Constitu-
ton. IL Delaware acts favorably the
work will be over, the amendment
formally declared effective and wo-
men will begin to vote in presidential
primaries which are now being held.
Suffragists everywhere know this,
and they viii hold the Republican
party responsible if they are kept out
of the Republican primaries now, and
maybe out of the election this fall, by
Delaware's failure to ratify."
"The Republican National Commit
tee can never satisfactorily explain TO
the women why il permitted a Re
publican State chaSman and a Re-
publican State financial chairman,
both representing and affiliated with
the National Committee, lead a fight
in a Republican State that defeated
suffrage in a Legislature two-thirds
Republican.
"We will burn up the Western
States this fall, where suffragists
have a vote in the presidential cleo
tons, by virtue of State legislation,
by showing them the insincerity Of
the Republican partyis claim to be
the friend of the women. If Della
ware defeats ratification IL meaTk
Democratic electoral votes this fall i'm
Western States and to Mr.. McNabb
will be due the credit for having
formed a combine with some Della
ware Republicans which places the
responsibility of suffrage defeat sole
Iy on the shoulders Of the Republican
party"
IL must not be thought that Me-
Nabb is holding the Democratic vote
IN line against suffrage without other
Democratic help. With one or two
exceptions the Democratic strength of
Delaware is against the equal suf-
frage amendment. The attitude of
Judge George Gray is we'll known.
The Marvel-Wolcott faction is against
and through Josiah Mar
vel the Every Evening, the only
Democratic organ in Delaware, has
swung into line against ratification.
Democrats are trying to disguise
their opposition by claiming they are
not against ratification so much as
they are against the Legislatures
ratifying IL without a referendum.
That is cheap political sophistry, as
dishonest as it is cheap. IL is simply |
saying, 1--WE want to kill equal suf- |
rage; we don't care to appear brutal \
bout it, so we will not advocate it
le dubbed 10 death. We will advo-
ate it be chloroformed." But the re-
ult is the same,--death.
Henry Ridgely, of Dover, whose
sgal attainments are recognized
Delaware, has delivered
n opinion which shows the PROPOSE
on TO have a referendum on the suf-
rage question before the Legislature
cts is mere twaddle. II cannot be
one legally, and it would not be bind
lg il it were done.
There is no common sense in the
the Democrats are putting
p about a Legislature not having
ny right to vote on any question
'hich was not an issue in their cleo
on. If that were true, there would
G few questions upon which the Cen
raj Assembly could vote, for most
uestions raised In the General As ]
ambly never came up during the s
in which members were Z
Iected. Ii
Speaking Of referendums, however, !
has been suggested that the Demo-
ratio party in Delaware begin nearer I
home. Why not have a referendum
l connection with the Democratic
tate Committee? On January %,
lst, it met in Dover and adopted the I
resolution;
Resolved, That the Demo !
cratic State Central Committee
Of Delaware favors the early -
ratification by the State of Della
ware Of the proposed amendment
to the Federal Constitution,
granting suffrage to women, and
in the event that the Governor
shall call a special session of the
Legislature, urges the Demo
cratic members of the Legis-
lature to vote for such ratifca-
ton"
Did the committee represent the
party or not? If it did,
len why does it not show its vitality
I'd line up its members in the Legis {
ture in favor of ratification? Does
admit that it is not as powerful as I
Bull" McNabb, and that he can de- !
yer every Democratic vote except 7
ie in the Legislature against the 9
merely expressed wishes of the
State organization If {
!, then the committee should disband :
being one oS the most impotent 9
ID useless things in Delaware poll {
g. n
On the other hand, if it does not +
present the Democratic party, why \
it pass that resolution Demo !