The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-09-03
MAJOR GILES SAYS
WOMEN CAN VOTE

UUNlLN Unu vUIl
Please allow me space in your pap
er to speak word to the newly en-
tranchised citizens of our country.
The Constitution of the United
States now gives woman the right to
vote. The Attorney General of
Georgia, who is the legal adviser of
the governor. and other executive
officers of the State, after an ex-
haustive search of the law, has given
his opinion officially that the white
woman of Georgia are entitled to
vote in the primary Sept. 9Th, with
out having previously registered.
The opinion of the present able at
torney general is concurred in by
many of the leading lawyers Of this
State, and also by some of the most
profound jurists of the nation. AS
for that matter, we are taught while
school children that the constitution
of the United States is the supreme
law of the land, and that any state
law in conflict with it is null and
void.
Therefore, take the position that
no election manager in Cobb County
next Wednesday will have the right
to refuse the ballot of any white
woman who offers her ballot and who
If her right to vote is challenged,
will make oath that she is white,
more than 81 years of age, has lived
in Georgia for the past IL months
and in Cobb County for the past
months, and that she has paid all
taxes required of her since the adop-
ton of the present constitution; and
any election manager who refuses the
ballot of a woman under such cir
cumstances will subject himself to,
arrest and criminal prosecution.
The press of the State announce
that the Democratic executive COM
mittee will meet in Atlanta Friday
night and adopt rules that will clar-
lfy the situation. 1t is to be hoped
they will; but regardless of whether
they adopt such rules or not, the law
gives the white woman of Georgia
the right to vote next Wednesday and
1t is hoped they will avail themselves
of this legal right. May / not sug-
gest that the leading women of every
town and community in the county
confer together and organize to turn
out a good vote of the women of
their respective communities?
1t has been said that the women
will always vote as the men of their
family vote and therefore not in
fluence the result. Such is far from
the truth. Foolish indeed is he who
reckons that the women of this coun-
ty and state do not possess the in
teligence, character and patriotism to
vote their honest convictions and vote
wisely; and any man who would seek
unduly to control the vote of his wife,
mother or sister is wholly unworthy
of the ballot.
Woman's purity has ever meant
the strength of our homes; her mob
ility the support of our institutions.
Whatever she touches, she beauties
and adorns. She can and will cleanse
and purify our Georgia politics. To
me, her acknowledgment at the pres
ent time seems especially opportune.
Right now, two candidates who / be-
lieve are very Objectionable to the
good women of the county, threaten
to capture the county unit vote of
Cobb County for two of the highest
Offices in the gift of the State. l say
this without meaning to be partisan.
But as the women rallied tothe cause
and helped to win the recent war, let
them assume their new duties of
citizenship, go to the polls next We'd
nesday, and again answering their
country"s call vote as they will their
honest convictions. And may the
men welcome them!
Respectfully,
J. GLENN GILES.
Marietta, Ca, Sept. /, 1920.