The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-28
President, National Association Op-
 posed to Woman Suffrage.
(By MISS MARY G. KILBRETH.)

President, National Association Op'
 posed to Woman Suffrage.
 
 In justice to the American people, I lay before you the political catas- trophe that threatens the nation The country is facing the most serious legal and political battle since the Civil War, yet it is safe to say that only few lawyers, perhaps a dozen newspapermen- and only half dozen political leaders know the facts about this crisis, or even that it is upon us.
 First of all, wish to make it clear that this letter is not anti suffrage propaganda Mrs Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage Associa- tion, in a confidential letter to her followers on December 27, 1919, plainly warned them that the que&5 ton of referenda on the ratification of the pending Federal amendment would have to be decided by the United States Supreme Coufs, and she asked $1OO,O00 to conduct the caAe. There will be at least three cases.
 1.-The Referendum Case is only one phase of the subject. Briefly, 1t is the question (which will be heard
 
 1, with respect to Ohio) as tc whether the people, under the refer endum clauses of their State consti- tutions, are entitled to vote on rati. fication of Federal amendments. The Supreme Courts of Ohio and Wash ington have held that they may in those States. The Supreme Court of Oregon and the Circuit Court of Appeals of Arkansas, have ruled that they may not in those States. There are 22 referendum States, 19 oi which have ratified the Federal Suf- frage amendment, and in which, says The Suffragist, for February, "a referendum, if declared legal, would be possible
 2.-The State Sovereignty Issue is the great fundamental case.
 Maryland has already approved a resolution, denying the power of Cor gross to submit such an amendment, and attacking it's validity on the grounds briefly, that it would de- stroy the State and make it a prov ince, with less authority in deciding g who shall vote for it's own local of ficers than it enjoyed under the original charter from the British crown. This resolution is not merely a resolve" by legislative body, but a legal brief, prepared by one of the ablest constitutional lawyers in America.
 What has this to do with ''the po- IiticaI catastrophe" mentioned in my opening paragraph?
 Any lawyer thoroughly conversant with the history of proposed suffrage amendments to the United States Constitution knows that the people of Ohio and the State of Maryland have
 
 their cases - and there are other States that will join in the campaign without a doubt
 Therefore, the validity of every wo- mans vote cast under the alleged Federal suffrage amendment is cer- tain to be challenged, not necessarily by opponents of woman suNrage, but the great political parties.
 What political party, losing na' tional election by the electoral votes of one or two States where the vali- dity of the elections was open to serious question, would hesitate t. throw the entire Presidential election into the courts?
 The political leaders who are urg- ing ratification, regardless of the fundamental legal issues involved are headed straight for politica, chaos for until the legality of the Federal suffrage amendment is es- lablshed, any election held under il can be challenged and undoubtedly will he challenged on a far more serious array of evidence than the Hayes -Tilden contest presented, ant with perhaps even greater danger tt the United States. It must be re membered that the two great politi cal parties are almost evenly match ei today; that most of the States ar: ''dCubtfur'; that President Wilson won in 1916 by only 23 electora votes. of which 13 in California wer obtained by a. popular majority o 3,773, and 1 in New Hampshire by plurality of only 56 votes. In Min ncsota, MT. Hughes won 2 electora votes by a plurality of only 392! Tn recent election in the Third Con gressional District of Missouri ha proved. if anything, only that reIativ party strength in 1920 is about tn same as in 1916. The Non-Partisa League in the Northwest, the d:scon tented elements in other sections. an especially the unknown political at attitude of women, will all tend | make the coming election the mos doubtful in the history of the Re public.
 Is it to be further complicated by question of legality? Is it to be deci6 ed finally by the U. $. Supreme Cour after months of political turmoi business unrest, bitter partisan bal tle-if nothing worse? Again if tn legality of women's votes under tn amendment is denied by the Suprem Court in those States where woma have. no such vote under their Stat Constitutions, it might require second election to find out who WE President of the United States. fc there is no separation of mems an women's votes now under full doub suffrage.
 S.-The Presidential Suffrage Si uation presents another serious cas
 Indiana, Iowa, Maine. Minnesot Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakot