The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-28
Florida Press Opinion
Is Woman Suffrage Imminent7


Whether or not 100000 or more American women
WIN participate the election Of the next President
Of the United States seems to depend now upon the
action OF the legislatures Of Delaware and Wash
ington. With the West Virginia victory to their
credit the suffragsts feel that they are now about
ninety-nne per cent the line and that more
good hard shove will consummate the dream born
when Sunsan B. Anthony drew the first suffrage
amendment to the constitution.
To date. thirty-four states have ratified the
amendment Two needed to put that
into full force and effect. The suffragists pro-
pose to supply all possible pressure to win favor
able action at the hands Of these states. And they
appear to entertain the conviction that both Wash
ington and Delaware will come eventually to their
rescue and Will cast the votes which will enfran-
chse uncounted millions Of American women.
1t SO happens that the governors of Delaware and
Washington have called special sessions Of their
respective legislatures to meet exactly the same
day. March 22 These calls issued for the sole
purpose of making action possible upon the Nine
teenth amendment and 1t is the claim of the suffs'
that they have safe majorites In both branches of
the Washington assembly, although they admit
doubt regarding the senate Of Delaware where
is vacancy to be filled
But confident as the claims of the female oam-
pafgners may be- the fact is that suffrage is by no
means certainty in the immediate future. Leav-
senate. the legislature OF Washington may find itself
in tight position when it undertakes to ratify this
amendment In that state the people have the right
OF referendum. And they may invoke this right
before they will consent to a favorable vote upon
the pending amendment This might delay action
by Washington for indefinite time though
Delaware in the meanwhile permits itself to be be-
guiled into casting the thrty-ffth vote for dual
enfranchisement
II by any chance either Washington or Delaware
should go wrong" on suffrage, the
palgners must look next to Vermont Connecti-
cut for sympathy and support. if they hope to
achieve the vote in time to have a voice in the
November election. The legislature Of neither of
these commonwealth will hold regular sessions un-
til next year and for the time being the governor
neither shows the slightest inclination to call his
assembly into extraordinary session.
From the four remaining states, North Carolina
Louisiana. Florida and Tennessee. little is to be
hoped for this year. Both North Carolina and
Louisiana have been put down by the suffragsts
themselves hopeless Florida is not much better
they admit But Tennessee is different. Already
that state has given its the right to vote in
state elections But IN Tennessee there is law for
bidding the legislature to vote upon amendment
to the federal constitution until state election shall
have interviewed between the time that amendment
is submitted and the time it is voted upon.
Suffrage Is possible by November, therefore, If
Delaware does her part If the Washington refer
endum does not delay matters if the governor of
Vermont or of Connecticut surrenders or after
rendering. the legislature OF either state comes
across There are plenty of IFS left to disturb the
sleep of suffrage shouters-Ft. Myers Press But it
is the antis who to be having the Nightmares