The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-06-05

The exact situation at that time with respect
20 the woman suffrage amendment was as 1oi-
lows:
The amendment had been ratified by "a states.
1t had been defeated by six states: Alabama,
Georgia Mississippi South Carolina Virginia and
MARYLAND Washington and Delaware were hold
Ing special sessions. In the other six states the
situation this:
Connecticut and vermont-No regular sessions
until 1921 and governors had refused to call spe-
cal sessions.
Florida and Tennessee-Cannot vote on ratia-
cation in 1920. owing to the fact that constitu-
tiona provisions require Intervention of an cleo
tion between submission of amendment and &C.
tion It,
Observation-Disclosures legislature to meet in
May.
: North OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to meet In spe-
cal session in July.
The constitutionality Of the ratification by
Ohio where the legislature submitted its ratify-
ing action to a referendum Of the electorate was
before the United States Supreme court. Inc
ratification by West Virginia was slated for the
courts.
Since then there has been all kinds OF excite
ment. For example, after Washington had rati-
fed and while Delaware was hanging desperately
to the top rail of the fence Mississippi nearly
decided TO change her mind and win the glory OF
befnp the thrty-sixth state. The Bayou state
legislature had voted against ratincatIon January
o. 1920 The senate unexpectedly resclnded lts
action and voted for ratification. But the house
stood pat and again refused to ratfy by vote
Of "a to o. The members yelled long and Justify
when R. H. Watts of Pisgah rose and shouted:
Il would rather die and go to Hades than
vote for woman suffrage"
All this first-page publicity has aroused an ex-
traordinary public interest In the 7Oyear night or
the American woman for full suffrage. And 1t IS
a most interesting struggle Though the organ
lied movement began in 1S4S, there are some
high lights before that.
Possibly Mary Wollstonecraft first set the Eng
lsh-speaking world to thinking on the subject by
nublishing her book "Vindcation Of the Rights
of Women" london 1900.
In 1920 appeared the first lecturer in this
country. She was Frances Wright, gifted Scotch
girl of twenty-five years.
In 1886 Ernestine l.. Rose, an exiled Polish
woman visited this country and advocated the
right of woman to vote in a lecture with the t.
tIe "Science of Government" Such was her beau
~ wit and eloquence that she drew crowded
houses
This seed fell on fertile ground. American
women had voted under several OF the colonial
governments and at the tine of the Revolution
had demanded a share in government. Abigail
Adams spoke for others beside herself when she
wrote to her husband John Adams: IF women
are not represented in this republic, there
win be another revolution"
In 1910 the Worlds Anti-Slavery convention
was held in London. Several American delegates
were sent in response to invitation. Among them
we're Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
J.ucretia Mott (1793-1SS0) Massachusetts
Ouakeress and an acknowledged minister" of
tha Friends She was the wife of James Mott
affd both husband and wife were ardent abolition
lists Elizabeth Cady Stanton GS15-19O2) was
horn IN New York state and was the wife of
Henry B. Stanton, a journalist and antislavery
speaker.
The London Worlds Anti-Slavery convention
refused to admit these two American delegates
hecanse they were women. Reading between the
lines it is easy to guess that this treatment got
their spunk up" For before they got home they
had decided to have convention of their own to
which they were sure of admission.
These two women found kindred spirit In
Susan r. Anthony (iS2O-19O6). She was of Mas
sachnsetts Quaker stock and an enthusiastic
worker FOR Temperance and abolition. In 1S47
abe delivered her first 'Woman's Rights" address
and was ierided as a freak OF nature.
BY 1s4S the time was ripe for the FIRST wom-
ans rtghfs convention. Il was held at Seneca
Fails N. u under the management Of these three
~fff1e3, ana Mrs Mott and Mrs Stanton had no
f}6uffe III gaining admttance.
IN TO the Civil war the movement gradually
altered strength During the war the women
I prevailed upon give up their suffrage