Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-20
Stuff LEADERS RUSH
TO DOVER; SCENT
CLOSE HOT FIGHT
Invoke Big Guns Of Nation TO
Come Into Delaware
Battle.
ROOT MAY LEAD ANTS

From Today's Baltimore sun.
Washington. March 19.-With SUI
fraye and anti-suffrage forces in close con-
a;ct in Delaware, the Legislature OF
which will meet Monday to consider the
Nineteenth Amendment, echoes of the
fight are being heard here in the high
councils of the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties.
Faced by appeals from Administration
officials and personal exhortations from
Representative Fess, chairman of the
Republican Congressional Committee,
who is on the spot to fight for the amend
ment. anti-suffrage forces plan TO bring
in leaders of national Importance In
their party known'to oppose suffrage rat
ihcation. Elihu Root is mentioned as
possible leader of the counter-attack by
the local ants.
The danger to the amendment in Dela-
ware through failure of national party
leaders To keep their local followers IN
line is admitted by suffragists. Alice
Paul chairman of the National Worn-
ans Party. left Washington tonight for
Dover. summoned by repeated messages
from suffrage leaders in the State, who
report ratification impcriled.
Thirtv-four States have ratified, and
favorable action by two more Will put
tba amendment into effect The Legis-
j,ture of the State of Washington also
will meet Monday to take up the amend
rent and prompt ratification generally
il conceded.
Should Delaware, therefore, defeat
ratification. either Connecticut or Yer
mont would have to take its place, neces-
stating a long and arduous campaign
upon anti-suffrage Governors. II Della
ware ratifies, on the other hand. the
necessary So States to put the amend
ment in force will have given their as
sent.
Even then the trials of the suffragists
will not be over for anti-suffrage Gov
ernors and State officials are Threatening
through lack OF sufficient provision Tor
women voters to nullify in effect the pas
sage of the amendment.
These State officials are contendlng
that additional State legislation IS neces-
sarv before the suffrage amendment can
be carried into effect. The National
Woman's party is studying with great
care. and with the advice of constitu-
tional LAWYERS, the whole situation.
Opinions that the passage and rati-
fication of the amendment are themselves
sufficient to complete the admission OF
women to the electorate have been rem
dcred by Attorney -(1eneTat IalHleTy tA-
Senator Sutherland, of Utah, former
president of the American Bar Associa-
ton. and bv the foremost authorities in
the Senate a report from the National
Womans party said.
Acknowledgement Palmers opinion
stated that:
1T (the suffrage amendment is iden-
tical in provision, except as TO subject
matter, with the Fifteenth Amendment
That amendment has been held TO be self
executory and TO render imperative con-
trarv provisions of State constitutions
or statutes and needed no State action
to make if effective"
It is possible. however, that suffra-
gists will consider it advisable to secure
the passage through Congress Of an en-
forcement statute which would provide
proper penalties for any official who vio-
lated the provisions of the Nineteenth
Amendment. II so, that will be the next
piece OF work undertaken by the National
Woman party when the amendment has
been finally ratified.