The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-01-15
THE SUFFRAGE FIGHT

Sioux City Journal - Twenty-Five
states have ratified the nineteenth
amendment to the constitution of the
United States giving the franchise to
women. Thirty-six must ratify it in
order to make 1t a part of the funda-
mental law of the nation. The twenty
two states which have acted favnrably
on the question in the order Of their
ratification, follow: Wisconsin, Michi.
gan, Kansas, Ohio, New York, Illinois
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas,
Iowa. Missouri, Arkansas, Montana,
Nebraska, Minnesota, New Hampshire,
Utah, California, Maine, North Dakota,
South Dakota and Colorado. Fourteen
more must act favorably on the amend
ment. The margin is narrowing, but
so is the time in which ratification may
be made il the women are to exercise
the right of suffrage in the election
OF the next president.
The legislature of Oregon has been
called in special session by the gov.
ernor to act on the amendment. The
meeting is fixed for January IL. There
is no doubt of the outcome in that
state, so that ratification by twenty
three states may be accounted as com.
pleted. The legislatures Of four states,
In which there is every reason to be-
lieve the amendment will be approved,
meet in regular session within the next
few days. These states are Kentucky,
New Jersey, Rhode Island and Mary
land. The first three named have re-
publican legislatures, while that of
Maryland is democratic. If the fore
casts of the women are correct and
these four states ratify the amend
ment, with Oregon they move the num-
Der up to twenty-seven.
Nine other states must ratify the
amendment, if it becomes operative in
the next election, at special sessions Of
their legislative bodies. Twelve states
have legislatures pledged to that course
if convened. OF this number, nine
have republican and three have demo
lican executive committee Is pledged
to use its influence with the govern
ors of its party to induce them to call
special sessions. The states In which
republican governors may act favor
ably are Arizona, Connecticut, Della
ware, Idaho. Indiana. New Mexico,
Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
OF these states Arizona, Idaho, Indi-
ana, Washington and Wyoming already
have conferred full presidential suf-
frage upon women by state legislation,
so that they may be counted as safe
il their legislatures are convened. In
addition to these nine states, the legis-
latures in Nevada Oklahoma and West
Virginia are pledged to ratification if
convened in extra session. All three
states have democratic governors. Gov.
Cornwall, of West Virginia. is a south
ern sentiment man and naturally is
to woman suffrage. He Is
states rights stickler. In Nevada and
Oklahoma women now have limited
suffrage.
Pressure should be brought to bear
upon the governors of the states in
which the legislatures are pledged to
favorable action to induce them to
call extra sessions to ratify the amend
ment. The fight Is won. Refusal to
help get the ratification in time for
women to vote next year is childish
sulkiness. The 100000 women vot-
ers are too near the goal Of their am
bition to be frustrated. They might
as well vote next year as two years
hence. The governors who refuse to
convene the legislatures are standing |
n the way of progress and are hold
ng up the verdict Of the American
,eople.