The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-07-12
SUFF RACE HOPES
AGAIN DASHED
BY GOV. CLEMENT
Refuses to Convene Legislature
to Ratify Amendment
REITERATES HIS REASONS
Serves Warning on State Officials t.
"Watch Their Step" While Chief
Exeeut Vc Is Absent.

Rutland, July 12,-Governor Perci'
val w. Clement again refused to call
special session Of the Vermont Leg.
Iislature to ratify the federal amend.
lment for woman suffrage, and in a
formal proclama ion, made public to-
day. gives his reasons therefor
He calls attention to the fact that
,he present Legislature was elected
before the question Of ratifying the
federal amendment had arisen, that
/ the people of Vermont have had no
opportunity to express themselves in
regard to the question and that the
proposed federal amendment clearly
invades the constitution of Vermont.
Governor Clement proposes that
the matter he taken up by the Leg.
islature OF 1921 and urges the voters
to require candidates for the House
and Senate to declare themselves
thereon, He refers pointedly to the
income tax amendment, which, he
says, was lobbied through Congress
and the state legisla ures by federal
agents, also to the prohibition amend
ment, which he declares was forced
through by a powerful and ire,
Isponsible organization, (eydently
the Anti-Saloon league) operating
through paid agents with unlimited
| funds"
| He declares further that the issue
is one Of principle, not OF political
expediency, and serves notice on all
Ista'e officers, apparently on the lieub
Itenantgovernor and his deptties, that
he proposes ito go and come" as his
duty calls, both within and without
the state OF Vermont" and that if any
faction is taken contrary to the terms
of the proclamation, the officer so act
ing will do so regardless OF our
! fundamental law and his oath to sup
port it and "on his own RESPONSE
bility" for which he will be held "an
swerable to the freemen Of the
state.", sbseo4 a'i5''' ....-essi
The proclamation Is az follows:
! Under date Oh June f2th, 1919,
lreceiyed from Frank h. Polk, Acting
Secretary Of State Washington, a
communication enclosing a certified
copy of resolution of The Congress;
of the United States OF America en-
titled Jofnt Resolution Proposing az
Amendment to the Constitution. Elk
tending the Right OF Suffrage TO Wo
men, with a request that it be sub
United to the Legislature Of Vermont
for such action as may be had,
81 have received requests and peti
tions from individuals, residing boti
within and without the State, asking
me to call a special session of th(
Legislature OF Vermont to ratify this
resolution: and from others not t
call a session for that purpose. Mum
erous political and o'her organiza
tious have made similar requests
The importance of this matter de
mands full presentation of the facts
to the voters of the Sta'e and state
lment Of my conclusions.
The Constitution of Vermont hai
had the sanction Of use and approya
for more than 140 years Careful
provision is made in that Constitution
to insure extended consideration ant
deiberation in making changes affec
ing its provisions and for direct sub
mission to the freemen Of the State
The legislature may propose change
bu- Section Of Chapter 2 of the Con
stitution, providing the powers Of tn
Legislature, says They shall hav
no power to add to, alter, abolish o
infringe any part Of this ConstiI
Ition
Section 81 Of the same Chap.e
/, declares that this Constitution 'ough
not to be violated on any pretens
whatsoever. The proposed nineteent
amendmon' to the Federal Constitl
ton would in fact, If adopted max
radical changes in the Constituto
of Vermont and in our form of COVER
ment
"The provisions fer changes in tn
Federal Constitution, to which W
Vermonters are loyal subscribers, ar
in conflict wi those laid down /
the Constitution Of Vermont TIL
Federal Constitution provides thu
= proposals for change therein shall,
favorable action is taken thereon b
The Congress, be submitted to tn
Legislatures of the several States fC
their action, and the Supreme Coui
OF the United States has in a receI
: decision Hawks vs.. Smith, June is
. 1920, declared:
The referendum provisions
state constitutions and statutes ca
t mot be applied, consistently with II
, Constitution of the United States,
the ratification or rejection of amen
- iments to it,
This decision leaves the people
$ the mercy of any group Of men, wi
= may lobby proposal for change
the Federal Constitution through &c
y gress and then through the Legisl
" lures Of the States.
In the face of this situation, \ a
T. asked to call the Legislature Of We
= mont into extraordinary session, NJ
. for the purpose of debating, conside
. ing, deliberately on the question
I. issue, but with a majority cf its meI
V,1n I,r,v.I,a..1