The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-20
Lawyers See Need Of
 Changed Electoral Laws
APPROACH OF FEDERAL SUFFRAGE CAUSES
 MUCH DISCUSSION ON PRESENT LAWS

ratified arouses several important questions in the minds of Connecticut Women. First comes the question of whether or not women who are all ready school-voters will have to reg ister for full voting privileges. There is, also a great deal of discussion iE political as well suffrage circles as to whether a special session will be ne- cessary to revise the state statutes governing the admission of electors so that women may be admitted.
 The concenSus of legal opinions obtained by the Connecticut Suffrage Association in order to be able to answer the many inquiries which are constantly being made, seems to be that, while 8 special session for readjustment of the election laws might not be absolutely necessary, it would be advisable in order to do away with the complications which Y might arise.
 It is the opinion of several lawyers that without a special session a great deal of inconvenience might be caused if large numbers of women should present themselves to be made voters It might, according to Attorney Francis W. Cole of Hart ford, who has made special investi- gation of the question, even occasion
 
 made voters. MT. Cole sets forth his conclusions as follows:
 If the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment is adopted it's effect by it's inherent power will be to cause the word "male"to to disappear from the provisions of the Connecticut Constitution without specific amend ment by Connecticut of its Constitu = tion and it will follow that all citi- zens of Connecticut without discrim- ination on account of sex will come under the grant of suffrage made by this state subject to the specified constitutional requirements as to having obtained majority, residence, moral character and ability to read. L. 2.-That the Federal Suffrage |, Amendment, if ratified, will have the same effect on the statutory pro- visions of Connecticut relating to the qualification of electors and will eliminate from these provisions the word male"
 = 3.-That as a result, the general statutory provisions of Connecticut relating to the. admission of electors will apply to women and render ob- solete and unnecessary our present statutes dealing with the admission of women as electors for school pur- poses.
 4.-That as a practical matter even if the amendment should be adopted some weeks before October 4, 1920 which is the last day or which the registrars are permitted tC be in session for the purpose of com plct the lists of voters ito bt made'' under our present statute there will be in the principal citie' and possibly in the larger towns great deal of inconvenience and pos sibIy an actual lack of opportunity fo the making of all new voters if an, considerable number of womel should present themselves and insis upon their right to be made voters In MT. Coles opinion the existin statutory provisions would prove in adequate for dealing with the ratifi cation if the amendment should no be ratified until after or shortly be fore October 4, which is the last da when voters can be made before tn fall election
 In case there should be no specia session called to pass a blanket pro vision covering all possible situation in the state, it might be possible tha local election officials would attemp to prevent women from being admit ted as voters. MT. Cole thinks tha in such an event there would be n
  admit women, but that they would D liable to criminal prosecution unde Section 5508 of the United States Re viSed Statutes and to civil action fC damages under Section 1879 of tn same Statut tes.
 Attorney Harrison B. Freeman { Hartford, believes that if such actio should be taken by local officials, th prospective voter might obtain an il
 
 case to the courts, MT. Freeman sai "I do not think it at all probab that such a case would occur. Publ opinion will be so heavily in favor allowing the women to vote if u federal amendment is passed that u court will go to any extreme to nal this possible.
 It is interesting to note in tn connection that several cities are a ready making plans to care for u probable increased vote by asking f appropriations to buy more votI machines. New Haven and Hartfo are the two largest cities to ha taken this step.
 The question whether school vote will receive the full privileges election without reregistratcn seer to be open to doubt Some lawye assert that a school voter would a tomatically become a full voter wh others think there might he sor question because the quslificatio for women voters differ slightly fire q technical point of view, from the fornale voters.
 While as yet no positive decisi has been given on this point, the g of opinion seems to be that a spec session would be the logical and s; irfactory way to settle the ent matter and that without such a 8 sion the question will be one to decided by public opinicn in the 1o communities
 In view of this uncertainty, won Tn Hartford, New Britain aud NJ gatuck, where spring elections ta place, are making a special effort get women to register as school V CTS in order to avoid the corgest which may occur in the fall.
 Economical college boys are saw their $5 hats by going bareheaded a incidentally loading a $50 doctc bill on Dad.