Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-23
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Suffrage Amendment Referendum.

Suffrage Amendment Referendum.
I! In his very able and interesting address
lat the meeting of those opposed to ratifi-
ication of the Equal Suffrage Amendment
NO the Federal Constitution, held at the
Motel du Pont last Friday evening, Judge
N,eorpe Grav made demand that before
final legislative action in this State, the
sentiment of its people should be con-
tsulted. He supported this demand by the
isound proposition, and one that should
carry much weight, that the Legislature,
not having received any mandate from
the people. shall not ut this extraordinary
session forestall the peoples right to pass
upon this momentous question, thus sup
plenenting previous admonition, IN
which he said 'If the people Of Delaware
have fair chance TO vote on suffrage and
they ratify the amendment, so be IT, |
bow to the will of the people. But if the
people of Delaware are not ready to
ratify it, then want an opportunity for
them to say so" And he asked that the
women of the State be given an oPpor-
Itunitv, as well ss the men, to decide
whether they wanted the ballot.
The fairness and justice of this propo-
sition is beyond reasonable dispute, and
il is altogether probable a bill will soon
be offered in the Legislature 10 this end.
We have had very little TO do with the
referendum in our State-save for the
Local Option elections of recent years
but there are emanyadvocates of this means
of recording the sentiment of the people
on public questions, and surely none could
be conceived Of greater Importance than
tbeone now pending before etheLegisIature
In support of a referendum It may also
be urged. with justice and much weight,
that having been elected without any
reference whatever to the absorbing issue
of Equal Suffrage. it would be only
matter Of Justice for the Legislature. now
called upon to act, to hear what the peo-
pie have to say in the matter. This could
be done by arranging for q referendum, to
be taken in connection with the general
election to be held next November. The
special vote on Equal Suffrage. by this
plan. could be taken and recorded at a
very slight expense, and the members of
the Legislature then chosen would have
thelight of the popular verdict to guide
them when the question of ratification
came before the Legislature of 1921. of
which they would be members.
Also. it is suggested, and with right
and Justice, that the women OF the State
be permitted to vote at this referendum.
The contention has been raised that
majority OF the women Of Delaware not
onlv do not desire the privilege of suf-
frage. but are opposed TO having it forced
upon them. The contrary IS vigorously
urged No better method OF settlement
could be provided than a referendum at
which the women would have the oppor-
tunity of expressing their desires. The
law providing for referendum could
provide, with no just occasion for chal-
lenge, for receiving the votes of women
as well as those of men on this question.
The entire question isoDe Of such i'm
portance, and in its present status is so
intimately involved with not only the
propriety. but the importance. of main
tanning the orderly processes of law and
government in our State, that the propo-
slion OF referendum should appeal to all
who are concerned in the pending issue.
whether they are in favor of or opposed to
suffrage for women. There is no such
necessity for haste in the matter of
ratification as to warrant an insistenee
upon action being taken by the Legisla-
ture now in extraordinary session. But
there is room for demand that no action
be taken until ii can be ascertained what
is desired by majority of the people of
Delaware. men and women.
Much might be said in favor of the
proposed referendum which is indorsed by
man of such prominence and ability as
Judge Gray. who has had years of ex-
perieDce in national legislation and is
versed in the science of government and
the fundamental principles of law, but it
may be sufficient at this time to present |
the suggestion and ask for it the careful
consideration of members of the Legisla-
ture. One thing that may with propriety
be said. however. is that the adoption Of
the referendum at the outset. instead Of
endeavoring to proceed TO final action,
would result in q saving Of time that viii
be pressingly needed for other business