Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-20
The Chances for Suffrage.

Even the "antis' appear to believe that
the Federal woman suffrage amendment win
be ratified "evehtually." The question Of
immediate concern is whethe" it will go
through in time for the women of all the
states to vote in the presidential election this
fall.
Thlrty-one states have ratified, including
Ohio, in which it is still to be decided by the
Supreme Court whether the ratification is
binding without popular referendum. Five
states-all in the South-have opposed rat
iffcation. Of the remaining twelve, the suf-
fragists must win five--or six, if the Ohio
case is decided against them
what are the chances in these twelve
states? statement by the National Wom-
ans Party comedies that Louisiana and
North Carolina are impossible to secure, ="
their sympathies lying with the other
Southern states that have declined to ap-
prove Federal suffrage. Two other states
FLORIDA and Tennessee-cannot act this wear
because their constitutions require that IN
election intervene between submission of a
constitutional amendment and action on it,
rms reduces the possibilities to eight
Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washing
| ton, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont and
| West Virginia.
The Maryland legislature is now in regu-
lar session, but, as the BALTIMORE AMER
lCAN (Rep.) believes, Maryland will not
| De IN the list of states" to approve the
amendment, and the BALTIMORE NEWS
llnd.) IS convinced that the people of
Maryland are opposed to it, and thinks rat
lflcatlon by the Maryland legislature ]'would
be an act of deliberate bad faith with the
| electorate of the state.'
special sessions of the New Mexico and
| Oklahoma legislatures have been called 70
act on the amendment this month and the
Wlseacres, while certain that Oklahoma will
ratlty, are doubtful of New Mexico. though
the NEWARK EVENING NEWS lind y he.
| md nh tod1
The WASHINGTON STAR (Ind) thinks a
social session is assured" in washington
although the governor is reluctant to call il
because he cannot lawfully limit it to the
consideration of suffrage alone. 1t is agreed
| that Washington will ratify if given an On.
| portunity WI W
GOV. Clement of Vermont" says the ST.
PAUL DAILY NEWS Gnd) "hesitates ITO
call special SESSION. because he doesn't he
IeVe IN women voting, What difference
uoeS IL make what he believes? His legisla-
| lure is pledged to ratification" AS for
| Connecticut, the NEW YORK MATT. 1ttd az \
asserts that the people of that state have
soma grounds of grievance against Govern or
riolcomD Tor his failure to call a special SEES.
| sion. The Connecticut legislature is aenrr.
ally believed ready to ratify.
The Democratic executive committee of
DelaWare, according to the RALEIGH
NEWS AND OBSERVER .(Dem.) 'shave hv
a unanimous vote requested the governor to
call special session to ratify the amend
ment, out 1T appears that the governor, g.
| Republican, fears that such a session might
repeal the school code which he is anxious to
preserve.
There remains only West Virginia, where
the governor is awaiting action of the courts
on the public utilities question, which he de-
sires to submit to the legislature along with
the suffrage amendment. 1t is prophesied
that West Virginia will ratify in time for the
fall elections.
From these opinions it appears that the
suffragists may count ON Oklahoma and West
Virginia, bringing their total to thirty-three,
land seems certain to go against them, and
they must therefore obtain three ratifica-
tions from among New Mexico, Washington
Delaware, Connecticut and Vermont In all
| but New Mexico action depends on the will
lingness of the governors to call special ses-
sions.
| If these governors prevent action by their
! states, the CHATTANO OGA NEWS (Dem.)
thinks their position will be rendered more
or less uncomfortable before the season gets
very much older" and the PITTSBURG
LEADER prog. Rep.) declares that the
and that las a matter of plain policy both
parties are bound to assist in making ratif-
cation a certainty
The RICHMOND NEWS-LEADER (Ind.
Dem), however, is persuaded that eff the
amendment is adopted at all, ultimately it
will probably be, it will not be in time for
the November elections" and it attributes
the South's opposition to the fact that "a