Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-24
SENATOR HARDING AND THE WOMEN.

A committee of women called upon Senator
Harding day two ago in the interests OF natohal
suffrage for women.
Senator Harding voted for such suffrage IN the
senate. That action is the best proof of ms real at
titude.
The women asked him to use his prestige as 'he
partv candidate to coerce the three remaining repub-
Iican governors call special sessions OF the iess
lature to ratify the amendment.
Here is Senator Hardings refreshing reply;
There is a point with which full execu-
tive authority may approach trespass U"
the rights of states and should not want to
trespass if I bore the commission OF author-
ty and realize full well that, SO far, am
only a party nominee. In the latter capac-
ity would not wish my party to believe me
inclined to trespass or to assume to "leld
club If any state executive should ask my
opinion about extraordinary efforts to con-
summate suffrage, l frankly will commend
the thing you desire, but | cannot impose
demand, though I personally hope to see
woman suffrage and womens full participa-
ton established at early date
We say refreshing" advisedy. 1t points clearly
to return to constitutional government uhuer Dell
ator Harding's leadership
The mowers not specifically delegated to the Fed
oral covernoment by the constitution were reserved
TO the states. The power to pass the suffrage reso
ton was specifically delegated to congress- repuo-
ucan congress passed it, thus submitting it to the
states
At that point all Federal interference is presuneo
TO stop The honest wishes of thirtysN OF the iorV'
eight states must be for the adoption OF the resou
ton before the amendment is effective hepup'ea
leadership in twenty-nine states, out of thiry-fVe
which have ratified the amendment gave It's assem-
to women suffrage. Only six democratic states nave
done So one more state is needed. the Jourha
sincerely hopes that one state can be procureu "
time for the November election. We feel 1t Will De
However, for Senator Harding, as prospective
president TO begin welding the big stick of Fedora
domination over the states, in matter which Is re
served exclusively to the state to determine "ou'
omen i'll for the future. Federal cncroachmeht upoi
the states can safely go so far but no farther
President Wilson. presumably a states rights dem
ocrat has upset our whole constitutional system ny
his interference in matters of to the states
alone. He has gone far beyond the strong cenua
government theory of the republican party IN 60
tablisbine a Federal if not presidential autocrac
the states. A.,
It Is therefore refreshing to find Senator Harding
daring the displeasure of the women commute
and depressing his own desire for ratification OF IN
amendment in the interests of return to cohstn
tional government We must not adopt unconsutu
tionaI means to accomplish a desirable end
In bad taste therefore. and lacking much OF in
sight into our system of government. was the Doh
effort at coercion of the chairman of the women
committee. She said:
81 can hardly believe that candidate
nominated to stand for specific platform
could within two weeks after that platforms
adoption, declare himself unable to do any
thing toward carrying it out We are deeply
disappointed with Senator Hardings posi-
ton Our delegation to him today was the
first step in a campaign to place before the
country his responsibility as the head OF his
party for his party's naoton on suffrage III
those states in which it is in power
Until he recognizes and acts effectively on
that responsibility shall not be content
There is little doubt that residents of the thre
republican states question will see to it that the
governors call the legislatures in session very soo
That is their prerogative. Others, not in Official
quasi official federal position, as Senator Harding
can add their persuasion to the desired end
But Mr. Harding is dead right in refusing to inte
fere unless asked That refusal is the first sympto
of return to constitutional government we hay
seen recently in America.