Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-22
SUFFRAGE FIGHT
IN DELAWARE HOLDS
NATIONS INTEREST
Both Political Parties, Through
Leaders, Appeal to Special
Session to Ratify.
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT
From The New York Times toda y &.

From The New York Times toda y
Washington, March 2l.-The atten-
hon of woman sutfragists and national
politicians is tonight focused on Dover,
where the Delaware Legislature meets
tomorrow in special session to determine
Il IL will ratifv the Federal Suffrage
Amendment. IL Delaware ratifies, wo-
men will be able TO vote, in the 1870
Presidential election. Should ratifica-
tion fail the suffragists will lack one
vote necessary in either Vermont or
Connecticut The Legislature In the State
of Washington also meets tomorrow,
and will ratify the total ratihcations 10
thirty-hve.
Both political parties have exerted
all possible influence on the Delaware
Legislature for prompt ratification to-
.morrow. The Democratic Party is try
ing to obtain unanimous vote from
the Democratic members. Appeals have
been sent 10 them by Attorney Cen
eral Palmer and Secretaries Daniels,
Houston and Meredith. The Legislature
is Republican, and woman suffrage
leaders have warned the Republican
leaders that if the women are not able
to vote throughout the country IN the
1920 elections as q result of Delaware 5
failure TO ratify, the Republican Party
will be held strictly responsible
Word reached suffrage leaders here to-
night that the situation at Dover was
critical and they were not certain that
thev would be able TO hold a majority
IN both branches.
Uncertainy of favorable action IN Deia-
ware has caused grave alarm IN ma
tional Republican circles. Ii is realized
that should Delaware defeat the amend
ment. the Republican record, W hlch up
How garl
ratification, would be wrecked.
For this reason telegrams from Re
publican Governors, Republican State
Chairmen and Republican State com
rnittees in all parts of the country have
for the last forty-eight hours been pour
ing in on Governor Townsend of Della
ware and Daniel Layton, Republican
State Chairman. urging that enough
votes be given by the Republican MEM
bers Of the Legislature to assure u ma
ioritv in both Houses
Among those who have sent kilograms
arc the Governors and Republican State
committeeman of Minnesota. Michigan,
Iowa, Ohio, Colorado and Arizona and
Republican State ChairTnen OF South
Dakota. North Dakota, Vermont, Mass
achusetts, Colorado and Arizona. y re-
solution has been sent from the Republi-
Immediate ratification. The State Re-
publican Womans Committee OF Michl-
gan sent "a similar resolution.
Democratic leaders are also sending
letters TO Wilmington, urging the Demo
Gratis to stand solidly behind the amend
mens.
Attorney General Palmer wrote in part:
Il am taking the liberty of expressing
my earnest hope that our party in the
Legislature viii soidly support ratlfi-
cation.
The National Democratic Committee
has taken a strong stand for the rati-
ication of suffrage The fact that VIC
have considerable representation from
our party in your Legislature gives us
an excellent opportunity TO be Of help
TO the suffrage cause. Now that the
suffrage campaign is approaching IT'S
conclusion and the battle against rati-
tication is becoming more virogous than
ever before, our help is needed and we
must not fail TO give it.
Secretary Daniels letter ends:
The fact that Delaware's ratiica-
ton is necessary to enable wCmen 10
vote in the November elections makes
its particularly important that our party