Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-19
suffrage amendment it found the nation

suffrage amendment it found the nation
glad to receive it.
From the very first day when Governor
Henry T. Allen Of Kansas, Republican
and dry and Governor Alfred Smith OF
New York Democrat and wet, respond
cd 10 our telcgraphed appeal for special
session with a prompt call which brought
ratification in six days after the subfnis-
sion. all through the months governors,
legislators, the chairmen and nationai
committees of the two big parties have
given such frank, sincere and generous
aid to the campaign of ratification that
the amendment has broken all records.
'The Twelfth Amendment made the
shortest time of any yet added TO the
Constitution. 1t went through IN nine
months and l3 days, but there were only
II States then and 13 had ratified. Our
amendment had been In the process OIL
ratification Just nine months and 10 Gays
Yesterday and had been ratified by 81
States But the really significant part oi
the story is that 25 of these ratihcations
took place in special sessions.
"On the whole, the ratifcations have
moved forward in splendid trlumphai
procession. Men have stood by the amend
ment in plendid heroic fashion, and many
incidents of courage, nobility OF purpose
and proud scorn of political enemies nave
won the gratitude of the women of the
nation. We are confident that the men
| of Delaware are no exception to TINS
nationwide record and that the Legisia-
ture will respond to the call of justice as
| readily rs other States have done.
| THE opponents are not all convinced,
/ and it is natural and normal that they
| should have concentrated their frantic
! efforts on the last two or three States.
! There are women who do not want to
vote and men who are determined they
shall not vote. even if they all wanted to.
But there are men who not only do not
want to vote but do not vote That does
not prevent men who want to vote from
possessing the rights. The vote is q
/ liberty extended. If on election day q
| man desires to go fishing, instead oi
! voting, he is no patriot, but he IS within
his rights The vote rs, therefore, nc
burden, no oDpTession-one may use II
/ or not ,se it. But the denial OF the vote
is an oppression, for there are those who
| desire to exercise tneir citizens right tc
n share in the government which they
| support with their taxes.
'"The opponents of woman suffrage no
longer argue the unfitness of women to
| vote. the neglect of home and children,
etc. as was their rule before the amend
ment was submitted. Now their cry Is
States rights, and their former arguments
have given way to throwing utld and
calling suffragists bad names. But all
these experiences are the symptoms Of a
lost cause. The men of Amer ica will see
to it that Canada. on the north, and
Great Britain, across the sea, and many
other nations which have already en-
franchised their women shall not long
carry the leadership in our own national
speciality, self government, nation OF the
people. by the people and for the people.
Mrs. Gait said the Constitution of the
nation is the supreme law of the land and
the amendment when ratified will become
part of the Constitution and part OF the
supreme law of the land. She held that
| the Constitution of the nation overrldes
all State Constitution and will take the
word male" therefrom. In support of
/ her declaration she cited the Oklahoma
grandfather clause" and a supreme
! Court case from Maryland she said
| there would not be q women's party. The
women are fighting the men now TO get a
| chance 20 work with them.