The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-07-12
WOMEN'S PARTY GIVES
RECORDS OF CANDIDATES
On Other Hand, Suffs Declare That
Democratic Nominee Has Always
Shown Favorable Attitude To-
ward Their Cause.

a leaning toward the support of Gov
ernor Cox in the Presidential cam
palgn. They have searched the rec
Ords and found that Senator Hard
ing, the Republican candidate, has
halted and hesltated, while Cox has
been frank and aggressive, they say,
in their report.
Since their nomination both Sen
ator Harding and Governor Cox have
taken a stand favoring eIrage," said
an announcement by the legislative
| department of the Woman's Party
today.
Harding's Record EVasiVe
| Senator Harding's suffrage rec
ord was varied, eVasiVe and nOncom-
initial until the fall of 1918, when
on October l, he cast his first vote
| for the Ninteenth Amendment.
The records of the two men, as re-
cited by the Woman's Party, are:
LAS earl. " as June "a, 1915, de-
| putations from the Woman's Party
| began calling on Senator Harding to
| ask his stand on the question of po-
| litical freedom for women. Then he
| said:
g Believing as l do in political
| parties, l had much rather that the
| party to which l belong shou Id in
| conference make a declaration than
to assume leadership or take an in
dividual position on the question
| "On January 20, 1916, when ask
| ed by a similar representative he sad
| he did not see how he could vote for
| suffrage and against prohibition He
| thought then he would vote against
| the amendment.
Ignored Suffrage in Speech
I'm June. 1916, Senator Harding
| made the keynote speech at the Re
publican National Convention in Chi
| cago. Before he spoke he was inter
viewed by members of the Woman's
Party and asked to mention suffrage
| inhisspeech, it as one of the most i'm
portant issues before the country.H
said he had not decided upon every
| thing in his speech; that there would
be time to add the suffrage issue 10
his speech, and that he would con-
slider it. But the speech was made
with no mention of suffrage in 1t.
"On November II, 1916, when in
| terviewed by a member of the Wo-'
mans Party. he said he was inclined
to leave the solution of the question
to his party. He thought it would
be presumptL0ius for him TO dictate
to his party He was not interested
"On April 20, 1917, he declared
himself favorable to the amendment
but it did not appeal to him as a
war measure.
ION July 10. of the same year he
said he did not approve of failing the
suffragists, that the President could
put through the measure if he would
and that he might vote for the am
| cndment.
ION August 2, 1917, he said he
| could not do anything to support the
amendment but ne sympathized with
| those working for it.
Said He Would Hold Back.
February IS, 1918, he said he
| deprecated a too rapid advance of
democracy and consequently would
hold back on woman suffrage
But on October 1, 1915 Senator
Harding had emerged fro mthe midst
Of noneommittal atmosphere and yo-
ted for the amendment. He also vo-
ted for it February and June of the
next year, when it passed Congress.
Since his nomination he has re-
fused to take a decisive stand to en-
force final ratification when inter-
| viewed by a delegation of the Wo-
mans Party.
Dissatisfaction was also the re-
suit of the noncommittal statements
| given out following a conference be-
tween Senator Harding and Cover
nor Clement relative to calling spec
| i'll session in Vermont to ratify the
amendment
Governor Cox, who has been
i three times Governor of his State,
had left Congress when the Nation
1913.
Consequently his part in the pas
sage of the amendment could not. be
81 active, since he had no vote to
iclst. But his influence in gaining
the Senatorial votes of his States and
N legislative measures was conse-
qlently sought.
Cox Was Favorable
From the first he has shown
favorable attitude and has been will
Ing to meet the suggestions made
him by the women to whom he has
civen audience on the subject.
June IS, 1917, he gave an inter
view to a representative of the Wo-
tnan's Party and discussed in detail
With her the militant movement OF
urage showing a marked interest
md speaking favorable of the amend
| 'lent.
cat the time of the Democratic
| convention in June, 1916, at st. Lou
8, he announced to a deputation
rom the Woman's Party that he
| would do what he could for suffrage
| IT the convention and that he stood
| 'or the measure.
| During the period of ratification
| Populations have called on the Gov
| rnor several times and have always
| peen assured of his support of the
| amendment when the resolution
| ONE up to the Legislature.
| when Governor Burnquiste, of
| Minnesota. wired him, asking his po-
| ition on Ohio's ratifying the amend
| nent, he wired:
| Ohio Legislature Ratified
- Ohio Legislature now in recess
| ill convene June Is. 1t is my judg
lent that the Legislature will ratl-
" And Ohio did ratify the amend
nent on June 16, being the fourth
;tate on the suffrage roll.
ION the day following his nomina
ion he took a step that won the ap-
oroval of all suffragists, when he
wired the chairman of the Democrat
State Central Committee of Lou
siana, whose Legislature, then in
,ession, already had defeated the
amendment;
Tt is a duty the Legislature of
,ouisiana owes TO the Democratic
rarty to ratify at once
Al VI