Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-31
SUFFRAGE RIPPLE
IN LEGISLATURE
Republican Members Addressed by
National and Local Commit
teeren and Governor.
sta1 Corre.pondcnce OF Every Evening
STATE HOUSE, DOVER, MARCH 3

STATE House, DOVER, MARCH 81
When the members OF the Legislature
arrived in Dover this morning, the be-
ginning of the day tentatively set for
vote on the suffrage resolution, there was
no indication of change in the lines,
which seemed as tense as ever. The
s,iffragists' "heavy artillery" which spent
much of yesterday here, apparently went
home last night with q feeling that nothing
had been accomplished, but not without
hope that suffrage would ultimately tri-
umph at the legislative session. And that
was the feeling this morning, before to-
day's session began.
The Republican members of the two
houses spent more than an hour yesterday
afternoon in conference with National
Republican Chairman I. Coleman du
Point. Governor John G.. Townsend, Jr,
Senator l.. Heisler Ball and several OF the
district and county chairmen, including
Wilmington City Chairman Isaac W.
Bowers. and Kent County Chairman
Robert Jones State Chairman Daniel j..
Layton, Jr., was not present, neither was
the Sussex chairman.
The Assemblymen were addressed by
Mr.. du Pont, Senator Ball and number
of others while several of the members
spoke. The object of the conference was
70 discuss the suffrage resolution, and,
while it was debated pro and con, no
action was taken and there was no visible
result. MIR. du Pont urged the Assembly
men to vote for ratification, as he con-
sidered it the right thing to do. lie did
not advocate haste, expressing the peiiei
that every man should take time TO fully
consider the matter Similar advice was
given by the other speakers, and, while
there was an air of good feeling, there
were no pledces and nothing to indicate
how the men stood. Several promised TO
consider the request. As soon as the con-
ference was over the Republican Repre-
eentatives who had pledged themselves
to vote against the resolution held con-
ference with ID. Mifflin Wilson ono of the
antt-srIffrage leaders At the conclusion OF
the conference il was stated that every
one of them was standing nat.
During the Republican conference
message came that the Senate OF Missls-
rippi had Just ratified the suffrage amend
ment. This was like bolt out of the clear
sky for both sides. 1t had tendancy 10
create buoyancy among the sutfraglsts,
while the antis were relying on the lower
house of the Mississippi Legislature TO
upset the action OF the Senate. hey
showed no disposition TO get IN out OF the
wei. 8Dllt tlt ttbNAile hsto ScNN'
Their firmness was mistaken. However,
both sides were anxious to know the facts
and. knowing there was 10 higher author
itv than the Associated Press, Represen-
tative McNabh FASTENED to the telephone
and called up Every Evening. Receiving
confirmation Of the report there, the ants
committee sent the following message TO
the lower house OF the Mississippi Legs
lature:
Speaker of the House of Representa-
uves, Jackson, Miss.
.Stand firm against ratification Of
Anthony amendment. Delaware Legs
lature Still firm for doctrine Of State 5
rights and will not ratify. We refuse to be
stampeded and whipped in line by any
party lash.
Senator Thomas F. Gor1nley.
Representative J. i. McNabb.
Representative J. f. Lloyd.
Representative ]. B. Lord.
Committee.
Just before he left Dover for Whining
ton last night, Representative McNabb
received the following telegram from the
editor of the Leader, a newspaper printed
In Clarion, Miss:
Disregard Senate's action. Flash IN
the nan. Vote to reconsider viii carry"
Mrs. Henry B. Thompson, prominent
anti-slIffra.e leader here, wired jackson
for particulars as TO Senate vote and atti-
tude of the House
Following the Republican conference
Governor Townsend was spoken to IN re-
gard to the situation as he saw 1t. While
optimistic, he made no definite prediction.
"The matter is out of my hands, ne said.
''It has been turned over 70 the Legs
lature and IS with II until it Is brought
back to me. As far as the honor is con-
cerned, If there Is any coming, that be-
longs to the men who have the votes.
In accordance with his promise, Repre-
sentative Lyons, as chairman OF the House
committee on revised statutes reported,
ION its merits the House joint resolu-
ton ratifying the Federal suffrage amend
ment. There was no comment.
MIR. and Mrs. James n. Ginns and Ralph
Saltzman of Wilmington are among the
ardent suffrage supporters visiting Dover.