The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-13
LEGISLATURE TO MEET
 TO RATIFY SUFFRAGE
But Not Until After the 36th State Needed Has Done So and Action Becomes Necessary. Roraback Plans Pretty Camou- fiage to Make Best of Defeat After Repeated Opposition.

J. Henry Roraback, or rather Gov. Marcus H. Holcomb, will call a special session of the Connecticut Legislature to ratify women's suffrage, but not until after the necessary 36 states required to give women the vote have ratified and Connecticut can come in to save its face" and probably tempt the female vote. This was learned this week from authority that is not to be questioned That time 1t now appears will be very soon West Virginia coming in with a hurrah on Wednesday, making the 34th state, with two others on the Pacific Coast, known to be strong for suffrage, to vote in special session within the next few days. Therefore suffrage is now thing practically assured of in plenty of time to permit of women talk ing part in the elections this fall. Hence the contemplated action of the governor and the republican chairman. They need some of that coming vote.
 Governor Holcomb has repeatedly turned deaf ear to appeals, not only from women but from a vast majority of the present General Assembly and many prominent men of his own party, to call special session to join the other states in ratifying the proposed amend ment. The republican state central com mittee that Is Chairman Roraback, has even blurtly refused to intercede with the governor or to even consider peti- ton of representative men of its own party, to ask the governor to call such a session, such petition presented at meeting of the committee in Hartford in February being nonchalantly pocketed by the state chairman.
 The makers of the petition however tried again with the governor this week and on Thursday again presented a peti- ton to him asking for such a session. Like the others 1t was received and placed on file" and perhaps in a month or two governors secretary, Major John Bu1kley, of the town of Union, will pick 1t up and write to the presentators that 1t is being considered, such as has hap pened to other petitions sent the gov ernor.
 But now that suffrage is a foregone conclusion, the willy state chairman, Roraback, and the suave secretary Major Bulkley. have found way to get around 1t and have a special session and pave the way for showing the ladies the final ratification of the amendment in Connecticut, against "oh, such strenu- ous opposition" Here's how its to come about and this information comes from close to the Republican throne or thrones, whether they be located in Hartford, Canaan, Union or Southing- ton.
 As pointed out in The Labor Press recently by Representative Samuel Shaw of Redding and Attorney Harrison Freeman of Hartford, both staunch re- publicans but even stauncher workers Tn the cause of suffrage a special ses- sion of the legislature will be necessary to pave the way for admitting the women to the franchise The statutes will have to be changed with the word male" stricken out in several places and general changes made so that those registrars and near-sighted politicians opposed to suffrage will not be able to bar the women this year, when of all years the women want to vote.
 With the 34th state already in and two others waiting on their toes to jump in also, this session IS now inevitable. Why not, therefore figures the state chairman. camouhage this inevitable in to an advantage and have the session called to ratify the amendment and at the same time amend the laws as neces- sary. That would make splendid cam palgn material among the women who are not supposed to be up on the in side dope of politics" and SO could be led to the polls in the republican band wagon. That's the way its coming out at any rate but it is expected by friends of suffrage who have been rebuffed time after time in the last few years that the women are wise enough to do some thinking about 1t for themselves and very little credit will rebound to the republican powers that be or the governor either for their belated and made necessary action.